CYTOTOXICITY OF VENOM FROM HETEROTRICHOUS MICROBASIC EURYTELE NEMATOCYSTS OF PELAGIA NOCTILUCA (CNIDARIA: SCYPHOZOA) TO L929 MOUSE LUNG FIBROBLASTS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS.

During last decades many studies highlighted cnidarian relevance
in worldwide trophic chains, as well as the considerable
frequency and size of outbreaks over the years. A high
inter-specific variability, survival ability and harsh conditions
resistance built a clear path for these animals to the top of trophic
chains, with a corresponding raising impact on sea-related
anthropogenic activities. Indeed, cnidarians possess efficient
stinging characteristics and represent a threat to bathers and
fishermen. Pelagia noctiluca (Forsskål, 1775), the “Mauve
Stinger”, is a common Mediterranean scyphozoan jellyfish. It
occurs mainly from March to May, but also throughout the year
in South Tyrrhenian waters around Northeastern Sicily. The venomousness
of this jellyfish is due to three main different kinds of
nematocysts, which are known to contain toxins which at present
are not exhaustively known. In this study, a first evaluation
of the cytotoxic activity of heterotrichous microbasic eurytele
nematocysts from Pelagia noctiluca is presented and discussed.
Nematocysts were isolated from tentacles of Pelagia noctiluca
and the content was extracted by sonication (aqueous extract).
Cytotoxicity assays employing MTT assay and Trypan Blue dye
exclusion were carried out on L929 mouse lung fibroblasts.
Aqueous extracts induced cytotoxicity to L929 cells with 36.9%
cell survival after 24 hours treatment with aqueous extract of
150×103 P.noctiluca nematocysts/ml, and 68.9% cell survival
after treatment with extract of 75×103 nematocysts/ml. Further
analysis, including the evaluation of the oxidative stress and
considering cellular targets such as apoptotic ways, antioxidant
enzymes, ion channel inhibition, ROS production, and cellular
signals correlated to protein expression could be further
research developments and are thought to be required in order
to understand the suitability of extracts from Pelagia noctiluca
nematocysts as valuables biopharmaceutical substances.
Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank Dr. Guido
Bonello (DISTAV, University of Genova) for his help in the
experimental phase of this work.