A Quest for a Universal Plasma-Derived Antivenom Against All Elapid Neurotoxic Snake Venoms.

This review describes the research aimed at the development of universal antivenom against elapid neurotoxic snake venoms. The antivenoms produced in Thailand in the 1980s were of low potency, especially against the elapid venoms. This was thought to be due to the low immunogenicity of the α-neurotoxins, which are the most lethal toxins in these venoms. Comparisons of various α-neurotoxin conjugates and polymers, and also different immunological adjuvants, showed that the adjuvant used is the major determinant in the antibody response in horses. The potent Freund's adjuvant was not used due to its severe local side-effect in horses. Therefore, a novel immunization protocol termed 'low dose, low volume multi-site' was developed for use in horses. This immunization protocol has led to the production of highly potent monospecific antivenoms against several elapid and viperid venoms, and two potent polyspecific antivenoms, one against 4 neurotoxic and another against 3 hematotoxic venoms. The immunization protocol has also led to other improvements in antivenom production including: several fold increases in antiserum potency, a reduction in the time required to reach therapeutically useful antibody titers, a 90% reduction in the amount of venom used, and 100% of the horses responding to the immunization program. This development is partly responsible for significant decrease in the Thailand's annual snakebite death toll from a few dozens to mostly nil in recent years. Finally, a simple and novel immunization strategy, using a 'diverse toxin repertoire' composed of numerous elapid toxin fractions as immunogen, was proposed and tested. This immunization procedure has resulted in the successful production of a widely paraspecific antiserum against at least 36 neurotoxic venoms of 28 species encompassing 10 genera and from 20 countries on four continents, and possibly against all elapid venoms with α-neurotoxins as the lethal toxins. These results indicate that, with optimizations of the composition of the 'diverse toxin repertoire', the immunization scheme and antibody fractionation to increase the antivenom neutralizing potency, an effective universal antivenom against the neurotoxic elapid snakes of the world can be produced.

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Caspian Cobra (Naja naja oxiana) Snake Venom on the Serum Level of Interleukin-27 and Histopathological Changes in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein-experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitisinduced Mice.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered a chronic disease of the central nervous system, with a strong neurodegenerative component. The exact mechanism of MS is not clear. However, the therapeutic strategies for controlling MS are based on immune modulation and inflammation control. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to investigate the influence of snake venom on the suppression of the immune system after the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice. For this purpose, C57BL/6 female mice, divided into three groups, were selected to be induced by EAE. Groups 2 and 3 received flank injection with the emulsion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG 35-55), as well as complete Freund adjuvant, followed by the administration of pertussis toxin. Furthermore, the treatment group, as an immune-modulator, received cobra venom (CV) after EAE induction. The mice were then evaluated daily based on clinical symptoms, weight changes (within 26 days), histopathological analysis, and serum levels of interleukin 27 (IL-27) for neurological motor deficits. The clinical signs of MOG-EAE in C57BL/6 mice began 9-14 days post-immunization. Histopathological results also revealed that CV-treated EAE mice, compared to the untreated EAE group, witnessed a significant reduction in the intensity of inflammatory cells in parenchymal sections. Furthermore, the increase of IL-27 levels was significant in the CV-treated group (P=0.001), compared with those in the EAE and control groups. Based on results obtained in the present study, it may be concluded that Naja naja oxiana snake venom is a potential immunomodulatory agent that can be effective in the treatment of MS.

Pretreatment with atorvastatin ameliorates cobra venom factor-induced acute lung inflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND: The complement system plays a critical role as the pathogenic factor in the models of acute lung injury due to various causes. Cobra venom factor (CVF) is a commonly used complement research tool. The CVF can cause acute inflammation in the lung by producing complement activation components. Atorvastatin (ATR) is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A inhibitor approved for control of plasma cholesterol levels. This inhibitor can reduce the acute pulmonary inflammatory response. However, the ability of ATR in treating acute lung inflammation caused by complement activation is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ATR on lung inflammation in mice induced by activation of the complement alternative pathway in this study. METHODS: ATR (10 mg/kg/day via oral gavage) was administered for 7 days before tail vein injection of CVF (25 µg/kg). On the seventh day, all mice were sacrificed 1 h after injection. The lung lobe, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and blood samples were collected. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity of the lung homogenate, the leukocyte cell count, and the protein content of BALF were measured. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P-selectin, and Intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in BALF and serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological change of the lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The deposition of C5b-9 in the lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the lung tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. RESULTS: The lung inflammation levels were determined by measuring the leukocyte cell numbers and protein content of BALF, the lung MPO activity, and expression and staining of the inflammatory mediators (IL-6 and TNF-α), and adhesion molecules (P-selectin and ICAM-1) for lung lesion. A significant reduction in the lung inflammation levels was observed after 7 days in ATR pre-treated mice with a CVF-induced lung disease. Deposition of C5b-9 was significantly alleviated by ATR pretreatment. Early intervention with ATR significantly reduced the development of acute lung inflammation on the basis of phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in the lung. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the identification of ATR treatment for the lung inflammation induced by activating the complement system on the basis of its anti-inflammatory response. Together with the model replicating the complement activating characteristics of acute lung injury, the results may be translatable to the overactivated complement relevant diseases.

Complement C3 participates in the function and mechanism of traumatic brain injury at simulated high altitude.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to severe mortality and disability, in which secondary injury induced by complement activation plays an important role. TBI tends to be associated with more severe cerebral edema and worse neurological functional recovery if it occurs in high-altitude areas than in low-altitude areas. However, the underlying mechanism of this difference is unknown. Thus, we used cobra venom factor (CVF) to deplete complement C3 in simulated high-altitude areas to explore whether the differences in outcome at different altitudes are related to secondary injury caused by complement C3. METHODS: The weight-drop model was adopted to induce TBI in rats. Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: sham + saline (sham), high altitude + TBI + saline (HAT), high altitude + TBI + CVF (H-CVF), low altitude + TBI + saline (LAT), and low altitude + TBI + CVF (L-CVF). Brain contusion and edema volumes, brain water content, myelin basic protein (MBP) expression, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) expression, interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) expression, mortality rate, neurological function, and complement component 3 (C3) mRNA expression were measured by techniques such as Evans blue fluorescence, Perls staining, TUNEL staining, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting to evaluate correlations between complement activation and secondary injury. RESULTS: The activation of complement after TBI was significantly higher at high altitude than at low altitude. High-altitude TBI resulted in a leakier blood-brain barrier, more severe cerebral edema and higher mortality than low-altitude TBI did. In addition, high-altitude TBI tended to be associated with more MBP degradation, ferric iron deposition, neuronal apoptosis, and inflammatory factor deposition than low-altitude TBI. All of these effects of TBI were partially reversed by inhibiting complement activation using CVF. CONCLUSION: Our study provided evidence that TBI at high altitude leads to severe edema and high mortality and disability rates. Complement C3 activation is one of the important factors contributing to secondary brain injury.

Two pathways for venom toxin entry consequent to injection of an Australian elapid snake venom.

Here we test and refute the hypothesis that venom toxins from an Australian elapid, the Eastern Brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis, PTx), solely require lymphatic transport to enter the circulation. Studies were made using anaesthetised non-recovery rats in which a marker dye (India ink) or highly potent PTx venom was injected into the hind paw. The studies required a means of inhibiting lymphatic function, as achieved by cooling of the test hind limb to low temperatures (~3 °C). Maintained entry of a non-lethal dose (0.15 mg/kg) and respiratory arrest consequent to injection of a lethal dose (1 mg/kg) of PTx venom at these low temperatures indicate that venom including toxin components enter the circulation directly via the vascular system, a process facilitated by, but not dependent on, lymphatic transport. Notably, the venom had a direct effect on vascular permeability markedly increasing this to allow extravasation of plasma albumin (MWt ~60 kDa).

Neurotoxicity of Micrurus lemniscatus lemniscatus (South American coralsnake) venom in vertebrate neuromuscular preparations in vitro and neutralization by antivenom.

We investigated the effect of South American coralsnake (Micrurus lemniscatus lemniscatus) venom on neurotransmission in vertebrate nerve-muscle preparations in vitro. The venom (0.1-30 µg/ml) showed calcium-dependent PLA2 activity and caused irreversible neuromuscular blockade in chick biventer cervicis (BC) and mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm (PND) preparations. In BC preparations, contractures to exogenous acetylcholine and carbachol (CCh), but not KCl, were abolished by venom concentrations ≥ 0.3 µg/ml; in PND preparations, the amplitude of the tetanic response was progressively attenuated, but with little tetanic fade. In low Ca2+ physiological solution, venom (10 µg/ml) caused neuromuscular blockade in PND preparations within ~ 10 min that was reversible by washing; the addition of Ca2+ immediately after the blockade temporarily restored the twitch responses, but did not prevent the progression to irreversible blockade. Venom (10 µg/ml) did not depolarize diaphragm muscle, prevent depolarization by CCh, or cause muscle contracture or histological damage. Venom (3 µg/ml) had a biphasic effect on the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials, but did not affect their amplitude; there was a progressive decrease in the amplitude of evoked end-plate potentials. The amplitude of compound action potentials in mouse sciatic nerve was unaffected by venom (10 µg/ml). Pre-incubation of venom with coralsnake antivenom (Instituto Butantan) at the recommended antivenom:venom ratio did not neutralize the neuromuscular blockade in PND preparations, but total neutralization was achieved with a tenfold greater volume of antivenom. The addition of antivenom after 50% and 80% blockade restored the twitch responses. These results show that M. lemniscatus lemniscatus venom causes potent, irreversible neuromuscular blockade, without myonecrosis. This blockade is apparently mediated by pre- and postsynaptic neurotoxins and can be reversed by coralsnake antivenom.

Complement depletion with cobra venom factor alleviates acute hepatic injury induced by ischemia­reperfusion.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that complement activation is required for ischemia­reperfusion injury (IRI)­induced hepatic damage, and cobra venom factor (CVF) can deplete the complement components. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect and intrinsic mechanism of CVF pretreatment on IRI­induced acute hepatic injury in rats. Acute hepatic injury in rats was induced by bone fracture to simulate trauma, followed by hemorrhage for 90 min, and then the rats were resuscitated for a period of 20 min of reperfusion. The survival times under different CVF treatment doses and schedules for rats with IRI were evaluated. Hepatic tissues and serum samples were analyzed for acute hepatic injury, complement activation, inflammatory mediator release and apoptosis at predetermined times and compared between the IRI group and the CVF pretreatment + IRI groups. Compared to the rats with IRI alone, the survival times were significantly improved among rats with IRI receiving a high­dose or low­dose CVF pretreatment (all P<0.01). Upon histological examination, severe hepatic damage was observed in the rats with IRI, accompanied by liver function deterioration, complement and membrane attack complex activation, inflammatory mediator release and hepatic cell apoptosis. CVF pretreatment significantly attenuated the hepatic injury through depletion of anaphylatoxic C5a and membrane attack complex C5b­9 activation, and subsequent inhibition of inflammatory mediator release and hepatic cell apoptosis (all P<0.05). The results indicated that CVF pretreatment ameliorates IRI­induced acute hepatic injury. However, further studies are required to determine whether this therapy could be a potential agent for the treatment of IRI injuries in clinical settings.

Effects of systemic inhibitors of acid-sensing ion channels 1 (ASIC1) against acute and chronic mechanical allodynia in a rodent model of migraine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal proton sensors emerging as potential therapeutic targets in pain of the orofacial region. Amiloride, a non-specific ASIC blocker, has been shown to exert beneficial effects in animal models of migraine and in patients. We explored the involvement of the ASIC1-subtype in cutaneous allodynia, a hallmark of migraine affecting cephalic and extra-cephalic regions in about 70% of migrainers. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We investigated the effects of systemic injections of amiloride and mambalgin-1, a specific inhibitor of ASIC1a- and ASIC1b-containing channels, on cephalic and extra-cephalic mechanical sensitivity in a rodent model of acute and chronic migraine induced by i.p. injections of isosorbide dinitrate. KEY RESULTS: I.v. injections of these inhibitors reversed cephalic and extra-cephalic acute cutaneous mechanical allodynia in rats, a single injection inducing a delay in the subsequent establishment of chronic allodynia. Both mambalgin-1 and amiloride also reversed established chronic allodynia. The anti-allodynic effects of mambalgin-1 were not altered in ASIC1a-knockout mice, showing the ASIC1a subtype is not involved in these effects which were comparable to those of the anti-migraine drug sumatriptan and of the preventive drug topiramate on acute and chronic allodynia respectively. A single daily injection of mambalgin-1 also had a significant preventive effect on allodynia chronification. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These pharmacological data support the involvement of peripheral ASIC1-containing channels in migraine cutaneous allodynia as well as in its chronification. They highlight the therapeutic potential of ASIC1 inhibitors as both an acute and prophylactic treatment for migraine.

Comparative Efficacy of Drugs for Preventing Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery: A Network Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently after cardiac surgery and has been associated with increased hospital length of stay, mortality, and costs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacologic strategies for preventing AKI after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to 6 May 2017 and the reference lists of relevant articles about trials. The outcome was the occurrence of AKI. This is the first network meta-analysis of the different prevention strategies using Bayesian methodology. RESULTS: The study included 63 articles with 19,520 participants and evaluated the effect of ten pharmacologic strategies to prevent AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Compared with placebo, the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of AKI was 0.24 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.34] with natriuretic peptide, 0.33 (95% CI 0.14-0.70) with fenoldopam, 0.54 (95% CI 0.31-0.84) with dexmedetomidine, 0.56 (95% CI 0.29-0.95) with low-dose erythropoietin, 0.63 (95% CI 0.43-0.88) with levosimendan, 0.76 (95% CI 0.52-1.10) with steroids, 0.83 (95% CI 0.48-1.40) with high-dose erythropoietin, 0.85 (95% CI 0.64-1.14) with N-acetylcysteine, 0.96 (95% CI 0.69-1.29) with sodium bicarbonate, and 1.05 (95% CI 0.70-1.41) with statins. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve probabilities indicated that natriuretic peptide was the best treatment therapy and that fenoldopam ranked second. CONCLUSIONS: Natriuretic peptide is probably the preferred pharmacologic strategy to prevent AKI in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, especially in those at high risk of AKI.

Functional complement activity is decisive for the development of chronic synovitis, osteophyte formation and processes of cell senescence in zymosan-induced arthritis.

Synovial inflammation plays a critical role in the symptoms and structural progression of arthritis which leads to irreversible damage of the adjacent cartilage and bone. Activation of complement system is strongly implicated as a factor in the pathogenesis of chronic synovitis in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we show that the depletion of functional complement activity at the time of the initiation of zymosan-induced arthritis, significantly reduced the expression of TGF-beta1/3, BMP2 and pSmad2 and decreased the number of Sudan Black B positive cells in the synovium. Also, the excessive synthesis of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans was diminished. The appearance of apoptotic and senescent cells among the adherent bone marrow cells cultivated in vitro was not observed in complement depleted mice. Therefore, the lack of functional complement prevented the development of chronic synovitis, osteophyte formation and the generation of pathologic senescent arthritic cells.

Suppression of Ehrlich carcinoma growth by cobra venom factor.

Cobra venom factor (CVF) depletes the complement system of the blood by forming stable convertase C3/C5 of the alternative pathway. We found that CVF from the Thailand cobra venom slows down the growth of subcutaneous Ehrlich carcinoma (EC) in mice at a dose of 1.7 nmol/g. Previously, we described a similar effect for the nerve growth factor (NGF) from the venom of this cobra. However, these factors did not exhibit either synergy or additive effect. On the contrary, they neutralized the antitumor effect of each other when they were administered simultaneously. Therefore, on the one hand, the NGF antitumor effect against EC manifests itself under the conditions of inflammation, and normal functioning of the complement system is necessary for this effect to occur. On the other hand, suppression of the humoral immune system leads to a slowdown of the EC growth, but administration of NGF prevents this.

Anti-osteoarthritic activity of Bungarus fasciatus venom fraction BF-F47 involving molecular markers in the rats.

A heat stable protein BF-F47 was purified from the crude venom of Bungarus fasciatus by CM cellulose ion exchange chromatography and HPLC. Osteoarthritis (OA) was developed in male albino Wistar rats by collagenase injection. BF-F47 treatment significantly restored urinary hydroxyproline and glucosamine in OA rats. Serum acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine and serum molecular markers TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-17, cytokine induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, matrix metalloproteinase-1, cathepsin-K, osteocalcin and PGE2 were also significantly altered. BF-F47 showed partial restoration of osteoarthritis joints. Thus, BF-F47 induced anti-osteoarthritic activity in Wistar rats acted through molecular markers of arthritis and inflammation.

Thrombolytic protein from cobra venom with anti-adhesive properties.

A metalloproteinase anticoagulant toxin of molecular weight 66 kDa has been purified from the venom of Indian monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia). This toxin named as NKV 66 cleaved fibrinogen in a dose and time dependent manner. The digestion process was specific to Aα chain and cleaved fibrinogen to peptide fragments. NKV 66 completely liquefied the fibrin clots developed in vitro in 18 h. Plasma recalcification time and thrombin time were significantly prolonged following treatment of plasma with NKV 66. NKV 66 significantly inhibited ADP and collagen induced platelet aggregation in a dose dependent manner. It showed disintegrin like activity on A549 cells cultured in vitro. About 40% inhibition of adherence of A549 cells to matrix was observed following NKV 66 treatment also NKV 66 treated A549 cells were drastically inhibited from passing through the matrix in cell invasion assays in vitro, suggesting anti-adhesive properties of NKV 66.

Inhibition of complement C3 might rescue vascular hyporeactivity in a conscious hemorrhagic shock rat model.

BACKGROUND: Vascular hyporeactivity in severe hemorrhagic shock could induce refractory hypotension and is an important cause of death. The global acute inflammatory response induced in shock triggers the over-expression of reactive oxygen species, NO, ET1 and TNF-α, which play essential roles in the pathology of vascular hyporeactivity. This leads to a hypothesis that inhibition of the complement system, the mediator of the inflammatory cascade, might be a promising therapeutic exploration for vascular hyporeactivity. METHODS: We use cobra venom factor (CVF) and the soluble form of CR1 (sCR1) which deplete or inhibit complement C3 respectively to examine its role in vascular hyporeactivity in a conscious hemorrhagic shock rat model. RESULTS: We first confirmed the over-activation of C3 during shock and the down-regulation effects of CVF and sCR1 on C3. Then, both CVF and sCR1 could significantly mitigate the over-expression of serum NO, ET-1, TNF-α and reactive oxygen species. Finally, the vascular reactivity of superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) was examined in vitro, which confirmed the massive reduction of vascular reactivity in shock, which was significantly rescued by both CVF and sCR1. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of C3 might improve the reactivity of SMA to norepinephrine during hemorrhagic shock possibly through the downregulation of NO, ET1, TNF-α and reactive oxygen radicals.

Protection against osteoarthritis in experimental animals by nanogold conjugated snake venom protein toxin gold nanoparticle-Naja kaouthia cytotoxin 1.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Increased severity of osteoarthritis (OA) and adverse side effects of its treatment led to the search for alternative therapies. It was previously reported that snake venom protein toxin Naja kaouthia cytotoxin 1 (NKCT1) and gold nanoparticle (GNP) individually have potential against excremental arthritis. In this study, we analyzed the protective activity of GNP conjugated protein toxin NKCT1 (GNP-NKCT1) against experimental OA. METHODS: Gold nanoparticle conjugation with NKCT1 (GNP-NKCT1) was done and its physiochemical properties were studied. OA was induced in male albino rats by intra-articular injection of bacterial collagenase and treatment was done with NKCT1/GNP-NKCT1/standard drug (indomethacin). Physical parameter (ankle diameter), urinary markers (hydroxyproline, glucosamine, pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline), serum and synovial membrane pro-inflammatory markers [tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-17, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) were measured. Joint histopathology and scanning electron microscopy imaging of articular cartilage surface were also done. RESULTS: Physical parameters, urinary markers, serum and synovial membrane pro-inflammatory makers and MMP1 were increased in arthritic rats and significantly restored after GNP-NKCT1/NKCT1 treatment. Joint histopathology and scanning electron microscopy imaging of articular cartilage surface also indicated the protective effect of GNP-NKCT1 against inflammatory response and cartilage degradation in osteoarthritic rats. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: In this study restoration of the arthritic markers and bone degradation by GNP-NKCT1 treatment indicated the anti-osteoarthritic property of GNP-NKCT1. Further studies need to be done to confirm these findings.

Dystroglycanopathy muscles lacking functional glycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan retain regeneration capacity.

In dystroglycanopathies, lack of glycosylated alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG) alters membrane fragility leading to fiber damage and repetitive cycles of muscle degeneration and regeneration. However the effect of the glycosylation of α-DG on muscle regeneration is not clearly understood. In this study, we examined the regenerative capacity of dystrophic muscles in vivo in FKRP mutant and LARGE(myd) mice with little and complete lack of functionally glycosylated α-DG (F-α-DG) respectively. The number of regenerating fibers expressing embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMyHC) in the diseased muscles up to the age of 10 months is higher than or at similar levels to wild type muscle after notexin and polyethyleminine insults. The process of fiber maturation is not significantly affected by the lack of F-α-DG assessed by size distribution. The earlier appearance of a larger number of regenerating fibers after injury is consistent with the observation that the populations of myogenic satellite cells are increased and being readily activated in the dystroglycanopathy muscles. F-α-DG is expressed at trace amounts in undifferentiated myoblasts, but increases in differentiated myotubes in vitro. We therefore conclude that muscle regeneration is not impaired in the early stage of the dystroglycanopathies, and F-α-DG does not play a significant role in myogenic cell proliferation and fiber formation and maturation.

Nano gold conjugation, anti-arthritic potential and toxicity studies of snake Naja kaouthia (Lesson, 1831) venom protein toxin NKCT1 in male albino rats and mice.

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology have found their way in the fields of pharmacology and medicine. The conjugation of drug to nanoparticles combines the properties of both. In this study, gold nanoparticle (GNP) was conjugated with NKCT1, a cytotoxic protein toxin from Indian cobra venom for evaluation of anti-arthritic activity and toxicity in experimental animal models. GNP conjugated NKCT1 (GNP-NKCT1) synthesized by NaBH4 reduction method was stable at room temperature (25 +/- 2 degrees C), pH 7.2. Hydrodynamic size of GNP-NKCT1 was 68-122 nm. Arthritis was developed by Freund's complete adjuvant induction in male albino rats and treatment was done with NKCT1/GNP-NKCT1/standard drug. The paw/ankle swelling, urinary markers, serum markers and cytokines were changed significantly in arthritic control rats which were restored after GNP-NKCT1 treatment. Acute toxicity study revealed that GNP conjugation increased the minimum lethal dose value of NKCT1 and partially reduced the NKCT1 induced increase of the serum biochemical tissue injury markers. Histopathological study showed partial restoration of toxic effect in kidney tissue after GNP conjugation. Normal lymphocyte count in culture was in the order of GNP-NKCT1 > NKCT1 > Indomethacine treatment. The present study confirmed that GNP conjugation increased the antiarthritic activity and decreased toxicity profile of NKCT1.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the myotoxic venom of Pseudechis australis (mulga snake) in the anesthetised rat.

CONTEXT: Myotoxicity is a common clinical effect of snake envenoming and results from either local or systemic myotoxins in snake venoms. Although numerous myotoxins have been isolated from snake venoms, there has been limited study on the relationship between the time course of venom concentrations (pharmacokinetics) and the time course of muscle injury measured as a rise in creatine kinase (CK) (pharmacodynamics). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop an in vivo model of myotoxicity to investigate the time course of myotoxicity and the effect of antivenom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anesthetised rats were administered Pseudechis australis (mulga snake) venom either through i.v., i.m. or s.d. route, including a range of doses (5-100 µg/kg). Serial blood samples were collected for measurement of venom using enzyme immunoassay and measurement of CK and creatinine. Antivenom was administered before, 1 and 6 h after venom administration to investigate its effect on muscle injury. Plots of venom and CK versus time were made and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant dose-dependent increase in CK concentration after administration of P. australis venom, which was greatest for i.v. administration. Timed measurement of venom concentrations showed a rapid absorption through s.d. and i.m. routes and a delayed rise in CK concentrations following any route. Antivenom prevented myotoxicity shown by a decrease in the CK AUC, which was most effective if given earliest. There was a rise in creatinine following i.v. venom administration. CONCLUSION: The study shows the delayed relationship between venom absorption and the rise in CK, consistent with the delayed onset of myotoxicity in human envenoming. Antivenom prevented myotoxicity more effectively if given earlier.

Extracellular deposition of matrilin-2 controls the timing of the myogenic program during muscle regeneration.

Here, we identify a role for the matrilin-2 (Matn2) extracellular matrix protein in controlling the early stages of myogenic differentiation. We observed Matn2 deposition around proliferating, differentiating and fusing myoblasts in culture and during muscle regeneration in vivo. Silencing of Matn2 delayed the expression of the Cdk inhibitor p21 and of the myogenic genes Nfix, MyoD and Myog, explaining the retarded cell cycle exit and myoblast differentiation. Rescue of Matn2 expression restored differentiation and the expression of p21 and of the myogenic genes. TGF-ß1 inhibited myogenic differentiation at least in part by repressing Matn2 expression, which inhibited the onset of a positive-feedback loop whereby Matn2 and Nfix activate the expression of one another and activate myoblast differentiation. In vivo, myoblast cell cycle arrest and muscle regeneration was delayed in Matn2(-/-) relative to wild-type mice. The expression levels of Trf3 and myogenic genes were robustly reduced in Matn2(-/-) fetal limbs and in differentiating primary myoblast cultures, establishing Matn2 as a key modulator of the regulatory cascade that initiates terminal myogenic differentiation. Our data thus identify Matn2 as a crucial component of a genetic switch that modulates the onset of tissue repair.

Evaluation of the lethal potency of scorpion and snake venoms and comparison between intraperitoneal and intravenous injection routes.

Scorpion stings and snake bites are major health hazards that lead to suffering of victims and high mortality. Thousands of injuries associated with such stings and bites of venomous animals occur every year worldwide. In North Africa, more than 100,000 scorpion stings and snake bites are reported annually. An appropriate determination of the 50% lethal doses (LD50) of scorpion and snake venoms appears to be an important step to assess (and compare) venom toxic activity. Such LD50 values are also commonly used to evaluate the neutralizing capacity of specific anti-venom batches. In the present work, we determined experimentally the LD50 values of reference scorpion and snake venoms in Swiss mice, and evaluated the influence of two main venom injection routes (i.e., intraperitoneal (IP) versus intravenous (IV)). The analysis of experimental LD50 values obtained with three collected scorpion venoms indicates that Androctonus mauretanicus (Am) is intrinsically more toxic than Androctonus australis hector (Aah) species, whereas the latter is more toxic than Buthus occitanus (Bo). Similar analysis of three representative snake venoms of the Viperidae family shows that Cerastes cerastes (Cc) is more toxic than either Bitis arietans (Ba) or Macrovipera lebetina (Ml) species. Interestingly, the venom of Elapidae cobra snake Naja haje (Nh) is far more toxic than viper venoms Cc, Ml and Ba, in agreement with the known severity of cobra-related envenomation. Also, our data showed that viper venoms are about three-times less toxic when injected IP as compared to IV, distinct from cobra venom Nh which exhibited a similar toxicity when injected IP or IV. Overall, this study clearly highlights the usefulness of procedure standardization, especially regarding the administration route, for evaluating the relative toxicity of individual animal venoms. It also evidenced a marked difference in lethal activity between venoms of cobra and vipers, which, apart from the nature of toxins, might be attributed to the rich composition of high molecular weight enzymes in the case of viper venoms.