Honeybee venom possesses anticancer and antiviral effects by differential inhibition of HPV E6 and E7 expression on cervical cancer cell line

Abstract

Abstract. Bee venom (BV) therapy is a type of alternative medical treatment used to treat various diseases in oriental medicine. The mechanisms underlying the effects of BV remain poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral effect of BV on cervical carcinoma cell lines (CaSki, HeLa, C33A and TC-1). BV treatments resulted in a more significant suppression of cell growth in HPV 16-infected cells (CaSki) and a lesser suppression in HPV 18-infected cells (HeLa). However, less suppression was observed in HPV-negative C33A cells. In 10 µg/ml BV-treated CaSki cells, the mRNA expression and protein levels of HPV16 E6 and E7 were significantly decreased by BV, while HPV18 E6 and E7 mRNA expression levels were not significantly altered by 10 µg/ml BV-treated HeLa cells. The antitumor effects of BV were in accordance with in vitro data, in restricting tumor growth in vivo and were much more effective on the suppression of tumor growth. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HPV16 E6 and E7 were decreased by BV in TC-1 tumors. These findings demonstrated the antiviral effects of BV in HPV-infected cervical cancer cells and the anticancer effects of BV in HPV16 E6/E7-expressed TC-1 tumors. Collectively, BV plays a differential role in suppressing HPV16-infected cells (CaSki cells) and HPV18-infected cells (HeLa cells) by the downregulation of E6/E7 protein of HPV16/18.

Proteomic Investigation to Identify Anticancer Targets of Nemopilema nomurai Jellyfish Venom in Human Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells

“…Bee venom can also effectively inhibit tumor growth. Bee venom therapy may provide beneficial effects against various types of cancer [ 19 ]. The synthetic compound Glycosphingolipid 7, which was identified in millipede Parafontaria laminata armigera , has an antiproliferative effect on the proliferation of melanoma (B16F10 cell lines) by suppressing the activation of the FAK-AKT and ERK1/2 pathways [ 20 ].…”

Antimicrobial Properties of Apis mellifera’s Bee Venom

“…Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are considered the most common agents responsible for cervical carcinoma. BV was able to inhibit the growth of cervical cancer cells by the downregulation of E6/E7 proteins of HPV viruses (Table 2) [77]. BV and its constituent melittin (Figure 1) can induce the immunity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSV) via significant up-regulation of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) and several types of immune cells, including CD3 + CD8 + , CD4 + CD8 + , and γδ T cells, leading to reduction of the viral load and decrease of the severity of interstitial pneumonia in PRRSV-infected pigs [78].…”

Cytotoxic effect of Montivipera bornmuelleri’s venom on cancer cell lines: in vitro and in vivo studies

“…Each mice underwent 3 injections with a time interval of 3 days. The tumor length and width were measured every 3 days and the tumor volume was calculated accordingly as described in Kim et al (2015). Once the tumor size has exceeded the volume of 2,000 mm 3 , the mice were sacrificed according to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines.…”