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

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 10; no. 5; p. 194
• Main Authors: Choudhary, Indu, Lee, Hyunkyoung, Pyo, Min Jung, Heo, Yunwi, Chae, Jinho, Yum, Seung Shic, Kang, Changkeun, Kim, Euikyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.05.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: 2-DE; Adenosine triphosphatase; Anticancer properties; Biomarkers; Cancer; Chemical compounds; Desorption; Electrophoresis; Elongation; Gel electrophoresis; Glucose; Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase; Glucosephosphate dehydrogenase; Heat shock proteins; Hepatocellular carcinoma; HepG2 cell; Homology; Ionization; Ions; jellyfish; Liver cancer; MALDI/TOF/MS; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Mode of action; Nemopilema nomurai; Nucleoli; Pharmacology; Proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Proteins; Proteomes; proteomics; Target recognition; Therapeutic applications; Two dimensional analysis; Venom; Western blotting; venom; jellyfish; proteomics; MALDI/TOF/MS; 2-DE; HepG2 cell; Nemopilema nomurai
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins10050194

is a giant jellyfish that blooms in East Asian seas. Recently, venom (NnV) was characterized from a toxicological and pharmacological point of view. A mild dose of NnV inhibits the growth of various kinds of cancer cells, mainly hepatic cancer cells. The present study aims to identify the potential therapeutic targets and mechanism of NnV in the growth inhibition of cancer cells. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were treated with NnV, and its proteome was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF/MS). The quantity of twenty four proteins in NnV-treated HepG2 cells varied compared to non-treated control cells. Among them, the amounts of fourteen proteins decreased and ten proteins showed elevated levels. We also found that the amounts of several cancer biomarkers and oncoproteins, which usually increase in various types of cancer cells, decreased after NnV treatment. The representative proteins included proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), elongation factor 1γ (EF1γ), nucleolar and spindle-associated protein (NuSAP), and activator of 90 kDa heat shock protein ATPase homolog 1 (AHSA1). Western blotting also confirmed altered levels of PCNA, GRP78, and G6PD in NnV-treated HepG2 cells. In summary, the proteomic approach explains the mode of action of NnV as an anticancer agent. Further characterization of NnV may help to unveil novel therapeutic agents in cancer treatment.