Calcium plays a key role in the effects induced by a snake venom Lys49 phospholipase A2 homologue on a lymphoblastoid cell line

Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies

Snakebite envenoming is an important public health issue responsible for mortality and severe morbidity. Where mortality is mainly caused by venom toxins that induce cardiovascular disturbances, neurotoxicity, and acute kidney injury, morbidity is caused by toxins that directly or indirectly destroy cells and degrade the extracellular matrix. These are referred to as 'tissue-damaging toxins' and have previously been classified in various ways, most of which are based on the tissues being affected (e.g., cardiotoxins, myotoxins). This categorisation, however, is primarily phenomenological and not mechanistic. In this review, we propose an alternative way of classifying cytotoxins based on their mechanistic effects rather than using a description that is organ- or tissue-based. The mechanisms of toxin-induced tissue damage and their clinical implications are discussed. This review contributes to our understanding of fundamental biological processes associated with snakebite envenoming, which may pave the way for a knowledge-based search for novel therapeutic options.

Three snake venoms from Bothrops genus induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in K562 human leukemic cell line

Cancer is indisputably one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Snake venoms are a potential source of bioactive compounds, complex mixtures constituted mainly of proteins and peptides with several pharmacological possibilities, including the potential to inhibit tumoral cell growth. In the present study, it was evaluated the antitumor effect of crude venom of Bothrops erythromelas (BeV), Bothrops jararaca (from Southern and Southeastern- BjsV and BjsdV, respectively) and Bothrops alternatus (BaV) in in vitro Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cancer cell line model. After 24 h of cell exposure to 10 and 50 μg/mL, BjsV, BjsdV, and BaV exerted a decrease in cell viability in both concentrations. BeV was not cytotoxic and, therefore wasn't chosen for further mechanism of action investigation. Furthermore, morphological alterations show modification typical of apoptosis. Also, was observes a significant cell cycle arrest in the S phase by BjsdV and BaV treatment. Flow cytometry evidenced the involvement of changes in the cell membrane permeability and the mitochondrial function by BjsV and BjsdV, corroborating with the triggering of the apoptotic pathway by the venom administration. BjsV, BjsdV, and BaV also led to extensive DNA damage and were shown to modulate the gene expression of transcripts related to the cell cycle progression and suppress the expression of the BCR-ABL1 oncogene. Altogether, these findings suggest that the venoms trigger the apoptosis pathway due to mitochondrial damage and cell cycle arrest, with modulation of intracellular pathways important for CML progression. Thus, indicating the pharmacological potential of these venoms in the development of new antitumoral compounds.

Lys49 myotoxins, secreted phospholipase A2-like proteins of viperid venoms: A comprehensive review

Muscle necrosis is a potential clinical complication of snakebite envenomings, which in severe cases can lead to functional or physical sequelae such as disability or amputation. Snake venom proteins with the ability to directly damage skeletal muscle fibers are collectively referred to as myotoxins, and include three main types: cytolysins of the "three-finger toxin" protein family expressed in many elapid venoms, the so-called "small" myotoxins found in a number of rattlesnake venoms, and the widespread secreted phospholipase A₂ (sPLA₂) molecules. Among the latter, protein variants that conserve the sPLA₂ structure, but lack such enzymatic activity, have been increasingly found in the venoms of many viperid species. Intriguingly, these sPLA₂-like proteins are able to induce muscle necrosis by a mechanism independent of phospholipid hydrolysis. They are commonly referred to as "Lys49 myotoxins" since they most often present, among other substitutions, the replacement of the otherwise invariant residue Asp49 of sPLA₂s by Lys. This work comprehensively reviews the historical developments and current knowledge towards deciphering the mechanism of action of Lys49 sPLA₂-like myotoxins, and points out main gaps to be filled for a better understanding of these multifaceted snake venom proteins, to hopefully lead to improved treatments for snakebites.

In vitro anti-venom potential of various solvent based leaf extracts of Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottler ex Vahl) Wight against Naja naja and Daboia russelli

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Snake bite is a major occupational hazard in tropical and subtropical countries including India as per the World Health Organization. Naja naja (Indian cobra) and Daboia russelli (Russell's viper) are the two poisonous snakes commonly associated with human mortality in India. Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottler ex Vahl) Wight has been documented in ethnobotanical records as a plant possessing potent anti-snake venom activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study is aimed for systematic evaluation of in vitro anti-venom potential of various solvent based leaf extracts of A. serpyllifolia against toxic venom enzymes of Naja naja and Daboia russelli.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Different solvent based leaf extracts of A. serpyllifolia were tested against the snake venoms of Naja naja and Daboia russelli obtained from Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Co-operative Society Limited, Kancheepuram, Tamil nadu, India. Three different in vitro neutralization assays such as indirect hemolysis, procoagulent and lytic activities and seven in vitro enzyme inhibition assays such as protease, acetylcholinesterase, phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, 5'nucleotidase, phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase and post synaptic acetylcholine receptor binding activity were carried out according to standard protocols. The results were analyzed using the standard ANOVA procedures.

RESULTS

Among various solvent based leaf extracts of A. serpyllifolia tested, aqueous extract showed maximum neutralizing and inhibitory activities against Naja naja and Daboia russelli venoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The various in vitro enzymatic studies reveal that the aqueous leaf extract of A. serpyllifolia plant could inhibit most of the toxic enzymes of the Naja naja and Daboia russelli venoms which could be further confirmed by in vivo studies.

Whole snake venoms: Cytotoxic, anti-metastatic and antiangiogenic properties

Currently, biological and organic substances are screened in order to find a new generation of therapeutics active against cancer. Previous research has identified promising candidate peptides in snake venom. In this study, venoms from different snake species (Naja annulifera, Naja kaouthia, Ophiophagus hannah and Echis carinatus) were screened for potential anti-cancer properties using pancreatic tumour cells as the assay system. The cells were incubated with venom and then subjected to the following analyses: (i) in vitro cell death (ii) in vitro migration (iii) in vivo dissemination and (iv) in vivo angiogenesis. For the in vivo assays, the cells, after incubation and labelling, were transplanted into the yolk sac of zebrafish embryos for motility and angiogenesis. The results showed strong effects in cells treated with venoms from Ophiophagus hannah and Echis carinatus in the in vitro assays. In the in vivo assays, venom derived from Ophiophagus hannah had the most potent effects with respect to angiogenesis. These venoms might therefore be considered as candidates for further studies.

Identification of Lys49-PLA2 from crude venom of Crotalus atrox as a human neutrophil-calcium modulating protein

We fortuitously observed a human neutrophil intracellular free-calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) increasing activity in the commercially available phosphodiesterase I (PDE I), which is actually dried crude venom of Crotalus atrox. As this activity was not observed with another commercially available pure PDE I, we tried to find out the causative molecule(s) present in 'crude' PDE, and identified Lys49-phospholipase A2 (Lys49-PLA2 or K49-PLA2), a catalytically inactive protein which belongs to the phospholipase A2 family, by activity-driven three HPLC (reverse phase, size exclusion, reverse phase) steps followed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. K49-PLA2 induced Ca²⁺ infl ux in human neutrophils without any cytotoxic eff ect. Two calcium channel inhibitors, 2-aminoetoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) (30 µM) and SKF-96365 (20 µM) signifi cantly inhibited K49-PLA2-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increase. These results suggest that K49-PLA2 modulates [Ca²⁺]_i in human neutrophils via 2-APB- and SKF-96365-sensitive calcium channels without causing membrane disruption.

Bothropoides pauloensis venom effects on isolated perfused kidney and cultured renal tubular epithelial cells

Snake envenomation (Bothrops genus) is common in tropical countries and acute kidney injury is one of the complications observed in Bothrops snakebite with relevant morbidity and mortality. Here, we showed that Bothropoides pauloensis venom (BpV) decreased cell viability (IC50 of 7.5 μg/mL). Flow cytometry with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that cell death occurred predominantly by apoptosis and late apoptosis, through caspases 3 and 7 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and ROS overproduction. BpV reduced perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate, percentage of sodium, chloride or potassium tubular transportation. These findings demonstrated that BpV cytotoxicity on renal epithelial cells might be responsible for the nephrotoxicity observed in isolated kidney.

Aberrant methylation of the M-type phospholipase A(2) receptor gene in leukemic cells

Background

The M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) plays a crucial role in several signaling pathways and may act as tumor-suppressor. This study examined the expression and methylation of the PLA2R1 gene in Jurkat and U937 leukemic cell lines and its methylation in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute leukemia.

Methods

Sites of methylation of the PLA2R1 locus were identified by sequencing bisulfite-modified DNA fragments. Methylation specific-high resolution melting (MS-HRM) analysis was then carried out to quantify PLA2R1 methylation at 5`-CpG sites identified with differences in methylation between healthy control subjects and leukemic patients using sequencing of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA.

Results

Expression of PLA2R1 was found to be completely down-regulated in Jurkat and U937 cells, accompanied by complete methylation of PLA2R1 promoter and down-stream regions; PLA2R1 was re-expressed after exposure of cells to 5-aza-2´-deoxycytidine. MS-HRM analysis of the PLA2R1 locus in patients with different types of leukemia indicated an average methylation of 28.9% ± 17.8%, compared to less than 9% in control subjects. In MDS patients the extent of PLA2R1 methylation significantly increased with disease risk. Furthermore, measurements of PLA2R1 methylation appeared useful for predicting responsiveness to the methyltransferase inhibitor, azacitidine, as a pre-emptive treatment to avoid hematological relapse in patients with high-risk MDS or acute myeloid leukemia.

Conclusions

The study shows for the first time that PLA2R1 gene sequences are a target of hypermethylation in leukemia, which may have pathophysiological relevance for disease evolution in MDS and leukemogenesis.

Bothrops leucurus venom induces nephrotoxicity in the isolated perfused kidney and cultured renal tubular epithelia

Bites from snake (Bothrops genus) cause local tissue damage and systemic complications, which include alterations such as hemostatic system and acute renal failure (ARF). Recent studies suggest that ARF pathogenesis in snakebite envenomation is multifactorial and involves hemodynamic disturbances, immunologic reactions and direct nephrotoxicity. The aim of the work was to investigate the effects of the Bothrops leucurus venom (BlV) in the renal perfusion system and in cultured renal tubular cells of the type MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine kidney). BlV (10 μg/mL) reduced the perfusion pressure at 90 and 120 min. The renal vascular resistance (RVR) decreased at 120 min of perfusion. The effect on urinary flow (UF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) started 30 min after BlV infusion, was transient and returned to normal at 120 min of perfusion. It was also observed a decrease on percentual tubular transport of sodium (%TNa(+)) at 120 min and of chloride (%TCl(-)) at 60 and 90 min. The treatment with BlV caused decrease in cell viability to the lowest concentration tested with an IC(50) of 1.25 μg/mL. Flow cytometry with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that cell death occurred predominantly by necrosis. However, a cell death process may involve apoptosis in lower concentrations. BlV treatment (1.25 μg/mL) led to significant depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and, indeed, we found an increase in the expression of cell death genes in the lower concentrations tested. The venom also evoked an increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) in a concentration dependent manner, indicating that Ca(2+) may participate in the venom of B. leucurus effect. The characterization of the effects in the isolated kidney and renal tubular cells gives strong evidences that the acute renal failure induced by this venom is a result of the direct nephrotoxicity which may involve the cell death mechanism.

Ikarugamycin induces DNA damage, intracellular calcium increase, p38 MAP kinase activation and apoptosis in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells

Ikarugamycin (IKA) is an antibiotic with strong antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activity. The purpose of our work was to provide insight into the mechanism of action characterizing the cytotoxic effect of IKA in HL-60 leukemia cells in order to evaluate its potential as an antineoplastic agent. Cell viability was reduced in response to IKA (IC(50) of 221.3nM), while the amount of HL-60 cells with a subdiploid DNA content increased significantly after 24h. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by the cleavage of caspase-9, -8 and -3 using immunoblotting. Single cell gel electrophoresis pointed to an early genotoxic effect. Monitoring of intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) levels by flow cytometric analysis of Fluo-3-AM fluorescence indicated an increase in cytosolic calcium that correlated with the cleavage of caspases. In addition, IKA triggered the activation of p38 MAP kinase which was partly dependent on elevated [Ca(2+)](i) concentrations and contributed to caspase activation. The data demonstrate that IKA induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells through genotoxicity and caspase activation which was in part correlated to an increase in intracellular calcium levels and activation of p38 MAP kinase.

Involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of secreted phospholipase A2 expressions in Jurkat leukemia cells

Epigenetic changes provide a frequent mechanism for transcriptional silencing of genes in cancer cells. We previously established that epigenetic mechanisms are important for control of group IIA phospholipase A(2) (PLA2G2A) gene transcription in human DU-145 prostate cells. In this study, we analyzed the involvement of such mechanisms in the regulation of five sPLA(2) isozymes and the M-type receptor of sPLA(2) (sPLA(2)-R) in human leukemic Jurkat cells. These cells constitutively expressed sPLA(2)-IB, sPLA(2)-III, sPLA(2)-X, and sPLA(2)-R but not sPLA(2)-IIA and sPLA(2)-V. Transcription of sPLA(2)-IIA and sPLA(2)-V was, however, detected after exposure of cells to the DNA demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC). Expression of sPLA(2)-IIA was further enhanced by additional exposure to interferon-gamma and blocked by inhibitors of specificity protein 1, nuclear factor kappaB, and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-dependent pathways. Sequence analysis and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction of bisulfite-modified genomic DNA revealed two 5'-CpG sites (-111 and -82) in the sPLA(2)-IIA proximal promoter that were demethylated after 5-aza-dC treatment. These sites may be involved in the DNA binding of specificity protein 1 and other transcription factors. Similar findings after treatment of human U937 leukemia cells with 5-aza-dC indicate that this mechanism of PLA2G2A gene silencing is not restricted to Jurkat and DU-145 cells. These data establish that regulation of sPLA(2)-IIA and sPLA(2)-V in Jurkat and other cells involves epigenetic silencing by DNA hypermethylation.

Cytotoxicity induced in myotubes by a Lys49 phospholipase A2 homologue from the venom of the snake Bothrops asper: Evidence of rapid plasma membrane damage and a dual role for extracellular calcium

Acute muscle tissue damage, myonecrosis, is a typical consequence of envenomations by snakes of the family Viperidae. Catalytically-inactive Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologues are abundant myotoxic components in viperid venoms, causing plasma membrane damage by a mechanism independent of phospholipid hydrolysis. However, the precise mode of action of these myotoxins remains unsolved. In this work, a cell culture model of C2C12 myotubes was used to assess the action of Bothrops asper myotoxin II (Mt-II), a Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologue. Mt-II induced a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect associated with plasma membrane disruption, evidenced by the release of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the penetration of propidium iodide. A rapid increment in cytosolic Ca(2+) occurred after addition of Mt-II. Such elevation was associated with hypercontraction of myotubes and blebbing of plasma membrane. An increment in the Ca(2+) signal was observed in myotube nuclei. Elimination of extracellular Ca(2+) resulted in increased cytotoxicity upon incubation with Mt-II, suggesting a membrane-protective role for extracellular Ca(2+). Chelation of cytosolic Ca(2+) with BAPTA-AM did not modify the cytotoxic effect, probably due to the large increment induced by Mt-II in cytosolic Ca(2+) which overrides the chelating capacity of BAPTA-AM. It is concluded that Mt-II induces rapid and drastic plasma membrane lesion and a prominent Ca(2+) influx in myotubes. Extracellular Ca(2+) plays a dual role in this model: it protects the membrane from the cytolytic action of the toxin; at the same time, the Ca(2+) influx that occurs after membrane disruption is likely to play a key role in the intracellular degenerative events associated with Mt-II-induced myotube damage.