Anticancer properties of phospholipase A2 from Daboia siamensis venom on human skin melanoma cells

Background: Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is a major component of the Daboia siamensis venom, which is able to hydrolyse the membrane of various cells. For this reason, the activity of PLA(2) was investigated regarding its pharmaceutical properties. This study was conducted to explore the pharmacological properties of a PLA(2) from Daboia siamensis (dssPLA(2)) venom on human skin melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-28). Methods: dssPLA(2) was isolated by ion exchange and gel filtration columns. Various concentrations of dssPLA(2) were investigated for cytotoxic activity and inhibition of migration on SK-MEL-28 cells. Cell death analysis, mRNA expression levels of Notch I-III and BRAF V600E genes were also determined. Results: dssPLA(2) exhibited cytotoxicity on SK-MEL-28 for 24 and 72 h as compared with untreated cells. However, it had no toxic effects on CCD-1064sk cells under the same conditions. dssPLA(2) (0.25 and 0.5 mu g/mL) induced 17.16 and 30.60 % of apoptosis, while activated 6.53 and 7.05 % of necrotic cells. dssPLA(2) at 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mu g/mL could inhibit migration on SK-MEL-28 cells for 24 h by 31.06, 41.66, 50 and 68.75 %, respectively. The action of dssPLA(2) significantly reduced the levels of Notch I and BRAF V600E genes expression on SK-MEL-28 cells compared with untreated cells at 72 h. Conclusions: This study indicates that dssPLA(2) had potential effects of apoptosis, necrosis, cytotoxicity and inhibition of migration on SK-MEL-28 cells. dssPLA(2) could possibly be a selective agent that targets cancer cells without affecting normal cells.