Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms of Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus scorpion venoms on cardiovascular and renal functions

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  Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms of Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus scorpion venoms on cardiovascular and renal functions Abstract Background:    Heterometrus laoticus and Lychas mucronatus are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, yet their pathophysiological effects of both venoms remain poorly characterized due to low human fatality rates. This study compared their venom compositions and acute cardiovascular and renal effects. Methods:   Anesthetized male New Zealand White rabbits were monitored for blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and renal clearance following intravenous administration of crude venom (0.5 mg/kg). Venom components were identified via LC-MS/MS, and hematological/biochemical parameters were assessed. Results:    H. laoticus venom induced a rapid, transient hypotension ( p < 0.05), followed by a mild, prolonged hypotensive phase (up to 120 min). Conversely, L. mucronatus venom elicited a biphasic response: ...

Lunatin-1: a membrane-disruptive peptide isolated from Hadruroides lunatus scorpion venom with cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line

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Lunatin-1: a membrane-disruptive peptide isolated from Hadruroides lunatus scorpion venom with cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line

Abstract

Membrane-disrupting peptides - including antimicrobial and antitumor peptides - disrupt cell membrane through pore formation. Strategies for using these peptides as adjuvants in cancer treatment regimens have been investigated. In the context of a high recurrence rate and ineffective postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy treatment in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the potential antitumor cytotoxic effect of Lunatin-1 was evaluated for the first time in the TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231. Synthetic Lunatin-1 was purified and its purity confirmed by mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity of this peptide against MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with a rapid increase in propidium iodide-positive cells and LDH release through the loss of membrane integrity in a concentration and time-dependent manner. Staining with CellMask Deep Red to outline the cell membrane showed its disruption 5 min after Lunatin-1 treatment, which was not associated with necroptosis. Ultrastructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed membrane damage due to microvilli reduction and increased density of pores per cell compared to untreated cells. We concluded that Lunatin-1 is a membrane-disruptive peptide in this cellular model, highlighting it as an interesting tool for conjugating with cancer markers or anticancer drugs.
De Sousa Gomes, K., Raíssa-Oliveira, B., Schildknecht, S., De Lima, M. E., Melo-Braga, M. N., Gomes, D. A., De Castro Pimenta, A. M., Verano-Braga, T., Leist, M., & De Souza-Fagundes, E. M. (2025). Lunatin-1: A membrane-disruptive peptide isolated from Hadruroides lunatus scorpion venom with cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Biochimie. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biochi.2025.06.006