Inflammatory oedema induced by Lachesis muta muta (Surucucu) venom and LmTX-I in the rat paw and dorsal skin.

The ability of crude venom and a basic phospholipase A(2) (LmTX-I) from Lachesis muta muta venom to increase the microvascular permeability in rat paw and skin was investigated. Crude venom or LmTX-I were injected subplantarly or intradermally and rat paw oedema and dorsal skin plasma extravasation were measured. Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cell was also assessed. Crude venom or LmTX-I induced dose-dependent rat paw oedema and dorsal skin plasma extravasation. Venom-induced plasma extravasation was inhibited by the histamine H(1) antagonist mepyramine (6mg/kg), histamine/5-hydroxytriptamine antagonist cyproheptadine (2mg/kg), cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5mg/kg), nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor l-NAME (100nmol/site), tachykinin NK(1) antagonist SR140333 (1nmol/site) and bradykinin B(2) receptor antagonist Icatibant (0.6mg/kg). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist PCA4248 (5mg/kg) had no effect. LmTX-I-induced skin extravasation was inhibited by cyproheptadine, mepyramine, indomethacin and PCA4248, while l-NAME and SR140333 had no effect. Additionally, both Lachesis muta muta venom and LmTX-I concentration-dependently induced histamine release from rat mast cells. In conclusion, Lachesis muta muta venom and LmTX-I increase microvascular permeability by mechanisms involving in vivo mast cell activation and arachidonic acid metabolites. Additionally, crude venom-induced responses also involve substance P, nitric oxide and bradykinin release, whether LmTX-I-induced responses involve PAF.

Characterization of the acute pancreatitis induced by secretory phospholipases A2 in rats.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterized by local inflammation and extrapancreatic effects such as lung injury. Secretory phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s) have been implicated in triggering AP, but their exact role to evoke AP is largely unknown. Therefore, we have tested the ability of sPLA(2)s to induce AP in rats, using venom sPLA(2)s with residual or high enzymatic activity (bothropstoxin-II and Naja mocambique mocambique venom PLA(2), respectively), as well as sPLA(2) devoid of catalytic activity (piratoxin-I). The injection of Naja m. mocambique venom PLA(2), bothropstoxin-II or piratoxin-I (300 microg/kg each) into the common bile duct increased significantly the pancreatic plasma extravasation and myeloperoxidase activity. The lung myeloperoxidase and serum amylase were also increased for all groups, although the Naja mocambique mocambique venom PLA(2) induced higher lung myeloperoxidase and serum amylase values, compared with piratoxin-I and/or bothropstoxin-II. Histopathology of pancreas and lungs in piratoxin-I-injected rats showed interstitial oedema in both tissues, and neutrophil infiltration with acinar cell necrosis in pancreas. In conclusion, sPLA(2)s induce AP in rats and the catalytic activity is not essential to induce the local effects in pancreas, although it appears to contribute partly to the remote lung injury.

Human neutrophil migration in vitro induced by secretory phospholipases A2: a role for cell surface glycosaminoglycans.

The purpose of this study was to examine the ability of type I- (porcine pancreas and Naja mocambique mocambique venom), type II- (bothropstoxin-I, bothropstoxin-II, and piratoxin-I), and type III- (Apis mellifera venom) secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) to induce human neutrophil chemotaxis, and the role of the cell surface proteoglycans, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and platelet-activating factor (PAF), in mediating this migration. The neutrophil chemotaxis assays were performed by using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber. Piratoxin-I, bothropstoxin-I, N. m. mocambique venom PLA2 (10-1000 microg/mL each), bothropstoxin-II (30-1000 microg/mL), porcine pancreas PLA2 (0.3-30 microg/mL), and A. mellifera venom PLA2 (30-300 microg/mL) caused concentration-dependent neutrophil chemotaxis. Heparin (10-300 U/mL) concentration-dependently inhibited the neutrophil migration induced by piratoxin-I, bothropstoxin-II, and N. m. mocambique and A. mellifera venom PLA2s (100 microg/mL each), but failed to affect the migration induced by porcine pancreas PLA2. Heparan sulfate (300 and 1000 microg/mL) inhibited neutrophil migration induced by piratoxin-I, whereas dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate (30-1000 microg/mL each) had no effect. Heparitinase I and heparinase (300 mU/mL each) inhibited by 41.5 and 47%, respectively, piratoxin-I-induced chemotaxis, whereas heparitinase II and chondroitinase AC failed to affect the chemotaxis. The PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 (3-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)-9-methyl-6H-thienol-[3,2-f] -triazolo-[4,3-a] -diazepine-2-yl]-1-(4-morpholynil)-1-propionate) (0.1-10 microM) and the LTB4 synthesis inhibitor AA-861 [2-(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-diynyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone] (0.1-10 microM) significantly inhibited the piratoxin-I-induced chemotaxis. Piratoxin-I (30-300 microg/mL) caused a concentration-dependent release of LTB4. Our results suggest that neutrophil migration in response to sPLA2s is independent of PLA activity, and involves an interaction of sPLA2s with cell surface heparin/heparan binding sites triggering the release of LTB4 and PAF.

Acute lung injury in experimental pancreatitis in rats: pulmonary protective effects of crotapotin and N-acetylcysteine.

Respiratory complications are major factors contributing to death in acute pancreatitis. However, the mechanisms of these pulmonary complications are not completely elucidated. We studied the effects of pretreatment with purified crotapotin (a phospholipase A2 inhibitor), N-acetylcysteine (a reactive oxygen species inhibitor), and a combination of both on the pulmonary mechanical and morphometric changes secondary to severe acute necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis in Wistar rats. A total of 69 male Wistar rats were studied. Pancreatitis was induced by infusion of 0.5 mL of a 4% solution of sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. Crotapotin, N-acetylcysteine, or a combination of both was given intraperitoneally 30 min before inducing pancreatitis. Data were compared with data from sham-operated animals with or without those pretreatments. The severity of pancreatic and pulmonary injuries was evaluated 4 h after inducing pancreatitis by morphometric and pulmonary mechanical studies. N-acetylcysteine prevented the development of alveolar edema, alveolar distention, and collapse. Crotapotin prevented alveolar distention and collapse, and pulmonary dynamic elastance increase. When used in combination, crotapotin and N-acetylcysteine prevented both pulmonary morphological and mechanical changes induced by acute pancreatitis, suggesting an increase in protective effect when these drugs are used together compared with individual effects. However, the severity of pancreatic necrosis and the increase in polymorphonuclear cells in alveolar septa induced by pancreatitis were not reduced by previous administration of crotapotin, N-acetylcysteine, or both. These results suggest that the protective effects of these drugs are probably due to an extra-pancreatic action in the circulation, or even directly in the lung.

Signalling pathways regulating human neutrophil migration induced by secretory phospholipases A2.

This study was designed to elucidate the signalling pathways by which secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) induce in vitro neutrophil migration. The cell migration assays were performed with Naja mocambique venom PLA2 (sPLA2 with high catalytic activity), bothropstoxin-I (sPLA2 devoid of catalytic activity) and platelet-activating factor (PAF), using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber. Both the non-selective protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (30-300 nM) and the selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpyperazine (H7; 50-200 microM) as well as the Gi inactivator pertussis toxin (30-300 nM) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the neutrophil migration induced by either N. mocambique venom PLA2 (100 microg/ml) or bothropstoxin-I (100 microg/ml). Pertussis toxin nearly abolished PAF-induced migration, while staurosporine and H7 partly (but significantly) inhibited the chemotactic responses to PAF. The dual inhibitor of cytosolic PLA2 and Ca2+ -independent PLA2 (iPLA2), arachidonil-trifluoromethyl-ketone (ATK; 0.2-20 microM), or the specific iPLA2 inhibitor bromoenol lactone (1-30 microM) caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the migration induced by either sPLA2s. At the maximal concentration used for each compound, the migration was almost suppressed. In contrast, both of these compounds caused only slight inhibitions of PAF-induced migration. No rise in intracellular Ca2+ was observed in neutrophil-stimulated sPLA2, as determined in cells preloaded with fura 2-AM. In the experimental condition used, pertussis toxin, staurosporine, H7, ATK or bromoenol lactone did not induce cytotoxic effects, according to MTT assay. Our results suggest that activation of an endogenous PLA2 through activation of GTP-binding protein and PKC is the main mechanism by which exogenous sPLA2s cause neutrophil migration.

Role of substance P and bradykinin in acute pancreatitis induced by secretory phospholipase A2.

OBJECTIVES: Secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2s) induce acute pancreatitis when injected into the common bile duct of rats. Substance P via neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptors and bradykinin via B2 receptors are described to play important roles in the pathophysiology of acute pancreatitis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of substance P and bradykinin in the sPLA2-induced pancreatitis. METHODS: Rats were submitted to the common bile duct injection of sPLA2 obtained from Naja mocambique mocambique venom at 300 microg/kg. At 4 hours thereafter, measurement of pancreatic plasma extravasation, pancreatic and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO), serum amylase, and serum tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were evaluated. RESULTS: Injection of sPLA2 significantly increased all parameters evaluated. Pretreatment with either the NK-1 receptor antagonist SR140333 or the B2 receptor antagonist icatibant largely reduced the increased pancreatic plasma extravasation and circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Both treatments partly reduced the MPO levels in the pancreas, whereas in the lungs, icatibant was more efficient to reduce the increased MPO levels. In addition, icatibant largely reduced the serum levels of amylase, whereas SR140333 had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that NK-1 and B2 receptors can regulate important steps in the local and remote inflammation during acute pancreatitis induced by sPLA2.