Scorpiones,Scolopendra and Gekko Inhibit Lung Cancer Growth and Metastasis by Ameliorating Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment via PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1αSignaling Pathway

Objective:To investigate whether Buthus martensii karsch(Scorpiones),Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L.Koch(Scolopendra)and Gekko gecko Linnaeus(Gekko)could ameliorate the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and inhibit lung cancer growth and metastasis by regulating phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α)signaling pathway.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with luciferase labeled LL/2-luc-M38 cell suspension to develop lung cancer models,with rapamycin and cyclophosphamide as positive controls.Carboxy methyl cellulose solutions of Scorpiones,Scolopendra and Gekko were administered intragastrically as 0.33,0.33,and 0.83 g/kg,respectively once daily for 21 days.Fluorescent expression were detected every 7 days after inoculation,and tumor growth curves were plotted.Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine CD31 and HIF-1αexpressions in tumor tissue and microvessel density(MVD)was analyzed.Western blot was performed to detect the expression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1αsignaling pathway-related proteins.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect serum basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF),transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in mice.Results:Scorpiones,Scolopendra and Gekko prolonged the survival time and inhibited lung cancer metastasis and expression of HIF-1α(all P<0.01).Moreover,Scorpiones,Scolopendra and Gekko inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and ribosomal protein S6 kinase(p70S6K)(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In addition,they also decreased the expression of CD31,MVD,bFGF,TGF-β1 and VEGF compared with the model group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:Scorpiones,Scolopendra and Gekko all showed beneficial effects on lung cancer by ameliorating the hypoxic tumor microenvironment via PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1αsignaling pathway.