Antitumour Activity of Different Bioactive Compounds from Hemolymph and Mucus of Mollusca against Human Urinary Bladder Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract

In this study, we isolated different bioactive compounds and fractions from Rapana venosa (RvH), Helix aspersa (HaH) and Helix lucorum (HlH) and then we evaluated their in vitro antitumour activity on CAL-29 and T- 24 cell lines (transitional cell carcinoma). Also, we performed fluorescence staining with propidium iodide to assess nuclear changes caused by molluscan extracts. Briefly, our results have demonstrated antineoplastic activity of: subunit βc-HaH of H. aspersa hemocyanins to CAL-29 cell line, subunit βc-HaH and subunit RvH II of R. venosa hemocyanin against T-24 cells. Also, fractions from R. venosa hemolymph exerted significant cytotoxic activity against CAL- 29 cells. Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy results demonstrated chromatin condensation and nuclear morphological changes which are typical for apoptosis induction. We assume that the observed death of T-24 and CAL-29 cells is due to the interaction between the oligosaccharide structures of the proteins on the tumour cell membranes and the hemolymph from R. venosa, active components isolated from hemolymph of R. venosa, H. aspersa and H. lucorum, as well as H. aspersa mucus.