In Vitro Assessment of the Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Viability Effects of Salivary Gland Extracts from Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Maryam Tavassoli; Mehdi Kadivar; Amir Ahmad Akhavan; Mohammad Abdigoudarzi; Abbas Moridnia; Samira Chaibakhsh; Mojtaba Beikmohammadi; Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat

doi:10.18502/jad.v17i4.15298

Maryam Tavassoli Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Kadivar Department of Biochemistry, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Abdigoudarzi Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
Abbas Moridnia Department of Genetics and molecular biology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
Samira Chaibakhsh Eye Research Center, the Five Senses Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mojtaba Beikmohammadi West Health Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v17i4.15298

Keywords: Tick; Hyalomma; Salivary gland extract; Anti-cancer; HT-29 cell line

Abstract

Background: The saliva and salivary glands of ticks possess a wide range of immuno-pharmacologically active molecules that effectively modulate the activity of enzymes, antibodies, and amines that have a role in different biological processes. Derived components from saliva and salivary glands of hard ticks Ixodidae have been characterized as potential natural sources for discovering promising anti-cancer drug candidates.

Methods: The anti-cancer activity of salivary gland extracts (SGEs) from Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma marginatum, and Hyalomma schulzei was assessed. MTT assays and flow cytometry were done on the HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line to evaluate the anti-viability and proliferative inhibition.

Results: Based on the MTT assay results, the SGEs from Hy. dromedarii had the highest and lowest substantial anti-viability effects on the HT-29 cancer cell and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) normal cell, respectively. The cytometric assessment revealed a significant increase in the apoptosis and necrosis ratio of the HT-29 cancer cells after treatment with Hy. dromedarii SGEs.

Conclusion: The results demonstrated that Hy. dromedarii SGEs have significant anti-proliferative, anti-viability, and apoptotic potential. The result of this study suggests that Hy. dromedarii SGEs is an appropriate candidate for further investigations to identify and purify the mechanisms and molecules involved in the anti-cancer activity of the SGEs.