Melittin inhibits lung metastasis of human osteosarcoma: Evidence of wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway participation

Melittin is a major active peptide component of bee venom that has been demonstrated to show anti-tumor effects. Osteosarcoma is a type of bone tumor with a high degree of malignancy, and metastasis is the main challenge of osteosarcoma therapy. This study aimed to investigate the role of melittin in the lung metastasis of osteosarcoma. 143 B cells were treated with different concentrations of melittin in vitro. Wound-healing and transwell assays were performed to determine the cell migration and invasion potential. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot experiments were performed to evaluate the expression levels of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway-related factors after treatment with melittin. The orthotopic implantation model and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to investigate the effect of melittin treatment on tumor formation and lung metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot experiments were performed to indicate the melittin-mediated expression changes in Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway-related factors. The cell migration and invasion potential were observed to be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner upon treatment with melittin. Treatment with medium and high concentrations of melittin attenuated the mRNA and protein expression of LRP5, beta-catenin, MMP2, cyclin D, c-Myc, survivin, MMP-9, and VEGF genes in vitro. Melittin significantly inhibited the growth of tibia xenografts in nude mice and decreased the number of lung metastatic nodules. Consistent with the results observed in vitro, treatment with melittin at medium and high concentrations attenuated the expression of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway-related factors in vivo. In vitro, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was involved in Melittin-mediated -migration and invasion potential of 143 B cells. Similarly, as observed in the in vivo experiments, Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was also associated with the role of melittin on lung metastasis of osteosarcomas.