Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Crude Venom Isolated from Parasitoid Wasp, Bracon hebetor Say

A review on inflammation modulating venom proteins/peptide therapeutics and their delivery strategies: A review

Inflammation is an initial biological reaction that occurs in response to infection caused by foreign pathogens or injury. This process involves a tightly controlled series of signaling events at the molecular and cellular levels, with the ultimate goal of restoring tissue balance and protecting against invading pathogens. Malfunction in the process of inflammation can result in a diverse array of diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, the management of inflammation is of utmost importance in modern medicine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids have long been the mainstays of pharmacological treatment for inflammation, effectively alleviating symptoms in many patients. Recently, toxins and venom, formerly seen as mostly harmful to the human body, have been recognized as possible medicinal substances for treating inflammation. Organisms that are venomous, such as spiders, scorpions, snakes, and certain marine species, have developed a wide range of powerful toxins that can effectively disable or discourage predators. Remarkably, the majority of these poisons and venoms consist of proteins and peptides, which are acknowledged as significant bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. The goal of this review is to investigate the medicinal potential of peptides derived from venoms and their complex mechanism of action in suppressing inflammation. This review also discusses various challenges and future prospects for effective venom delivery.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Venom Genes of the Ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) exhibits a broad parasitic capability towards various lepidopteran pests, with venom serving as a crucial virulent factor ensuring successful parasitization and subsequent host mortality. Analyzing the constituents of its venom is essential for elucidating the mechanisms underlying efficient host killing by this parasitoid and for exploring potentially functional venom proteins. Through a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 34 venom proteins were identified within the venom of H. hebetor, encompassing known components such as serine protease, metalloproteinase, esterase, and serine protease inhibitors commonly present in parasitoid venoms. Unique components like paralytic protein and ion transport peptide-like were identified, possibly specific to certain parasitoids, along with novel proteins with uncharacterized functions. Spatial gene expression profiling of the identified venom proteins using transcriptomic data, corroborated by quantitative PCR validation for 13 randomly selected proteins, revealed abundant expression levels in the venom apparatus, affirming them as genuine venom components. Notably, the paralytic protein exhibited prominent expression, with the highest FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped) value of 24,704.87 in the venom apparatus, indicative of its significant role in successful parasitism by H. hebetor. The identification of these venom proteins establishes a foundation for the further exploration of bioactive agents for pest management strategies.

Multi-Omic Identification of Venom Proteins Collected from Artificial Hosts of a Parasitoid Wasp

Habrobracon hebetor is a parasitoid wasp capable of infesting many lepidopteran larvae. It uses venom proteins to immobilize host larvae and prevent host larval development, thus playing an important role in the biocontrol of lepidopteran pests. To identify and characterize its venom proteins, we developed a novel venom collection method using an artificial host (ACV), i.e., encapsulated amino acid solution in paraffin membrane, allowing parasitoid wasps to inject venom. We performed protein full mass spectrometry analysis of putative venom proteins collected from ACV and venom reservoirs (VRs) (control). To verify the accuracy of proteomic data, we also collected venom glands (VGs), Dufour's glands (DGs) and ovaries (OVs), and performed transcriptome analysis. In this paper, we identified 204 proteins in ACV via proteomic analysis; compared ACV putative venom proteins with those identified in VG, VR, and DG via proteome and transcriptome approaches; and verified a set of them using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, 201 ACV proteins were identified as potential venom proteins. In addition, we screened 152 and 148 putative venom proteins identified in the VG transcriptome and the VR proteome against those in ACV, and found only 26 and 25 putative venom proteins, respectively, were overlapped with those in ACV. Altogether, our data suggest proteome analysis of ACV in combination with proteome-transcriptome analysis of other organs/tissues will provide the most comprehensive identification of true venom proteins in parasitoid wasps.

Host Transcriptome Analysis of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae Parasitized by Microplitis manilae

It has been extensively found that parasitoids manipulate host physiology to benefit the survival and development of their offspring. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms have not received much attention. To reveal the effects of parasitization of the larval solitary endoparasitoid Microplitis manilae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on host Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most destructive agricultural pests in China, deep-sequencing-based transcriptome analysis was conducted to compare the host gene expression levels after 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h parasitization. A total of 1861, 962, and 108 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the S. frugiperda larvae at 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-parasitization, respectively, compared with unparasitized controls. The changes in host gene expressions were most likely caused by the injection of wasp parasitic factors, including PDVs, that were injected along with the eggs during oviposition. Based on the functional annotations in GO and KEGG databases, we revealed that most DEGs were implicated in host metabolism and immunity. Further analysis of the common DEGs in three comparisons between the unparasitized and parasitized groups identified four genes, including one unknown and three prophenoloxidase (PPO) genes. Moreover, 46 and 7 common DEGs involved in host metabolism and immunity were identified at two or three time points after parasitization, respectively. Among these, most DEGs showed increased expressions at 2 h post-wasp parasitization while exhibiting significantly decreased expression levels at 24 h post-parasitization, demonstrating the expression regulations of M. manilae parasitization on host metabolism and immune-related genes. Further qPCR verification in 20 randomly selected DEGs confirmed the accuracy and reproducibility of the gene expression profiles generated from RNA-seq. This study reveals the molecular regulatory network about how host insects respond to wasp parasitism, laying a solid foundation for revealing the physiological manipulation of wasp parasitization on host insects, which facilitates the development of biological control practices for parasitoids.

Wasp venom from Vespa magnifica acts as a neuroprotective agent to alleviate neuronal damage after stroke in rats

CONTEXT

Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a major cause of disability and death, which is a serious threat to human health and life. Wasp venom extracted from Vespa magnifica Smith (Vespidae) could treat major neurological disorders.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of wasp venom on AIS in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in Sprague-Dawley rats (260-280 g, n = 8-15) with a sham operation group being treated as negative control. MCAO rats were treated with wasp venom (0.05, 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg, i.p.) using intraperitoneal injection. After treatment 48 h, behavioural tests, cortical blood flow (CBF), TTC staining, H&E staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL assay, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ELISA were employed to investigate neuroprotective effects of wasp venom.

RESULTS

Compared with the MCAO group, wasp venom (0.6 mg/kg) improved neurological impairment, accelerated CBF recovery (205.6 ± 52.92 versus 216.7 ± 34.56), reduced infarct volume (337.1 ± 113.2 versus 140.7 ± 98.03) as well as BBB permeability as evidenced by changes in claudin-5 and AQP4. In addition, function recovery of stroke by wasp venom treatment was associated with a decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and inhibition activated microglia as well as apoptosis. Simultaneously, the wasp venom regulated the angiogenesis factors VEGF and b-FGF in the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Wasp venom exhibited a potential neuroprotective effect for AIS. In the future, we will focus on determining whether the observed actions were due to a single compound or the interaction of multiple components of the venom.

Biological and Inflammatory Effects of Antigen 5 from Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) Venom in Mouse Intraperitoneal Macrophages

The social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is highly aggressive, being responsible for many medical occurrences. One of the most allergenic components of this venom is Antigen 5 (Poly p 5). The possible modulation of the in vitro immune response induced by antigen 5 from P. paulista venom, expressed recombinantly (rPoly p 5), on BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages, activated or not with LPS, was assessed. Here, we analyzed cell viability changes, expression of the phosphorylated form of p65 NF-κB subunit, nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production, and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86). The results suggest that rPoly p 5 does not affect NO production nor the expression of co-stimulatory molecules in mouse peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, rPoly p 5 induced an increase in IL-1β production in non-activated macrophages and a reduction in the production of TNF-α and MCP-1 cytokines in activated macrophages. rPoly p 5 decreased the in vitro production of the phosphorylated p65 NF-κB subunit in non-activated macrophages. These findings suggest an essential role of this allergen in the polarization of functional M2 macrophage phenotypes, when analyzed in previously activated macrophages. Further investigations, mainly in in vivo studies, should be conducted to elucidate Polybia paulista Ag5 biological role in the macrophage functional profile modulation.

Duchesnea indica Extract Attenuates Coal Fly Ash-Induced Inflammation in Murine Alveolar Macrophages through the NF-Kappa B Pathway

Duchesnea indica is known as false strawberry, is found in East Asia, and has numerous biological properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Duchesnea indica extract (DIE) on coal fly ash- (CFA-) induced inflammation in murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S). Following the induction of inflammation in MH-S cells by CFA, nitric oxide (NO) was measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of DIE. Cell viability and inflammatory gene expression were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The inflammatory pathway in MH-S cells was determined via western blotting and immunofluorescence (IF) analysis. Finally, the major components of the DIE were identified and separated through ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Our results showed that the DIE dose-dependently inhibited the CFA-induced NO production in MH-S cells. Moreover, the DIE could suppress the CFA-induced proinflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In addition, the inhibitory effect of the DIE on proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), was detected with PCR. Moreover, the effect of the DIE on the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway in CFA-activated MH-S cells was measured via western blotting. Furthermore, the inhibition of the phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB) translocation was analyzed using IF assay. The findings of this study indicated that the DIE potentially inhibited the CFA-induced inflammation by blocking the NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway in MH-S cells and that the DIE might contain favorable anti-inflammatory compounds which may be effective in attenuating lung inflammation.

Wasp Venom Biochemical Components and Their Potential in Biological Applications and Nanotechnological Interventions

Wasps, members of the order Hymenoptera, are distributed in different parts of the world, including Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Argentina. The lifestyles of the wasps are solitary and social. Social wasps use venom as a defensive measure to protect their colonies, whereas solitary wasps use their venom to capture prey. Chemically, wasp venom possesses a wide variety of enzymes, proteins, peptides, volatile compounds, and bioactive constituents, which include phospholipase A2, antigen 5, mastoparan, and decoralin. The bioactive constituents have anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the limited quantities of wasp venom and the scarcity of advanced strategies for the synthesis of wasp venom’s bioactive compounds remain a challenge facing the effective usage of wasp venom. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is currently used to prepare wasp venom peptides and their analogs such as mastoparan, anoplin, decoralin, polybia-CP, and polydim-I. The goal of the current review is to highlight the medicinal value of the wasp venom compounds, as well as limitations and possibilities. Wasp venom could be a potential and novel natural source to develop innovative pharmaceuticals and new agents for drug discovery.

Beneficial role of insect-derived bioactive components against inflammation and its associated complications (colitis and arthritis) and cancer

Insect-based bioactive components are emerging as novel sources of drugs, effective against various diseases. Inflammation is considered to be an innate immune response developed by different organisms against foreign pathogens and cellular stress. However, repetitive elevated inflammation is considered to be responsible for development of many other diseases including colitis and arthritis. Due to the limited activities and side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, researchers are continuously looking for alternative sources of drug molecules to alleviate the inflammatory related complications. Recently, insect-based bioactive components, such as venoms, haemocytes, cecropin A, papiliocin, N-acetyldopamine dimers, cecropin-TY1 peptide, cop A3 peptide, glycosaminoglycan, coprisin peptide, silk fibroin microparticles, and silk fibroin nanoparticles have been found to be active against different inflammatory mechanisms and associated diseases. Cancers, are some of the deadliest diseases, which are mainly treated by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. However, such treatments, mainly chemotherapy, is associated with enormous side effects. Therefore, as an alternative, less hazardous option, compounds from insects with anti-cancerous activity are being explored. Insect-derived compounds, such as cantharidin, norcantharidin, isocoumarin, plancyols A, plancypyrazine A, pancratistatin, narciclasine, and ungeremine, show potential anti-cancerous activity. In this review, we will be discussing the role of different potential drug molecules of insect origin with special emphasis on anti-inflammation and their association with health disorders and cancer.

The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of Korean black ginseng

BACKGROUND

Different processing conditions alter the ginseng bioactive compounds, promoting or reducing its anti-inflammatory effects. We compared black ginseng (BG) - that have been steamed 5 times - with red ginseng (RG).

HYPOTHESIS/ PURPOSE

To compare the anti-inflammatory activities and the anti-nociceptive properties of RG and BG.

METHODS

Nitric Oxide (NO) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay, quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema RESULTS: The ginsenoside contents were confirmed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and has been altered through increased processing. The highest concentration of these extracts inhibited NO production to near-basal levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 without exhibiting cytotoxicity. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression at the mRNA level was investigated using qRT-PCR. Comparatively, BG exhibited better inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators, iNOS and COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Protein expression was determined using western blot analysis and BG exhibited stronger inhibition. Xylene-induced ear edema model in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats were carried out and tested with the effects of ginseng as well as dexamethasone and indomethacin - commonly used drugs. BG is a more potent anti-inflammatory agent, possesses anti-nociceptive properties, and has a strong potency comparable to the NSAIDs.

CONCLUSION

BG has more potent anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects due to the change in ginsenoside component with increased processing.