Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways

The scorpion <i>Buthus martensii</i> Karsch is edible and has been an essential resource in traditional Chinese medicine for treating numerous diseases. In this study, two small peptides from <i>B. martensii</i> hydrolysates were examined to elucidate their potential against...

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Main Authors: Mengshuang Zhu, Shanshan Zhang, Jiyang Tang, Hairong Hou, Lizhen Wang, Houwen Lin, Xuanming Zhang, Meng Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/105
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author Mengshuang Zhu
Shanshan Zhang
Jiyang Tang
Hairong Hou
Lizhen Wang
Houwen Lin
Xuanming Zhang
Meng Jin
author_facet Mengshuang Zhu
Shanshan Zhang
Jiyang Tang
Hairong Hou
Lizhen Wang
Houwen Lin
Xuanming Zhang
Meng Jin
author_sort Mengshuang Zhu
collection DOAJ
description The scorpion <i>Buthus martensii</i> Karsch is edible and has been an essential resource in traditional Chinese medicine for treating numerous diseases. In this study, two small peptides from <i>B. martensii</i> hydrolysates were examined to elucidate their potential against gastric cancer. The small peptides (AK and GK) were identified using the LC-QTOF-MS-based approach. In silico prediction of therapeutic targets, MGC-803 cells and transgenic zebrafish models, and immunoblotting experiments were used to reveal the molecular mechanism of action of the peptides. The peptides AK and GK competitively bound to the receptor to modulate the TNF/TNFR-signaling cascade and alter the tumor microenvironment. EGFR, TP53, MYC, PTEN, and STAT3 were also identified as major functional targets of the peptides. Mechanistically, AK and GK inactivated the TNF-α/EGFR/STAT3-signaling pathway, decreased c-myc protein expression levels, and upregulated p53 and PTEN expression, thereby preventing TNF-α-induced tumor growth. Our findings indicated that AK and GK played a pivotal role in offsetting the inflammatory stimuli that caused gastric cancer cell invasion and highlighted the use of <i>B. martensii</i> resources as functional products with health benefits.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2075-1729
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Life
spelling doaj-art-290d740946f94c57bb49452b468903272025-01-24T13:38:48ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-01-0115110510.3390/life15010105Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction PathwaysMengshuang Zhu0Shanshan Zhang1Jiyang Tang2Hairong Hou3Lizhen Wang4Houwen Lin5Xuanming Zhang6Meng Jin7Engineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Zebrafish Models for Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, ChinaThe scorpion <i>Buthus martensii</i> Karsch is edible and has been an essential resource in traditional Chinese medicine for treating numerous diseases. In this study, two small peptides from <i>B. martensii</i> hydrolysates were examined to elucidate their potential against gastric cancer. The small peptides (AK and GK) were identified using the LC-QTOF-MS-based approach. In silico prediction of therapeutic targets, MGC-803 cells and transgenic zebrafish models, and immunoblotting experiments were used to reveal the molecular mechanism of action of the peptides. The peptides AK and GK competitively bound to the receptor to modulate the TNF/TNFR-signaling cascade and alter the tumor microenvironment. EGFR, TP53, MYC, PTEN, and STAT3 were also identified as major functional targets of the peptides. Mechanistically, AK and GK inactivated the TNF-α/EGFR/STAT3-signaling pathway, decreased c-myc protein expression levels, and upregulated p53 and PTEN expression, thereby preventing TNF-α-induced tumor growth. Our findings indicated that AK and GK played a pivotal role in offsetting the inflammatory stimuli that caused gastric cancer cell invasion and highlighted the use of <i>B. martensii</i> resources as functional products with health benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/105<i>Buthus martensii</i>small peptidesgastric cancerTNF/TNFRmolecular mechanism
spellingShingle Mengshuang Zhu
Shanshan Zhang
Jiyang Tang
Hairong Hou
Lizhen Wang
Houwen Lin
Xuanming Zhang
Meng Jin
Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
Life
<i>Buthus martensii</i>
small peptides
gastric cancer
TNF/TNFR
molecular mechanism
title Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
title_full Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
title_fullStr Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
title_full_unstemmed Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
title_short Two Small Peptides from <i>Buthus martensii</i> Hydrolysates Exhibit Antitumor Activity Through Inhibition of TNF-α-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
title_sort two small peptides from i buthus martensii i hydrolysates exhibit antitumor activity through inhibition of tnf α mediated signal transduction pathways
topic <i>Buthus martensii</i>
small peptides
gastric cancer
TNF/TNFR
molecular mechanism
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/1/105
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