Antimicrobial peptide cecropins derived from Antheraea pernyi trigger cell apoptosis through mitochondrial caspase-dependent pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells

Cecropins are vital innate immune effectors in pathogen defence of animals. Studies have demonstrated that cecropins also possess anticancer capacity against numerous cancerous cells. In this study, the anticancer effects of A. pernyi cecropin D (ApCecD) and cecropin like protein (ApCecL) were investigated in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. CCK-8 assay indicated that ApCecD and ApCecL suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Wound healing experiments showed that A. pernyi cecropins inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Hoechst staining suggested that treatment with ApCecD and ApCecL induced apoptotic features, including nuclear-like chromatin condensation and increased in nuclear body fragments. Western blotting results showed that ApCecD and ApCecL induced apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated endogenous pathway by upregulating the expression of caspase 3, BNIP3 and Bax. These findings indicated that ApCecD and ApCecL are promising candidates for developing new drugs in breast cancer treatment.