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Castro EN, Zarzosa V, Lomonte B, Zamudio F, Hernandez-Orihuela L, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Rodríguez-Solís AM, Borja M, García-Vázquez UO, Jones JM, Parkinson CL, Alagón A. Exploring Venom Diversity in Mixcoatlus browni and Mixcoatlus barbouri: A Comparative Analysis of Two Rare Mexican Snake Species with Crotoxin-like Presence. Biochimie 2024:S0300-9084(24)00117-2. [PMID: 38762000 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The genus Mixcoatlus is composed of three species: Mixcoatlus barbouri, M. browni, and M. melanurus, of which the venom composition of M. melanurus, the most common species of the three, has only recently been described. However, very little is known about the natural history of M. barbouri and M. browni, and the venom composition of these two species has remained thus far unexplored. In this study we characterize the proteomic profiles and the main biochemical and toxic activities of these two venoms. Proteomic data obtained by shotgun analysis of whole venom identified 12 protein families for M. barbouri, and 13 for M. browni. The latter venom was further characterized by using a quantitative 'venomics' protocol, which revealed that it is mainly composed of 51.1% phospholipases A2 (PLA2), 25.5% snake venom serine proteases (SVSP), 4.6% L-amino oxidases (LAO), and 3.6% snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP), with lower percentages other six protein families. Both venoms contained homologs of the basic and acidic subunits of crotoxin. However, due to limitations in M. barbouri venom availability, we could only characterize the crotoxin-like protein of M. browni venom, which we have named Mixcoatlutoxin. It exhibited a lethal potency in mice like that described for classical rattlesnake crotoxins. These findings expand knowledge on the distribution of crotoxin-like heterodimeric proteins in viper snake species. Further investigation of the bioactivities of the venom of M. barbouri, on the other hand, remains necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Neri Castro
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010 Gómez Palacio, Dgo, México; Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México.
| | - Vanessa Zarzosa
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Fernando Zamudio
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010 Gómez Palacio, Dgo, México
| | - Lorena Hernandez-Orihuela
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México
| | - Audrey Michelle Rodríguez-Solís
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México
| | - Miguel Borja
- Investigador por México, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010 Gómez Palacio, Dgo, México
| | - Uri O García-Vázquez
- Laboratorio de Sistemática Molecular, Carrera de Biología, UMIEZ, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Batalla 5 de Mayo s/n, Ejército de Oriente, Ciudad de México 09230, México
| | | | - Chistopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Forestry, and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, 190 Collings St. Clemson, SC, 29631, USA
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, C.P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Mor., México.
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Ortolani PL, Campos PC, Fortes-Dias CL. The PLA 2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus terrificus blood plasma (CNF) inhibits group III-PLA 2 from honeybee venom. Toxicon 2024; 242:107711. [PMID: 38583578 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Crotalus neutralizing factor (CNF) is an endogenous glycoprotein from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake blood that inhibits secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) from the Viperid but not from Elapid venoms (subgroups IA and IIA, respectively). In the present study, we demonstrated that CNF can inhibit group III-PLA2 from bee venom by forming a stable enzyme-inhibitor complex. This finding opens up new possibilities for the potential use of CNF and/or CNF-based derivatives in the therapeutics of bee stings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ladeira Ortolani
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Cota Campos
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias (FUNED), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Bezerra P, Motti EF. 3-NAntC: A Potent Crotoxin B-Derived Peptide against the Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Line. Molecules 2024; 29:1646. [PMID: 38611925 PMCID: PMC11013444 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent type of tumor and a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths. Among its various subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents the worst prognosis due to its aggressive nature and the absence of effective treatments. Crotoxin, a protein found in the venom of Crotalus genus snakes, has demonstrated notable antitumor activity against aggressive solid tumors. However, its application has been hindered by substantial toxicity in humans. In efforts to address this challenge, Crotoxin B-derived peptides were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their antitumor potential, leading to the discovery of 3-NAntC. Treatment with 3-NAntC at 1 µg/mL for 72 h notably reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells to 49.0 ± 17.5% (p < 0.0001), while exhibiting minimal impact on the viability of HMEC cells (98.2 ± 13.8%) under the same conditions. Notably, 3-NAntC displayed superior antitumoral activity in vitro compared to cisplatin and exhibited a similar effect to doxorubicin. Further investigation revealed that 3-NAntC decreased the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells and induced G2/M phase arrest. It primarily prompted optimal cell death by apoptosis, with a lower incidence of the less desirable cell death by necrosis in comparison to doxorubicin. Additionally, 3-NAntC demonstrated low LDH release, and its cytotoxicity remained unaffected by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA. In an in vivo zebrafish model, 3-NAntC exhibited excellent tolerability, showing no lethal effects and a low rate of malformations at high doses of up to 75 mg/mL. Overall, 3-NAntC emerges as a novel synthetic peptide with promising antitumor effects in vitro against TNBC cells and low toxicity in vivo.
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Salvador GHM, Fernandes CAH, Borges RJ, Soares AM, Fontes MRM. Structural studies with crotoxin B from Crotalus durissus collilineatus venom suggest a heterodimeric assembly formed by two new isoforms. Biochimie 2024; 218:46-56. [PMID: 37659716 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
In accidents involving Crotalus snakes, the crotoxin complex (CTX) plays lethal action due to its neurotoxic activity. On the other hand, CTX have potential biotechnological application due to its anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic and immunomodulatory properties. CTX is a heterodimer composed of Crotoxin A (CA or crotapotin), the acidic nontoxic and non-enzymatic component and; Crotoxin B (CB), a basic, toxic and catalytic PLA2. Currently, there are two classes of CTX isoforms, whose differences in their biological activities have been attributed to features presented in CB isoforms. Here, we present the crystal structure of CB isolated from the Crotalus durissus collilineatus venom. It amino acid sequence was assigned using the SEQUENCE SLIDER software, which revealed that the crystal structure is a heterodimer composed of two new CB isoforms (colCB-A and colCB-B). Bioinformatic and biophysical analyses showed that the toxin forms a tetrameric assembly in solution similar to CB from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, despite some differences observed at the dimeric interface. By the previously proposed classification, the colCB-B presents features of the class I isoforms while colCB-A cannot be classified into classes I and II based on its amino acid sequence. Due to similar features observed for other CB isoforms found in the NCBI database and the results obtained for colCB-A, we suggest that there are more than two classes of CTX and CB isoforms in crotalic venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme H M Salvador
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos A H Fernandes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; UMR 7590, CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, IRD, Institut de Minéralogie, Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Rafael J Borges
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Centro de Química Medicina (CQMED), Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG), Universidade de Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Andreimar M Soares
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Proteínas e Compostos Bioativos Aplicados, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil; Inst Nac. de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental (INCT-EPIAMO), Rede de Pesquisa e Conhecimento de Excelência na Amazônia Ocidental (RED-CONEXAO), Brazil
| | - Marcos R M Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Estudos Avançados do Mar (IEAMar), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Vicente, SP, Brazil.
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Campos PC, Oliveira HCD, Ortolani PL, Amaral de Melo L, Fontes MRM, Fortes-Dias CL. Mapping possible interaction sites for crotoxin in CNF, a gamma PLA 2 inhibitor from Crotalus durissus terrificus rattle snake, using SPOT synthesis. Toxicon 2023; 234:107267. [PMID: 37661064 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are main components of snake venoms. Several snake species possess endogenous PLA2 inhibitors in their circulating blood, which are generally known as sbPLIs (an acronym for snake blood phospholipase A2inhibitors). The sbPLIs are categorized in three classes (alpha, beta or gamma) depending on the existence of distinguishing protein domains in their structure. The Crotalus durrissus terrificus venom has a highly neurotoxic PLA2 - crotoxin (CTX) - in its composition and the self-protection of the snake is mainly ensured by a sbγPLI named CNF (standing for Crotalusneutralizing factor). In an attempt to find smaller molecules able to inhibit the catalytic activity of CTX, in the present study we used linear peptide arrays to identify CNF segments possibly involved in the interaction with the toxin. Five reacting segments were identified as possible interacting regions. The target peptides were synthesized and located in the in silico CNF structure. Although all of them are exposed to the solvent, high concentrations were needed to inhibit the PLA2 activity of the whole venom or CTX. Limitations of the methodology employed and particular characteristics of CTX inhibition by CNF are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cota Campos
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Hamine Cristina de Oliveira
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Ladeira Ortolani
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lutiana Amaral de Melo
- Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos R M Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto de Estudos Avançados do Mar (IEAMar), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil
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6
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Almeida TC, de Morais Ribeiro Silva L, de Oliveira AMB, Lopes FSR, Sant'Anna MB, Picolo G. Cytotoxic effect of crotoxin on cancer cells and its antitumoral effects correlated to tumor microenvironment: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124892. [PMID: 37196721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and despite the effort of standard treatments, the search for new tools against this disease is necessary. Importantly, it is known that the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapies. Therefore, studies of potential drugs that act on these components are as critical as studies regarding antiproliferative substances. Through the years, studies of several natural products, including animal toxins, have been conducted to guide the development of medical compounds. In this review, we present the remarkable antitumor activities of crotoxin, a toxin from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, highlighting its effects on cancer cells and in the modulation of relevant elements in the tumor microenvironment as well as the clinical trials conducted with this compound. In summary, crotoxin acts through several mechanisms of action, such as activation of apoptosis, induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibition of metastasis, and decrease of tumor growth, in different tumor types. Crotoxin also modulates tumor-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, which contribute to its antitumoral effects. In addition, preliminary clinical studies confirm the promising results of crotoxin and support its potential future use as an anticancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gisele Picolo
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, 05503-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
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Sartim MA, Nogueira RC, Cavalcante TTA, Sousa LO, Monteiro WM, Cintra ACO, Neto-Neves EM, Sampaio SV. Hemodynamic impairment induced by Crotoxin using in vivo and ex vivo approach in a rat model. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 232:123408. [PMID: 36709813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Crotalus durissus snakebite represent 10 % of snakebite cases in Brazil, which cardiovascular disorders are associated with severe cases. Considering crotoxin (CTX) as the major venom component, the present study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic alterations induced by CTX using in vivo and ex vivo approaches in a rat model. In vivo cardiac function parameters were analyzed from anesthetized rats treated with CTX or saline only (Sham), along with serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and lung myeloperoxidase. From the same animals, hearts were isolated and functional parameters evaluated in Langendorff method ex vivo. CTX binding to myoblast cell line in vitro were evaluated using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. CTX was capable of reducing arterial and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, along with left ventricle pressure development or decay during systole (LVdP/dtmax and LVdP/dtmin) in vivo, however no differences were found in the ex vivo approach, showing that intrinsic heart function was preserved. In vitro, CTX binding to myoblast cell line was mitigated by hexamethonium, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. The present study has shown that CTX induce hemodynamic failure in rats, which can help improve the clinical management of cardiovascular alterations during Crotalus durissus snakebite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A Sartim
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Department of Research and Development, University Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil; Department of Teaching and Research, Fundação de Medicina Tropical, Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Renato C Nogueira
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas O Sousa
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Wuelton M Monteiro
- Department of Teaching and Research, Fundação de Medicina Tropical, Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil; Amazonas State University, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Adélia C O Cintra
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Evandro M Neto-Neves
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil
| | - Suely V Sampaio
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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Zambelli VO, Hösch NG, Farom S, Zychar BC, Spadacci-Morena DD, Carvalho LV, Curi R, Lepsch LB, Scavone C, Sant'Anna OA, Gonçalves LRC, Cury Y, Sampaio SC. Formyl peptide receptors are involved in CTX-induced impairment of lymphocyte functions. Toxicon 2023; 222:106986. [PMID: 36442690 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.106986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Crotoxin (CTX) is a neurotoxin that is isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus, which displays immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral effects. Previous research has demonstrated that CTX promotes the adherence of leukocytes to the endothelial cells in blood microcirculation and the high endothelial venules of lymph nodes, which reduces the number of blood cells and lymphocytes. Studies have also shown that these effects are mediated by lipoxygenase-derived mediators. However, the exact lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoid involved in the CTX effect on lymphocytes is yet to be characterized. As CTX stimulates lipoxin-derived mediators from macrophages and lymphocyte effector functions could be modulated by activating formyl peptide receptors, we aimed to investigate whether these receptors were involved in CTX-induced redistribution and functions of lymphocytes in rats. We used male Wistar rats treated with CTX to demonstrate that Boc2 (butoxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe), an antagonist of formyl peptide receptors, prevented CTX-induced decrease in the number of circulating lymphocytes and increased the expression of the lymphocyte adhesion molecule LFA1. CTX reduced the T and B lymphocyte functions, such as lymphocyte proliferation in response to the mitogen Concanavalin A and antibody production in response to BSA immunization, respectively, which was prevented by the administration of Boc2. Importantly, mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes from CTX-treated rats showed an increased release of 15-epi-LXA4. These results indicate that formyl peptide receptors mediate CTX-induced redistribution of lymphocytes and that 15-epi-LXA4 is a key mediator of the immunosuppressive effects of CTX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa O Zambelli
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Natália Gabriele Hösch
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sarah Farom
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca C Zychar
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Diva D Spadacci-Morena
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Vieira Carvalho
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rui Curi
- Immunobiological Production Section, Bioindustrial Center, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Interdisciplinary Post-graduate Program in Health Sciences, Cruzeiro of Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucilia B Lepsch
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Cristoforo Scavone
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Osvaldo Augusto Sant'Anna
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luís Roberto C Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yara Cury
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sandra C Sampaio
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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9
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Bretones ML, Sampaio SC, Barbeiro DF, Ariga SKK, Soriano FG, Lima TMD. Crotoxin modulates inflammation and macrophages' functions in a murine sepsis model. Toxicon 2022; 216:132-138. [PMID: 35850256 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sepsis is a syndrome of physiological and biochemical abnormalities induced by an infection that represents a major public health concern. It involves the early activation of inflammatory responses. Crotoxin (CTX), the major toxin of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, presents longstanding anti-inflammatory properties. Since immune system modulation may be a strategic target in sepsis management, and macrophages' functional and secretory activities are related to the disease's progression, we evaluated the effects of CTX on macrophages from septic animals. Balb/c male mice submitted to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were treated with CTX (0.9 μg/animal, subcutaneously) 1 h after the procedure and euthanized after 6 h. We used plasma samples to quantify circulating cytokines and eicosanoids. Bone marrow differentiated macrophages (BMDM) were used to evaluate the CTX effect on macrophages' functions. Our data show that CTX administration increased the survival rate of the animals from 40% to 80%. Septic mice presented lower plasma concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α after CTX treatment, and higher concentrations of LXA4, PGE2, and IL-1β. No effect was observed in IL-10, IFN-γ, and RD1 concentrations. BMDM from septic mice treated with CTX presented decreased capacity of E. coli phagocytosis, but sustained NO and H2O2 production. We also observed higher IL-6 concentration in the culture medium of BMDM from septic mice, and CTX induced a significant reduction. CTX treatment increased IL-10 production by macrophages as well. Our data show that the protective effect of CTX in sepsis mortality involves modulation of macrophage functions and inflammatory mediators' production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Langeani Bretones
- Laboratório de Emergências Clínicas (LIM51), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Denise Frediani Barbeiro
- Laboratório de Emergências Clínicas (LIM51), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Suely K Kubo Ariga
- Laboratório de Emergências Clínicas (LIM51), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco Garcia Soriano
- Laboratório de Emergências Clínicas (LIM51), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Martins de Lima
- Laboratório de Emergências Clínicas (LIM51), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
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Neri-Castro E, Strickland JL, Carbajal-Márquez RA, Zuñiga Adán J, Ponce-López R, Olvera-Rodríguez F, Alagón A. Characterization of the venom and external morphology of a natural hybrid between Crotalus atrox and Crotalus mictlantecuhtli. Toxicon 2022; 207:43-7. [PMID: 35007607 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Here we report, for the first time, a natural hybrid between Crotalus atrox and C. mictlantecuhtli based on intermediate characteristics of the external morphology and venom. Morphologically, the individual had characteristics of both parent species. The hybrid's venom exhibited an intermediate composition including the presence of crotoxin which has never been documented in C. atrox but is well documented in C. mictlantecuhtli. The hybrid's venom was highly toxic and showed an intermediate proteolytic activity between the parental species. The two Mexican antivenoms were able to neutralize the hybrid's venom's lethality.
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Baudou FG, Rodriguez JP, Fusco L, de Roodt AR, De Marzi MC, Leiva L. South American snake venoms with abundant neurotoxic components. Composition and toxicological properties. A literature review. Acta Trop 2021; 224:106119. [PMID: 34481791 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In South America there are three snake genera with predominantly neurotoxic venoms: Crotalus, Micrurus and Hydrophis, which include nine species/subspecies, 97 species and a single marine species, respectively. Although accidents with neurotoxic venoms are less frequent than those with anticoagulant, cytotoxic or necrotic venoms (e.g. from Bothrops), they are of major public health importance. Venoms from genus Crotalus have been extensively studied, while data on the venoms from the other two genera are very limited, especially for Hydrophis. The venoms of North and South American Crotalus species show biochemical and physiopathological differences. The former species cause bothrops-like envenomation symptoms, while the latter mainly have neurotoxic and myotoxic effects, leading to respiratory paralysis and, occasionally, renal failure by myoglobinuria and death, often with no local lesions. Micrurus and Hydrophis also cause neurotoxic envenomations. Many studies have isolated, identified and characterized new enzymes and toxins, thus expanding the knowledge of snake venom composition. The present review summarizes the currently available information on neurotoxic venoms from South American snakes, with a focus on protein composition and toxicological properties. It also includes some comments concerning potential medical applications of elapid and crotalic toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico G Baudou
- Universidad Nacional de Luján (UNLu), Depto. de Ciencias Básicas, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Inmunología, Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Juan P Rodriguez
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Facultad de Medicina (LIBIM), Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (IQUIBA-NEA), Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNNE-CONICET), Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Luciano Fusco
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas (LabInPro), IQUIBA-NEA (UNNE, CONICET), FaCENA, (UNNE), Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Adolfo R de Roodt
- Área Investigación y Desarrollo-Venenos, Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Argentina; Primera Cátedra de Toxicología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Toxinopatología, Centro de Patología Experimental y Aplicada, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauricio C De Marzi
- Universidad Nacional de Luján (UNLu), Depto. de Ciencias Básicas, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Inmunología, Instituto de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable (INEDES), UNLu-CONICET, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Leiva
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas (LabInPro), IQUIBA-NEA (UNNE, CONICET), FaCENA, (UNNE), Corrientes, Argentina
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Maciel FV, Ramos Pinto ÊK, Valério Souza NM, Gonçalves de Abreu TA, Ortolani PL, Fortes-Dias CL, Garrido Cavalcante WL. Varespladib (LY315920) prevents neuromuscular blockage and myotoxicity induced by crotoxin on mouse neuromuscular preparations. Toxicon 2021; 202:40-45. [PMID: 34562493 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Varespladib (LY315920) is a synthetic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor that has been demonstrating antiophidic potential against snake venoms that present PLA2 neurotoxins. In this study, we evaluate the capacity of Varespladib to inhibit the neuromuscular effects of crotoxin (CTX), the main toxic component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, and its PLA2 subunit (CB). We performed a myographic study to compare the neuromuscular effects of CTX or CB and the mixture of these substances plus Varespladib in mice phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations. CTX (5 μg/mL), CB (20 μg/mL), or toxin-inhibitor mixtures pre-incubated with different concentration ratios of Varespladib (1:0.25; 1:0.5; 1:1; w/w) were added to the preparations and maintained throughout the experimentation period. Myotoxicity was assessed by light microscopic analysis of diaphragm muscle after myographic study. CTX and CB blocked the nerve-evoked twitches, and only CTX induced histological alterations in diaphragm muscle. Pre-incubation with Varespladib abolished the muscle-paralyzing activity of CTX and CB, and also the muscle-damaging activity of CTX. These findings emphasize the clinical potential of Varespladib in mitigating the toxic effects of C. d. terrificus snakebites and as a research tool to advance the knowledge of the mechanism of action of snake toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Valadares Maciel
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
| | - Êmylle Karoline Ramos Pinto
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
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Colis-Torres A, Neri-Castro E, Strickland JL, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Borja M, Calvete J, Jones J, Parkinson CL, Bañuelos J, López de León J, Alagón A. Intraspecific venom variation of Mexican West Coast Rattlesnakes (Crotalus basiliscus) and its implications for antivenom production. Biochimie 2021; 192:111-124. [PMID: 34656669 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Intraspecific variation in snake venoms has been widely documented worldwide. However, there are few studies on this subject in Mexico. Venom characterization studies provide important data used to predict clinical syndromes, to evaluate the efficacy of antivenoms and, in some cases, to improve immunogenic mixtures in the production of antivenoms. In the present work, we evaluated the intraspecific venom variation of Crotalus basiliscus, a rattlesnake of medical importance and whose venom is used in the immunization of horses to produce one of the Mexican antivenoms. Our results demonstrate that there is variation in biological and biochemical activities among adult venoms and that there is an ontogenetic change from juvenile to adult venoms. Juvenile venoms were more lethal and had higher percentages of crotamine and crotoxin, while adult venoms had higher percentages of snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs). Additionally, we documented crotoxin-like PLA2 variation in which specimens from Zacatecas, Sinaloa and Michoacán (except 1) lacked the neurotoxin, while the rest of the venoms had it. Finally, we evaluated the efficacy of three lots of Birmex antivenom and all three were able to neutralize the lethality of four representative venoms but were not able to neutralize crotamine. We also observed significant differences in the LD50 values neutralized per vial among the different lots. Based on these results, we recommend including venoms containing crotamine in the production of antivenom for a better immunogenic mixture and to improve the homogeneity of lots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Colis-Torres
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jason L Strickland
- Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, 5871 USA Dr. N, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Miguel Borja
- Facultad Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010, Gómez Palacio, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Juan Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Evolutiva y Traslacional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jason Jones
- Herp.mx A.C, Villa del Álvarez, Colima, Mexico
| | - Christopher L Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Forestry, and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, 190 Collings St. Clemson, SC, 29631, USA
| | - Jorge Bañuelos
- Herp.mx A.C, Villa del Álvarez, Colima, Mexico; Unidad Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Edificio de Biología Campus II Ave. Preparatoria S/N, Col. Agronómica, 98066, ZacatecasZacatecas, Mexico
| | - Jorge López de León
- Hospital General Norberto Treviño Zapata, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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14
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Almeida CF, Amaral C, Augusto TV, Correia-da-Silva G, Marques de Andrade C, Torqueti MR, Teixeira N. The anti-cancer potential of crotoxin in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: Its effects and mechanism of action. Toxicon 2021; 200:69-77. [PMID: 34265323 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is the most diagnosed subtype of breast cancer. Currently, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are used as first-line treatment option in this type of tumors, however they cause several side effects, which is why new therapeutic approaches are demanding. The South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus produces a venom enriched in several bioactive substances, like phospholipases A2 (PLA2). One of those is crotoxin, a β-neurotoxin, that has already been reported for its anti-cancer properties in different cancers. Recently, its clinical interest has emerged and, in fact, a clinical trial in patients with advanced cancer is underway. Considering this, in this work, we studied the biological mechanisms behind the anti-cancer effects of crotoxin B (CTX) in an ER+ aromatase-overexpressing breast cancer cell line (MCF-7aro cells). Results revealed that CTX impairs MCF-7aro cells growth, through a cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway and by apoptosis through activation of caspase-8. In addition, it can be considered a safe natural compound as did not affect non-cancerous cells and only showed anti-growth effects in breast cancer cells. Therefore, this study represents an important landmark to better understand the effects and mechanisms of action of crotoxin in ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ferreira Almeida
- UCIBIO.REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Amaral
- UCIBIO.REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Tiago V Augusto
- UCIBIO.REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Georgina Correia-da-Silva
- UCIBIO.REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Camila Marques de Andrade
- Laboratory of Clinical Cytology, Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Torqueti
- Laboratory of Clinical Cytology, Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Natércia Teixeira
- UCIBIO.REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, n° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
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Alfaro-Chinchilla A, Segura Á, Gómez A, Díaz C, Corrales G, Chacón D, Arguedas M, Estrada R, Gutiérrez JM, León G. Expanding the neutralization scope of the Central American antivenom (PoliVal-ICP) to include the venom of Crotalus durissus pifanorum. J Proteomics 2021; 246:104315. [PMID: 34216808 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The proteomic, enzymatic, toxicological, and immunogenic profiles of the venom of C. d. pifanorum were studied. It was found that venom of C. d. pifanorum is composed of 63% phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), 13% serine proteinases (SVSPs), 8% bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), 4% L-amino acid oxidases (LAAOs), 3% metalloproteinases (SVMPs), and other minor components. This composition allows the venom to exert lethal, PLA2, myotoxic, coagulant and defibrinogenating activities, but no azocaseinolytic or hemorrhagic activities. The addition of C. d. pifanorum venom to the group of venoms used as immunogens to produce the Central American antivenom PoliVal-ICP (i.e., venoms of Bothrops asper, Crotalus simus and Lachesis stenophrys) resulted in 1) the expansion of the neutralization scope of the antivenom to cover the venom of C. d. pifanorum and other antigenically related venom (i.e., C. s. scutulatus venom), 2) improvement of the neutralizing potency towards the venom of C. simus, and 3) no significant reduction of the neutralization of venoms of B. asper and L. stenophrys. It was concluded that supplementation of the immunogens used to produce PoliVal-ICP with the venom of C. d. pifanorum is a viable alternative to expand the neutralization scope of the antivenom. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The venom of Crotalus durissus pifanorum from Venezuela has a proteomic profile like those of other subspecies of the South American rattlesnake C. durissus, with predominance of phospholipases A2 (especially crotoxin) and serine proteinases. This explains a toxicological profile characterized by neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, and coagulopathies, but being devoid of hemorrhagic activity. The antivenom used in Central America (PoliVal-ICP) includes the venom of C. simus, which has a different composition, in the immunizing strategy. Accordingly, this antivenom does not neutralize C. d. pifanorum venom. The addition of C. d. pifanorum venom to the immunizing mixture of PoliVal-ICP expands the neutralizing scope of this antivenom, to cover additional rattlesnake venoms, while not affecting the response to C. simus, Bothrops asper and Lachesis stenophrys venoms. This represents an improvement of the current PoliVal-ICP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Alfaro-Chinchilla
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Álvaro Segura
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Aarón Gómez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Cecilia Díaz
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Greivin Corrales
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Danilo Chacón
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mauricio Arguedas
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ricardo Estrada
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Guillermo León
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
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Pinto ÊKR, Souza NMV, Maciel FV, de Abreu TAG, Reis HFF, Ortolani PL, Fortes-Dias CL, Cavalcante WLG. Crotalus Neutralizing Factor (CNF) inhibits the toxic effects of Crotoxin at mouse neuromuscular preparations. Toxicon 2021; 191:48-53. [PMID: 33387548 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Crotalus Neutralizing Factor (CNF) was the first phospholipase A2 inhibitor isolated from the plasma of the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus). Previous biochemical and biophysical studies demonstrate an interaction of CNF with Crotoxin (CTX), the main toxic component in the venom of these snakes. CTX promotes the blockade of neuromuscular transmission by a sum of neurotoxic and myotoxic activities. However, the ability of CNF to inhibit these activities has not been shown until the present study. We performed a myographic study to compare the neuromuscular effects of CTX and the mixture CTX plus CNF in mice phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations. CTX (5 μg/mL) alone, or pre-incubated with CNF (5, 20 or 50 μg/mL) for 15 min was added to the preparations and maintained throughout the experimentation period. Myotoxicity was assessed by light microscopic analysis of diaphragm muscle after myographic study. CTX (5 μg/mL) blocked both indirectly and directly evoked twitches in neuromuscular preparations. In addition, CTX induced histological alterations in diaphragm muscle. Pre-incubation with CNF (50 μg/mL) abolished both the muscle-paralyzing and muscle-damaging activities of CTX. Therefore, the present study confirms, through functional studies, the antiophidic potential of CNF.
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Gimenez BT, Cezarette GN, Bomfim ADS, Monteiro WM, Russo EMDS, Frantz FG, Sampaio SV, Sartim MA. Role of crotoxin in coagulation: novel insights into anticoagulant mechanisms and impairment of inflammation-induced coagulation. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20200076. [PMID: 33293940 PMCID: PMC7702976 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Snake venom phospholipases A2 (svPLA2) are
biologically active toxins, capable of triggering and modulating a wide
range of biological functions. Among the svPLA2s, crotoxin (CTX)
has been in the spotlight of bioprospecting research due to its role in
modulating immune response and hemostasis. In the present study, novel
anticoagulant mechanisms of CTX, and the modulation of inflammation-induced
coagulation were investigated. Methods: CTX anticoagulant activity was evaluated using platelet poor plasma (PPP)
and whole blood (WB), and also using isolated coagulation factors and
complexes. The toxin modulation of procoagulant and pro-inflammatory effects
was evaluated using the expression of tissue factor (TF) and cytokines in
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
and in WB. Results: The results showed that CTX impaired clot formation in both PPP and WB, and
was responsible for the inhibition of both intrinsic (TF/factor VIIa) and
extrinsic (factor IXa/factor VIIIa) tenase complexes, but not for factor Xa
and thrombin alone. In addition, the PLA2 mitigated the
prothrombinase complex by modulating the coagulation phospholipid role in
the complex. In regards to the inflammation-coagulation cross talk, the
toxin was capable of reducing the production of the pro-inflammatory
cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and was followed by decreased levels of TF
and procoagulant activity from LPS-treated PBMC either isolated or in
WB. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study recognize the toxin as a novel
medicinal candidate to be applied in inflammatory diseases with coagulation
disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Terada Gimenez
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Neves Cezarette
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline de Sousa Bomfim
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy and Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro
- Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Amazonas State University, Manaus, AM, Brazil.,Carlos Borborema Clinical Research Institute, Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Elisa Maria de Sousa Russo
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.,Center for Cell-Based Therapy and Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabiani Gai Frantz
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Suely Vilela Sampaio
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio Sartim
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.,Basic and Applied Immunology Graduate Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
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18
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Ponce-López R, Neri-Castro E, Borja M, Strickland JL, Alagón A. Neutralizing potency and immunochemical evaluation of an anti-Crotalus mictlantecuhtli experimental serum. Toxicon 2020; 187:171-180. [PMID: 32891663 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Snakebite in Mexico is commonly treated with an antivenom which uses Bothrops asper and Crotalus simus venoms as immunogens. Current taxonomic recommendations for the C. simus species complex suggest a novel endemic species from Mexico: Crotalus mictlantecuhtli. The aim of this report was to evaluate the immunogenic properties of C. mictlantecuhtli venom and its potential to generate polyclonal antibodies capable of neutralizing other pitviper venoms. We generated an experimental anti-Crotalus mictlantecuhtli serum, using the rabbit model, to test recognition and neutralizing capacity against the homologous venom as well as venoms from C. atrox, C.basiliscus, C. durissus terrificus, C. scutulatus salvini, C. tzabcan and Ophryacus sphenophrys. Pre-incubation neutralization experiments using our experimental serum showed positive results against venoms containing crotoxin, while venoms from two non-neurotoxic pit-vipers were not neutralized. Rescue experiments in mice showed that, when intravenously injected (i.v.), C. mictlantecuhtli venom is not neutralized by a maximum dose of Antivipmyn® and the experimental serum after 5 min of envenomation, albeit mice envenomated intraperitoneally (i.p.) and rescued i.v. with Antivipmyn® survived even at 50 min after envenomation. Our results highlight the importance of using the highly neurotoxic C. mictlantecuhtli venom to increase antivenom effectiveness against Mexican neurotoxic pitvipers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ponce-López
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C.P. 62210, Mexico
| | - Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C.P. 62210, Mexico
| | - Miguel Borja
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad s/n. Fracc. Filadelfia, C.P. 35010 Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jason L Strickland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 190 Collings St, Clemson, SC, 29631, USA
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, C.P. 62210, Mexico.
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19
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D Vaz de Melo P, de Almeida Lima S, Araújo P, Medina Santos R, Gonzalez E, Alves Belo A, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Costal-Oliveira F, T Soccol V, Guerra-Duarte C, Rezende L, Chavez-Olortegui C. Immunoprotection against lethal effects of Crotalus durissus snake venom elicited by synthetic epitopes trapped in liposomes. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 161:299-307. [PMID: 32464201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.05.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Snakebites caused by Crotalus genus are the second most frequent in Brazil. Crotoxin is a beta-neurotoxin responsible for the main envenomation effects of Crotalus biting, while crotamine immobilizes the animal hind limbs, contributing to prey immobilization and to envenoming symptoms. As crotoxin and crotamine represent about 90% of Crotalus venom dry weight, these toxins are of great importance for antivenom therapy. In this sense, knowledge regarding the antigenicity/immunogenicity at the molecular level of these toxins can provide valuable information for the improvement of specific antivenoms. Therefore, the aims of this study are the identification of the B-cell epitopes from crotoxin and crotamine; and the characterization of the neutralizing potency of antibodies directed against the corresponding synthetic epitopes defined in the current study. Linear B-cell epitopes were identified using the Spot Synthesis technique probed with specific anti-C. d. terrificus venom horse IgG. One epitope of crotamine (F12PKEKICLPPSSDFGKMDCRW32) and three of crotoxin (L10LVGVEGHLLQFNKMIKFETR30; Y43CGWGGRGRPKDATDRCCFVH63 and T118YKYGYMFYPDSRCRGPSETC138) were identified. After synthesis in their soluble form, the peptides mixture correspondent to the mapped epitopes was entrapped in liposomes and used as immunogens for antibody production in rabbits. Anti-synthetic peptide antibodies were able to protect mice from the lethal activity of C. d. terrificus venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia D Vaz de Melo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Labtest Diagnostica SA, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sabrina de Almeida Lima
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Priscila Araújo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Raíssa Medina Santos
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Edgar Gonzalez
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States of America
| | - Andreza Alves Belo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Labtest Diagnostica SA, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Costal-Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Clara Guerra-Duarte
- Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, 30510-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Chavez-Olortegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CEP: 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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20
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Saavedra SL, Acosta G, Ávila L, Giudicessi SL, Camperi SA, Albericio F, Cascone O, Martínez Ceron MC. Use of a phosphopeptide as a ligand to purify phospholipase A 2 from the venom of Crotalus durisuss terrificus by affinity chromatography. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1146:122070. [PMID: 32361466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) is a source of a wide variety of toxins, some of them with interesting pharmacological applications. Of these toxins, the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) subunit of crotoxin (Ctx) has been studied for its potential as an antiviral and antibacterial agent. Peptides have proven useful ligands for the purification of numerous molecules, including antibodies, toxins, enzymes and other proteins. Here, we sought to use a phosphopeptide (P-Lys) as a ligand for PLA2 purification. P-Lys was synthesized in solid phase on Rink-Amide-ChemMatrix resin, immobilized on NHS-agarose, and then evaluated as a chromatographic matrix. Under the best conditions, total protein adsorption reached 39% and only the eluate fraction presented PLA2 activity. Analysis of the eluate by SDS-PAGE showed three bands, one corresponding to the molecular weight of PLA2 (14 kDa). Said bands were analyzed by mass spectrometry and identified as PLA2 and its multimers. The final product showed a purity of over 90%. In addition, slightly changing the process conditions also allowed the isolation of crotamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad L Saavedra
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Biotecnología, Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gerardo Acosta
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucía Ávila
- Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos, ANLIS Malbrán, Av. Vélez Sársfield 563, 1282 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvana L Giudicessi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Biotecnología, Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia A Camperi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Biotecnología, Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; School of Chemistry & Physics, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Osvaldo Cascone
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Biotecnología, Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos, ANLIS Malbrán, Av. Vélez Sársfield 563, 1282 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María C Martínez Ceron
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Biotecnología, Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Nanobiotecnología (NANOBIOTEC), Junín 956, 1113 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Molina Molina DA, Guerra-Duarte C, Costal-Oliveira F, Almeida Rocha E, Rego Rodrigues C, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Soccol VT, Chávez-Olórtegui C. Engineered protein containing crotoxin epitopes induces neutralizing antibodies in immunized rabbits. Mol Immunol 2020; 119:144-53. [PMID: 32023500 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Crotoxin (Ctx) is the main lethal component of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. It is a neurotoxin, composed of two subunits associated by noncovalent interactions, the non-toxic acid subunit (CA), named Crotapotin, and the basic subunit (CB), with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. Employing the SPOT synthesis technique, we determined two epitopes located in the C-terminal of each Ctx subunit. In addition, 3 other epitopes were mapped in different regions of Ctx using subcutaneous spot implants surgically inserted in mice. All epitopes mapped here were expressed together as recombinant multi-epitopic protein (rMEPCtx), which was used to immunize New Zealand rabbits. Anti-rMEPCtx rabbit serum cross-reacted with Ctx and crude venoms from C. d. terrificus, Crotalus durissus ruruima, Peruvian C. durissus and Bothrops jararaca (with lower intensity). Furthermore, anti-rMEPCtx serum was able to neutralize Ctx lethal activity. As the recombinant multiepitopic protein is not toxic, it can be administered in larger doses without causing adverse effects on the immunized animals health. Therefore, our work evidences the identification of neutralizing epitopes of Ctx and support the use of recombinant multiepitopic proteins as an innovation to immunotherapeutics production.
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Teixeira NB, Sant'Anna MB, Giardini AC, Araujo LP, Fonseca LA, Basso AS, Cury Y, Picolo G. Crotoxin down-modulates pro-inflammatory cells and alleviates pain on the MOG 35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 84:253-268. [PMID: 31843645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a Central Nervous System inflammatory demyelinating disease that has as primary symptoms losses of sensory and motor functions, including chronic pain. To date, however, few studies have investigated the mechanisms of chronic pain in animal models of MS since locomotor impairments render difficult its evaluation. It was previously demonstrated that in the MOG35-55-induced EAE, an animal model of MS, the hypernociception appears before the onset of motor disability, allowing for the study of these two phenomena separately. Here, we evaluated the effect of crotoxin (CTX), a neurotoxin isolated from the Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom that displays, at non-toxic dose, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, in the pain and in symptoms progression of EAE. The pain threshold of female C57BL/6 mice decreased at the 4th day after immunization, while the first sign of disease appeared around the 11st-12nd days, coinciding with the onset of motor abnormalities. CTX (40 µg/kg, s.c.) administered in a single dose on the 5th day after immunization, induced a long-lasting analgesic effect (5 days), without interfering with the clinical signs of the disease. On the other hand, when crotoxin was administered for 5 consecutive days, from 5th-9th day after immunization, it induced analgesia and also reduced EAE progression. The antinociceptive effect of crotoxin was blocked by Boc-2 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.), a selective antagonist of formyl peptide receptors, by NDGA (30 μg/kg, i.p.), a lipoxygenase inhibitor and by atropine sulfate (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an antagonist of muscarinic receptors, administered 30 min before CTX. CTX was also effective in decreasing EAE clinical signs even when administered after its onset. Regarding the interactions between neurons and immunocompetent cells, CTX, in vitro, was able to reduce T cell proliferation, decreasing Th1 and Th17 and increasing Treg cell differentiation. Furthermore, in EAE model, the treatment with 5 consecutive doses of CTX inhibited IFN-γ-producing T cells, GM-CSF-producing T cells, reduced the frequency of activated microglia/macrophages within the CNS and decreased the number of migrating cell to spinal cord and cerebellum at the peak of the disease. These results suggest that CTX is a potential treatment not only for pain alteration but also for clinical progression induced by the disease as well as an useful tool for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the multiple sclerosis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- N B Teixeira
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M B Sant'Anna
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A C Giardini
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - L P Araujo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - L A Fonseca
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - A S Basso
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Y Cury
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - G Picolo
- Laboratory of Pain and Signaling, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Garcia Denegri ME, Bustillo S, Gay CC, Van De Velde A, Gomez G, Echeverría S, Gauna Pereira MDC, Maruñak S, Nuñez S, Bogado F, Sanchez M, Teibler GP, Fusco L, Leiva LCA. Venoms and Isolated Toxins from Snakes of Medical Impact in the Northeast Argentina: State of the Art. Potential Pharmacological Applications. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:1962-1980. [PMID: 31345151 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190725094851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Among the ophidians that inhabit the Northeast of Argentina, the genus Bothrops such as B. alternatus and B. diporus species (also known as yararás) and Crotalus durisus terrificus (named cascabel), represent the most studied snake venom for more than thirty years. These two genera of venomous snakes account for the majority of poisonous snake envenomations and therefore, constitute a medical emergency in this region. This review presents a broad description of the compiled knowledge about venomous snakebite: its pathophysiological action, protein composition, isolated toxins, toxin synergism, toxin-antitoxin cross-reaction assays. Properties of some isolated toxins support a potential pharmacological application.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Emilia Garcia Denegri
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Soledad Bustillo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Claudia Carolina Gay
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Andrea Van De Velde
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Gomez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Silvina Echeverría
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - María Del Carmen Gauna Pereira
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Silvana Maruñak
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Veterinaria dependiente de la Cátedra de Farmacología y Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Sandra Nuñez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Veterinaria dependiente de la Cátedra de Farmacología y Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Fabián Bogado
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Veterinaria dependiente de la Cátedra de Farmacología y Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Matías Sanchez
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Veterinaria dependiente de la Cátedra de Farmacología y Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Gladys Pamela Teibler
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Veterinaria dependiente de la Cátedra de Farmacología y Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Luciano Fusco
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
| | - Laura Cristina Ana Leiva
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas, Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino (UNNECONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Corrientes, Argentina
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Nascimento TL, Conte TC, Rissato TS, Luna MS, Soares AG, Moriscot AS, Yamanouye N, Miyabara EH. Radicicol enhances the regeneration of skeletal muscle injured by crotoxin via decrease of NF-kB activation. Toxicon 2019; 167:6-9. [PMID: 31173791 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated cellular and molecular effects of radicicol, a heat shock protein (HSP) inducer, on the regeneration of skeletal muscle injured by crotoxin, the main toxin isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. Regenerating muscles treated with radicicol had decreased NF-kB activation. Differentiating myoblasts treated with radicicol showed reduced number of NF-kB positive nuclei and increased fusion index. The results suggest that radicicol enhances regeneration of muscle by attenuating NF-kB activation and increasing myogenic differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T L Nascimento
- Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av. Lineu Prestes 2415, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T C Conte
- Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av. Lineu Prestes 2415, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - T S Rissato
- Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av. Lineu Prestes 2415, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - M S Luna
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A G Soares
- Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av Lineu Prestes 1524, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - A S Moriscot
- Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av. Lineu Prestes 2415, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - N Yamanouye
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - E H Miyabara
- Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo. Av. Lineu Prestes 2415, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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de Andrade CM, Rey FM, Cintra ACO, Sampaio SV, Torqueti MR. Effects of crotoxin, a neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, on human endothelial cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 134:613-621. [PMID: 31071401 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelium plays an important modulatory role due to the production of molecules that mediate vasomotricity, inflammation, and leukocyte adhesion and rolling. Here we addressed whether crotoxin (25-200 μg/mL) - the main component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom - interferes with cell viability, apotosis/necrosis, and cell response to oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. We also examined whether crotoxin alters the levels of interleukins, adhesion molecules, and endothelial vasoactive factors in HUVEC cells treated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 μg/mL; 24 h). Crotoxin was not cytotoxic towards HUVEC cells, and downregulated the LPS-induced production of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin), vasoactive factors (endothelin-1 and prostaglandin I2), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, and IL1β), as well as protected cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Hence, crotoxin played anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulating, and vasoactive actions on HUVEC cells, in vitro. Considering that the initial stages of atherosclerosis is characterized by vasoconstriction, increased levels of adhesion molecules, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress in the vascular endothelium; and crotoxin downmodulated all these events, our findings indicate that the actions of crotoxin here demonstrated suggest that it may have an anti-atherogenic action in vivo, which deserves to be tested in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila M de Andrade
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Fernanda M Rey
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Adélia Cristina O Cintra
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Suely V Sampaio
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Torqueti
- Department of Clinical Analyses, Toxicology and Food Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Neri-Castro E, Hernández-Dávila A, Olvera-Rodríguez A, Cardoso-Torres H, Bénard-Valle M, Bastiaans E, López-Gutierrez O, Alagón A. Detection and quantification of a β-neurotoxin (crotoxin homologs) in the venom of the rattlesnakes Crotalus simus, C. culminatus and C. tzabcan from Mexico. Toxicon X 2019; 2:100007. [PMID: 32550564 PMCID: PMC7286086 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2019.100007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake venom may vary in composition and toxicity across the geographic distribution of a species. In the case of the three species of the Neotropical rattlesnakes Crotalus simus, C. culminatus and C. tzabcan recent research has revealed that their venoms can contain a neurotoxic component (crotoxin homologs), but is not always the case. In the present work, we detected and quantified crotoxin homologs in venom samples from three species distributed across Mexico, to describe variation at the individual and subspecific levels, using slot blot and ELISA immunoassays. We found that all C. simus individuals analyzed had substantial percentages of crotoxin homologs in their venoms (7.6–44.3%). In contrast, C. culminatus lacked them completely and six of ten individuals of the species C. tzabcan had low percentages (3.0–7.7%). We also found a direct relationship between the lethality of a venom and the percentage of crotoxin homologs it contained, indicating that the quantity of this component influences venom lethality in the rattlesnake C. simus. Monoclonal antibodies were produced that specifically recognized crotoxin homologs in venoms of Crotalus species. Crotoxin homologs were quantified in three species of Crotalus: C. simus, C. culminatus and C. tzabcan. All specimens of C. simus contained crotoxin homologs at different levels, while C. culminatus venoms lacked them completely. In C. tzabcan, some venoms possess and other lack crotoxin homologs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Neri-Castro
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.,Posgrado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Arely Hernández-Dávila
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Olvera-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Héctor Cardoso-Torres
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Melisa Bénard-Valle
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Bastiaans
- Department of Biology, State University of New York at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, USA
| | - Oswaldo López-Gutierrez
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Alagón
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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Sartim MA, Menaldo DL, Sampaio SV. Immunotherapeutic potential of Crotoxin: anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2018; 24:39. [PMID: 30564276 PMCID: PMC6296157 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-018-0178-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
For the past 80 years, Crotoxin has become one of the most investigated isolated toxins from snake venoms, partially due to its major role as the main toxic component in the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. However, in the past decades, progressive studies have led researchers to shift their focus on Crotoxin, opening novel perspectives and applications as a therapeutic approach. Although this toxin acts on a wide variety of biological events, the modulation of immune responses is considered as one of its most relevant behaviors. Therefore, the present review describes the scientific investigations on the capacity of Crotoxin to modulate anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive responses, and its application as a medicinal immunopharmacological approach. In addition, this review will also discuss its mechanisms, involving cellular and molecular pathways, capable of improving pathological alterations related to immune-associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Aurélio Sartim
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto-SP, 14040-903 Brazil
| | - Danilo Luccas Menaldo
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto-SP, 14040-903 Brazil
| | - Suely Vilela Sampaio
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto-SP, 14040-903 Brazil
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Prezoto BC, Tanaka-Azevedo AM, Marcelino JR, Tashima AK, Nishiduka ES, Kapronezai J, Mota JO, Rocha MMT, Serino-Silva C, Oguiura N. A functional and thromboelastometric-based micromethod for assessing crotoxin anticoagulant activity and antiserum relative potency against Crotalus durissus terrificus venom. Toxicon 2018; 148:26-32. [PMID: 29654870 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of the capacity of antivenoms to neutralize the lethal activity of snake venoms still relies on traditional rodent in vivo lethality assay. ED50 and LD50 assays require large quantities of venoms and antivenoms, and besides leading to animal suffering. Therefore, in vitro tests should be introduced for assessing antivenom neutralizing capacity in intermediary steps of antivenom production. This task is facilitated when one key lethal toxin is identified. A good example is crotoxin, a β-neurotoxin phospholipase A2-like toxin that presents anticoagulant activity in vitro and is responsible for the lethality of venoms of Crotalus durissus snakes. By using rotational thromboelastometry, we reported recently one sensitive coagulation assay for assessing relative potency of the anti-bothropic serum in neutralizing procoagulant activity of Bothrops jararaca venom upon recalcified factor-XII-deficient chicken plasma samples (CPS). In this study, we stablished conditions for determining relative potency of four batches of the anti-crotalic serum (ACS) (antagonist) in inactivating crotoxin anticoagulant activity in CPS (target) simultaneously treated with one classical activator of coagulation (agonists). The correlation coefficient (r) between values related the ACS potency in inactivating both in vitro crotoxin anticoagulant activity and the in vivo lethality of whole venom (ED50) was 0.94 (p value < 0.05). In conclusion, slowness in spontaneous thrombin/fibrin generation even after recalcification elicit time lapse sufficient for elaboration of one dose-response curve to pro- or anti-coagulant agonists in CPS. We propose this methodology as an alternative and sensitive assay for assessing antivenom neutralizing ability in plasma of immunized horses as well as for in-process quality control.
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de Oliveira LA, Ferreira RS, Barraviera B, de Carvalho FCT, de Barros LC, Dos Santos LD, Pimenta DC. Crotalus durissus terrificus crotapotin naturally displays preferred positions for amino acid substitutions. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:46. [PMID: 29209361 PMCID: PMC5704381 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Classically, Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt) venom can be described, according to chromatographic criteria, as a simple venom, composed of four major toxins, namely: gyroxin, crotamine, crotoxin and convulxin. Crotoxin is a non-covalent heterodimeric neurotoxin constituted of two subunits: an active phospholipase A2 and a chaperone protein, termed crotapotin. This molecule is composed of three peptide chains connected by seven disulfide bridges. Naturally occurring variants/isoforms of either crotoxin or crotapotin itself have already been reported. Methods The crude Cdt venom was separated by using RP-HPLC and the toxins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Crotapotin was purified, reduced and alkylated in order to separate the peptide chains that were further analyzed by mass spectrometry and de novo peptide sequencing. Results The RP-HPLC profile of the isolated crotapotin chains already indicated that the α chain would present isoforms, which was corroborated by the MS and tandem mass spectrometry analyses. Conclusion It was possible to observe that the Cdt crotapotin displays a preferred amino acid substitution pattern present in the α chain, at positions 31 and 40. Moreover, substitutions could also be observed in β and γ chains (one for each). The combinations of these four different peptides, with the already described chains, would produce ten different crotapotins, which is compatible to our previous observations for the Cdt venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laudicéia Alves de Oliveira
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Rui Seabra Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Benedito Barraviera
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Curtolo de Barros
- Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Lucilene Delazari Dos Santos
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Center for the Studies of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil
| | - Daniel Carvalho Pimenta
- Postgraduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP Brazil.,Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, São Paulo, SP CEP 05503-900 Brazil
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Teixeira-Araújo R, Castanheira P, Brazil-Más L, Pontes F, Leitão de Araújo M, Machado Alves ML, Zingali RB, Correa-Netto C. Antivenomics as a tool to improve the neutralizing capacity of the crotalic antivenom: a study with crotamine. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2017; 23:28. [PMID: 28507562 PMCID: PMC5427561 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-017-0118-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Snakebite treatment requires administration of an appropriate antivenom that should contain antibodies capable of neutralizing the venom. To achieve this goal, antivenom production must start from a suitable immunization protocol and proper venom mixtures. In Brazil, antivenom against South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) bites is produced by public institutions based on the guidelines defined by the regulatory agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, ANVISA. However, each institution uses its own mixture of rattlesnake venom antigens. Previous works have shown that crotamine, a toxin found in Crolatus durissus venom, shows marked individual and populational variation. In addition, serum produced from crotamine-negative venoms fails to recognize this molecule. Methods In this work, we used an antivenomics approach to assess the cross-reactivity of crotalic antivenom manufactured by IVB towards crotamine-negative venom and a mixture of crotamine-negative/crotamine-positive venoms. Results We show that the venom mixture containing 20% crotamine and 57% crotoxin produced a strong immunogenic response in horses. Antivenom raised against this venom mixture reacted with most venom components including crotamine and crotoxin, in contrast to the antivenom raised against crotamine-negative venom. Conclusions These results indicate that venomic databases and antivenomics analysis provide a useful approach for choosing the better venom mixture for antibody production and for the subsequent screening of antivenom cross-reactivity with relevant snake venom components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Teixeira-Araújo
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Patrícia Castanheira
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil
| | - Leonora Brazil-Más
- Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Francisco Pontes
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
| | - Moema Leitão de Araújo
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre (NOPA), Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Dr. Salvador França, 1427, Porto Alegre, RS Brasil
| | - Maria Lucia Machado Alves
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia de Porto Alegre (NOPA), Museu de Ciências Naturais, Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Dr. Salvador França, 1427, Porto Alegre, RS Brasil
| | - Russolina Benedeta Zingali
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil
| | - Carlos Correa-Netto
- Laboratório de Hemostase e Venenos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brasil.,Departamento de Antígenos e Cultivo Celular, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niterói, RJ Brasil
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Wolz-Richter S, Esser KH, Hess A. Antinociceptive activity of crotoxin in the central nervous system: a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging study. Toxicon 2013; 74:44-55. [PMID: 23916599 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Crotoxin, the main neurotoxic component of the venom of South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus), is reported to have potent antinociceptive activity. Several authors have shown mainly in behavioral pain models that crotoxin induces antinociceptive effects, supposed to be mediated by actions on the central nervous system. The antinociceptive effects of crotoxin (45 μg/kg ip) in rats were verified in this study by increased response latencies in a Hargreaves test and tail flick test. In addition, it was demonstrated that crotoxin does not lead to motor impairments during a rotarod test and open field test. The main objective, carried out by blood oxygen level dependent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD fMRI) in anesthetized rats, was to determine which specific brain structures are involved in these antinociceptive effects. Moreover, potential antihyperalgesic effects were investigated by inducing a local hyperalgesia on the left hind paw. Therefore, antinociceptive effects (right paw) and antihyperalgesic effects (left paw) of crotoxin were able to be differentiated. As a result, crotoxin exhibited dominant antihyperalgesic but also antinociceptive effects during pain stimulation. Reductions of BOLD signal already occurred in brain input structures but were most prominent in primary and secondary somatosensory cortices. In conclusion, BOLD fMRI in anesthetized rats proved to be a helpful tool in toxinology, particularly in unraveled mechanisms of modulating nociception in the central nervous system by (potential) analgesics like crotoxin.
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