Checklist and trait dataset of ground-dwelling arthropods across urban habitats in four major Italian cities

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  Checklist and trait dataset of ground-dwelling arthropods across urban habitats in four major Italian cities Abstract Urbanization is one of the most extensive forms of land-use change globally and a major driver of biodiversity loss. Ground-dwelling arthropods are sensitive indicators of environmental change and play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, yet trait-based data on urban arthropods remain limited. We present here an expert-curated checklist and dataset of ground-dwelling arthropods sampled across four major Italian cities—Turin, Milan, Florence and Rome—following a standardized sampling protocol. The dataset includes 297 species from six major taxonomic groups (Coleoptera Carabidae, Coleoptera Tenebrionidae, Isopoda Oniscidea, Chilopoda, Araneae, and Pseudoscorpiones), for which we report presence and activity density across cities and provide taxonomic, biogeographical, ecological, functional, morphological and genetic information. Ecological and functional trait...

F2 peptide fraction of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom: Inducing M2 to M1 macrophage polarization and inhibiting colon carcinoma cell proliferation and migration

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By Per-Anders Olsson - Per-Anders Olsson (used with permission), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79273

F2 peptide fraction of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom: Inducing M2 to M1 macrophage polarization and inhibiting colon carcinoma cell proliferation and migration

Abstract

Objective:

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the deadliest malignancies, often diagnosed at advanced stages, limiting treatment efficacy and necessitating alternative therapeutic approaches. Scorpion venom has emerged as a promising source of bioactive compounds for cancer therapy. This study investigated the anti-cancer potential of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom fractions against CT-26 colon cancer cells.

Materials and Methods:

A. crassicauda venom fractions were isolated using gel filtration chromatography. Murine peritoneal macrophages, harvested from BALB/c mice, were polarized towards the M2 phenotype and characterized by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR and ELISA quantified M1 and M2 macrophage-associated gene and cytokine expression. The impact of venom fractions on CT-26 cell proliferation and migration was assessed via MTT and wound-healing assays. Phagocytic activity was evaluated using a yeast phagocytosis assay.

Results:

The F2 venom fraction significantly upregulated pro-inflammatory gene and cytokine expression, and downregulated anti-inflammatory gene and cytokine expression in M2 macrophages. Furthermore, the F2 fraction significantly inhibited CT-26 cell proliferation and migration. Critically, it also enhanced the phagocytic capacity of M2 macrophages.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that the F2 fraction of A. crassicauda scorpion venom reprograms tumor-associated M2 macrophages towards an anti-tumor M1 phenotype. These findings suggest the potential of the F2 fraction of A. crassicauda scorpion venom as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of colon cancer. However, to confirm this potential, further in vivo studies need to be carried out.


Ghadiri N, Rashno M, Khodadadi A, Asadirad A, Nemati M, Ghadiri AA. F2 peptide fraction of Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom: Inducing M2 to M1 macrophage polarization and inhibiting colon carcinoma cell proliferation and migration. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2025 Sep-Oct;15(5):1502-1518. doi: 10.22038/ajp.2025.25721. PMID: 40969416; PMCID: PMC12441195.