Peptide Blocker of Ion Channel TRPV1 Exhibits a Long Analgesic Effect in the Heat Stimulation Model

Molecular mechanisms of two novel and selective TRPV1 channel activators

Venomous toxins hold immense value as tools in elucidating the intricate structure and underlying mechanisms of ion channels. In this article, we identified of two novel toxins, Hainantoxin-XXI (HNTX-XXI) and Hainantoxin-XXII (HNTX-XXII), derived from the venom of the Chinese spider Ornithoctonus hainana. HNTX-XXI, boasting a molecular weight of 6869.095 Da, comprises 64 amino acid residues and contains 8 cysteines. Meanwhile, HNTX-XXII, with a molecular weight of 8623.732 Da, comprises 77 amino acid residues and contains 12 cysteines. Remarkably, we discovered that both HNTX-XXI and HNTX-XXII possess the ability to activate TRPV1. They activated TRPV1 with EC50 values of 3.6 ± 0.19 μM and 862 ± 56 nM, respectively. Furthermore, the current generated by the activation of TRPV1 by these toxins can be rapidly blocked by ruthenium red. Intriguingly, our analysis revealed that the interaction between HNTX-XXI and TRPV1 is mediated by three key amino acid residues: L465, V469, and D471. Similarly, the interaction between HNTX-XXII and TRPV1 is facilitated by four key amino acid residues: A657, F659, E600, and R601. These findings provide profound insights into the molecular basis of toxin-TRPV1 interactions and pave the way for future research exploring the therapeutic potential of these toxic peptides.

Diversity analysis of sea anemone peptide toxins in different tissues of Heteractis crispa based on transcriptomics

Peptide toxins found in sea anemones venom have diverse properties that make them important research subjects in the fields of pharmacology, neuroscience and biotechnology. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to systematically analyze the venom components of the tentacles, column, and mesenterial filaments of sea anemone Heteractis crispa, revealing the diversity and complexity of sea anemone toxins in different tissues. A total of 1049 transcripts were identified and categorized into 60 families, of which 91.0% were proteins and 9.0% were peptides. Of those 1049 transcripts, 416, 291, and 307 putative proteins and peptide precursors were identified from tentacles, column, and mesenterial filaments respectively, while 428 were identified when the datasets were combined. Of these putative toxin sequences, 42 were detected in all three tissues, including 33 proteins and 9 peptides, with the majority of peptides being ShKT domain, β-defensin, and Kunitz-type. In addition, this study applied bioinformatics approaches to predict the family classification, 3D structures, and functional annotation of these representative peptides, as well as the evolutionary relationships between peptides, laying the foundation for the next step of peptide pharmacological activity research.

Recombinant Analogs of Sea Anemone Kunitz-Type Peptides Influence P2X7 Receptor Activity in Neuro-2a Cells

Purinergic P2X7 receptors (P2X7) have now been proven to play an important role and represent an important therapeutic target in many pathological conditions including neurodegeneration. Here, we investigated the impact of peptides on purinergic signaling in Neuro-2a cells through the P2X7 subtype in in vitro models. We have found that a number of recombinant peptides, analogs of sea anemone Kunitz-type peptides, are able to influence the action of high concentrations of ATP and thereby reduce the toxic effects of ATP. The influx of calcium, as well as the fluorescent dye YO-PRO-1, was significantly suppressed by the studied peptides. Immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that the peptides reduce the P2X7 expression level in neuronal Neuro-2a cells. Two selected active peptides, HCRG1 and HCGS1.10, were found to specifically interact with the extracellular domain of P2X7 and formed stable complexes with the receptor in surface plasmon resonance experiments. The molecular docking approach allowed us to establish the putative binding sites of the most active HCRG1 peptide on the extracellular domain of the P2X7 homotrimer and propose a mechanism for regulating its function. Thus, our work demonstrates the ability of the Kunitz-type peptides to prevent neuronal death by affecting signaling through the P2X7 receptor.

Kunitz-Type Peptides from Sea Anemones Protect Neuronal Cells against Parkinson's Disease Inductors via Inhibition of ROS Production and ATP-Induced P2X7 Receptor Activation

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a socially significant disease, during the development of which oxidative stress and inflammation play a significant role. Here, we studied the neuroprotective effects of four Kunitz-type peptides from Heteractis crispa and Heteractis magnifica sea anemones against PD inductors. The peptide HCIQ1c9, which was obtained for the first time, inhibited trypsin less than other peptides due to unfavorable interactions of Arg17 with Lys43 in the enzyme. Its activity was reduced by up to 70% over the temperature range of 60–100 °C, while HCIQ2c1, HCIQ4c7, and HMIQ3c1 retained their conformation and stayed active up to 90–100 °C. All studied peptides inhibited paraquat- and rotenone-induced intracellular ROS formation, in particular NO, and scavenged free radicals outside the cells. The peptides did not modulate the TRPV1 channels but they affected the P2X7R, both of which are considered therapeutic targets in Parkinson’s disease. HMIQ3c1 and HCIQ4c7 almost completely inhibited the ATP-induced uptake of YO-PRO-1 dye in Neuro-2a cells through P2X7 ion channels and significantly reduced the stable calcium response in these cells. The complex formation of the peptides with the P2X7R extracellular domain was determined via SPR analysis. Thus, these peptides may be considered promising compounds to protect neuronal cells against PD inductors, which act as ROS production inhibitors and partially act as ATP-induced P2X7R activation inhibitors.

Deep-Sea Anemones Are Prospective Source of New Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Compounds

The peculiarities of the survival and adaptation of deep-sea organisms raise interest in the study of their metabolites as promising drugs. In this work, the hemolytic, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and enzyme-inhibitory activities of tentacle extracts from five species of sea anemones (Cnidaria, orders Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) collected near the Kuril and Commander Islands of the Far East of Russia were evaluated for the first time. The extracts of Liponema brevicorne and Actinostola callosa demonstrated maximal hemolytic activity, while high cytotoxic activity against murine splenocytes and Ehrlich carcinoma cells was found in the extract of Actinostola faeculenta. The extracts of Corallimorphus cf. pilatus demonstrated the greatest activity against Ehrlich carcinoma cells but were not toxic to mouse spleen cells. Sea anemones C. cf. pilatus and Stomphia coccinea are promising sources of antimicrobial and antifungal compounds, being active against Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast Candida albicans. Moreover, all sea anemones contain α-galactosidase inhibitors. Peptide mass fingerprinting of L. brevicorne and C. cf. pilatus extracts provided a wide range of peptides, predominantly with molecular masses of 4000–5900 Da, which may belong to a known or new structural class of toxins. The obtained data allow concluding that deep-sea anemones are a promising source of compounds for drug discovery.

TRPV1 Blocker HCRG21 Suppresses TNF-α Production and Prevents the Development of Edema and Hypersensitivity in Carrageenan-Induced Acute Local Inflammation

Currently the TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1) channel is considered to be one of the main targets for pro-inflammatory mediators including TNF-α. Similarly, the inhibition of TRPV1 activity in the peripheral nervous system affects pro-inflammatory mediator production and enhances analgesia in total. In this study, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of HCRG21, the first peptide blocker of TRPV1, were demonstrated in a mice model of carrageenan-induced paw edema. HCRG21 in doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg inhibited edema formation compared to the control, demonstrated complete edema disappearance in 24 h in a dose of 1 mg/kg, and effectively reduced the productionof TNF-α in both doses examined. ELISA analysis of blood taken 24 h after carrageenan administration showed a dramatic cytokine value decrease to 25 pg/mL by HCRG21 versus 100 pg/mL in the negative control group, which was less than the TNF-α level in the intact group (40 pg/mL). The HCRG21 demonstrated potent analgesic effects on the models of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in carrageenan-induced paw edema. The HCRG21 relief effect was comparable to that of indomethacin taken orally in a dose of 5 mg/kg, but was superior to this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in duration (which lasted 24 h) in the mechanical sensitivity experiment. The results confirm the existence of a close relationship between TRPV1 activity and TNF-α production once again, and prove the superior pharmacological potential of TRPV1 blockers and the HCRG21 peptide in particular.

TRPV1 Ion Channel: Structural Features, Activity Modulators, and Therapeutic Potential

Although TRPV1 ion channel has been attracting researchers' attention for many years, its functions in animal organisms, the principles of regulation, and the involvement in pathological processes have not yet been fully clarified. Mutagenesis experiments and structural studies have identified the structural features of the channel and binding sites for its numerous ligands; however, these studies are far from conclusion. This review summarizes recent achievements in the TRPV1 research with special focus on structural and functional studies of the channel and on its ligands, which are extremely diverse in their nature and interaction specificity to TRPV1. Particular attention was given to the effects of numerous endogenous agonists and antagonists that can fine-tune the channel sensitivity to its usual activators, such as capsaicin, heat, acids, or their combination. In addition to the pain sensing not covered in this review, the TRPV1 channel was found to be involved in the regulation of many important physiological and pathological processes and, therefore, can be considered as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of various diseases, such as pneumonia, ischemia, diabetes, epilepsy, schizophrenia, psoriasis, etc.

Sea Anemone Kunitz-Type Peptides Demonstrate Neuroprotective Activity in the 6-Hydroxydopamine Induced Neurotoxicity Model

Kunitz-type peptides from venomous animals have been known to inhibit different proteinases and also to modulate ion channels and receptors, demonstrating analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine and many other biological activities. At present, there is evidence of their neuroprotective effects. We have studied eight Kunitz-type peptides of the sea anemone Heteractis crispa to find molecules with cytoprotective activity in the 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model on neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells. It has been shown that only five peptides significantly increase the viability of neuronal cells treated with 6-OHDA. The TRPV1 channel blocker, HCRG21, has revealed the neuroprotective effect that could be indirect evidence of TRPV1 involvement in the disorders associated with neurodegeneration. The pre-incubation of Neuro-2a cells with HCRG21 followed by 6-OHDA treatment has resulted in a prominent reduction in ROS production compared the untreated cells. It is possible that the observed effect is due to the ability of the peptide act as an efficient free-radical scavenger. One more leader peptide, InhVJ, has shown a neuroprotective activity and has been studied at concentrations of 0.01–10.0 µM. The target of InhVJ is still unknown, but it was the best of all eight homologous peptides in an absolute cell viability increment on 38% of the control in the 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity model. The targets of the other three active peptides remain unknown.

Kunitz-Type Peptides from the Sea Anemone Heteractis crispa Demonstrate Potassium Channel Blocking and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

The Kunitz/BPTI peptide family includes unique representatives demonstrating various biological activities. Electrophysiological screening of peptides HCRG1 and HCRG2 from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa on six Kv1.x channel isoforms and insect Shaker IR channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed their potassium channels blocking activity. HCRG1 and HCRG2 appear to be the first Kunitz-type peptides from sea anemones blocking Kv1.3 with IC₅₀ of 40.7 and 29.7 nM, respectively. In addition, peptides mainly vary in binding affinity to the Kv1.2 channels. It was established that the single substitution, Ser5Leu, in the TRPV1 channel antagonist, HCRG21, induces weak blocking activity of Kv1.1, Kv1.2, and Kv1.3. Apparently, for the affinity and selectivity of Kunitz-fold toxins to Kv1.x isoforms, the number and distribution along their molecules of charged, hydrophobic, and polar uncharged residues, as well as the nature of the channel residue at position 379 (Tyr, Val or His) are important. Testing the compounds in a model of acute local inflammation induced by the introduction of carrageenan administration into mice paws revealed that HCRG1 at doses of 0.1–1 mg/kg reduced the volume of developing edema during 24 h, similar to the effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, at a dose of 5 mg/kg. ELISA analysis of the animals blood showed that the peptide reduced the synthesis of TNF-α, a pro-inflammatory mediator playing a leading role in the development of edema in this model.