Assessment of Locusta migratoria Protein Extract's Anticancer Potential on Breast Cancer Cells in vitro

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recently, insect-derived proteins have attracted interest due to their potential anticancer properties. This study investigates the effects of enzymatically extracted proteins from Locusta migratoria on the cell viability, scratch-wound, morphological changes, and colony-forming ability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Locusta migratoria enzymatic extract was applied to MCF-7 cells. Following treatment, the cytotoxic effect of the protein extract on the MCF-7 cells were evaluated using MTT assay, colony formation assay, scratch-wound assay, and Toluidine Blue staining. Cell viability decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with the protein extracts (p < 0.0001). Colony formation was also reduced as the protein concentration increased. Also, in MCF-7 cells, the control group showed approximately 90% wound closure in contrast to the 20.17- 97.25% opening observed in cells treated with protein extract. Morphological changes such as loss of appendages, nuclear condensation, chromatin compaction, and an increase in apoptotic bodies, indicating enhanced apoptosis, were observed in the cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining the biological effects on MCF-7 cells of protein extracts from Locusta migratoria generated enzymatically. In conclusion, enzymatically extracted proteins from Locusta migratoria exhibit significant cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on MCF-7 cells in vitro. These findings suggest that such protein extracts may represent a promising source of bioactive compounds for breast cancer treatment. However, further studies are required to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and to evaluate their selectivity and safety profiles.

Keywords

• Breast cancer
• cell proliferation
• edible insect
• insect-derived protein

Locusta migratoria Protein Ekstraktının Meme Kanseri Hücreleri Üzerindeki Antikanser Potansiyelinin in vitro Ortamda Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Meme kanseri, dünya çapında kansere bağlı ölümlerin önde gelen nedenlerinden biri olmaya devam etmekte ve yeni tedavi stratejilerine olan acil ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır. Son zamanlarda, böceklerden elde edilen proteinler, potansiyel antikanser özellikleri nedeniyle ilgi çekmektedir. Bu çalışma, Locusta migratoria'dan enzimatik olarak ekstrakte edilen proteinlerin MCF-7 meme kanseri hücrelerinin hücre canlılığı, çizik yara iyileşmesi, morfolojik değişiklikleri ve koloni oluşturma yeteneği üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktadır. Locusta migratoria enzimatik ekstraktı MCF-7 hücrelerine uygulandı. Tedaviden sonra, protein ekstraktının MCF-7 hücreleri üzerindeki sitotoksik etkisi MTT testi, koloni oluşum testi, çizik yara iyileşmesi testi ve Toluidin Mavisi boyama kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Protein ekstraktlarıyla yapılan tedaviden sonra hücre canlılığı doz bağımlı bir şekilde önemli ölçüde azaldı (p <0.0001). Protein konsantrasyonu arttıkça koloni oluşumu da azaldı. Ayrıca, MCF-7 hücrelerinde, kontrol grubunda yaklaşık %90 oranında yara kapanması gözlemlenirken, protein özütü ile tedavi edilen hücrelerde %20,17-97,25 oranında açıklık gözlemlenmiştir. Hücrelerde, apoptozun arttığını gösteren, uzantıların kaybı, nükleer yoğunlaşma, kromatin sıkışması ve apoptotik cisimlerin artışı gibi morfolojik değişiklikler gözlemlenmiştir. Bildiğimiz kadarıyla, bu, Locusta migratoria'dan enzimatik olarak üretilen protein özütlerinin MCF-7 hücreleri üzerindeki biyolojik etkilerini inceleyen ilk çalışmadır. Sonuç olarak, Locusta migratoria'dan enzimatik olarak ekstrakte edilen proteinler, in vitro olarak MCF-7 hücreleri üzerinde önemli sitotoksik ve antiproliferatif etkiler göstermektedir. Bu bulgular, bu tür protein özütlerinin meme kanseri tedavisi için umut vadeden bir biyoaktif bileşik kaynağı olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bununla birlikte, altta yatan moleküler mekanizmaları aydınlatmak ve seçicilik ve güvenlik profillerini değerlendirmek için daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

• Meme kanseri
• hücre proliferasyonu
• yenilebilir böcek
• böcek kaynaklı protein

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