Chondroitin sulfate isolated from the secretion of the venom-producing parotoid gland of Brazilian bufonid.

The parotoid gland of bufonids is characterized as a specialized integument region, formed by different gland types. The secretion elaborated by the largest glandular alveoli has been related to animal chemical defense and is constituted by granular protein content, associated with a basophilic and alcianophilic material with features of glycoconjugates. This study aimed to identify and characterize the glycoconjugates in the secretion of the largest granular gland of the parotoid gland of Rinella icterica by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques at light microscopy, biochemical methods, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our results showed that the glycoconjugate content contains a mixture of chondroitin­6­sulfate (C6S) and chondroitin-non-sulfate (C0S). Thus, chondroitin sulfate probably plays an important role in gland physiology, probably protecting the protein content while inside the secretory portion.

A lectin fraction from green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides inhibits inflammatory nociception in the temporomandibular joint of rats dependent from peripheral mechanisms.

Temporomandibular disorders are the second most common cause of orofacial pain mediated by inflammatory compounds, which in many cases leads to chronic orofacial pain. This study assessed the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of a lectin from the green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides (CcL) on hypernociception inflammatory in TMJ of rats and investigated the involvement of different mechanisms. Rats received i.v. CcL 30 min prior to injection of flogistic agentes or 0.9% saline into the left TMJ. Pretreatment with CcL (0. 1; 1 or 10 mg/kg) promoted a reduction (p < 0.05) of inflammatory hypernociception induced by 1.5% Formalin along with inhibition of inflammatory plasma extravasation, cytokines levels, ciclooxigenase-2, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1). CcL was able to inhibit the nociceptive response induced by 1.5% Capsaicin, suggesting that CcL has an antinociceptive effect, acting directly on the primary nociceptive neurons. CcL also inhibited the nociceptive response induced by Carrageenan (100 µg/TMJ) or Serotonin (5-HT) (225 µg/TMJ). In conclusion, the results demonstrate that administration of CcL has a potential antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect, with a mechanism that is partially dependent on TNF-α, IL-1ß, COX-2 and ICAM-1 inhibition and independently from the cannabinoide and opioid system and NO/cGMP/PKG/K+ATP channel pathway.

Dual effects of a lectin from the green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium on inflammatory mediators in classical models of inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: Wide biotechnological investigations of only a limited number of seaweed lectins have been performed. We previously demonstrated the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of a lectin isolated from the green seaweed Caulerpa cupressoides var. lycopodium (CcL). Herein, we further studied the mechanisms of action of CcL. METHODS: Classical acute inflammation models induced by different flogistic agents were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of CcL. CcL was injected locally into the rat paw to verify a possible pro-inflammatory outcome. RESULTS: CcL (0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg; i.v.) reduced the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and neutrophilic infiltration, which was not altered by either mucin (inhibitor of CcL carbohydrate-binding site) or ZnPP-IX (specific HO-1 inhibitor). Immunohistochemical analyses showed that CcL (1 mg/kg) reduced the expression of the cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2. CcL (0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg) inhibited dextran, and CcL (1 mg/kg) inhibited histamine-induced rat paw edema. Both effects were reversed by mucin inhibition. CcL (1 mg/kg) was ineffective for the treatment of serotonin- and bradykinin-induced rat paw edema. When injected via the i.pl. route, CcL (10 mg/kg) elicited rat paw edema involving a wide range of mediators. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory action of CcL involves the inhibition of IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and COX-2 expression and histamine H1 receptors. When locally administered, CcL exerts pro-inflammatory actions.