Abstract
Tetraponera rufonigra (Arboreal Bicoloured Ant) venom induces pain, inflammation, and anaphylaxis in people and has an increased incident in Southeast Asia regions. The bioactive components and mechanism of action of the ant venom are still limited. The aim of this research was to identify the protein composition and inflammatory process of the ant venom by using RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The major venom proteins are composed of 5’ nucleotidase, prolyl endopeptidase-like, aminopeptidase N, trypsin-3, venom protein, and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The venom showed PLA2 activity and represented 0.46 μg of PLA2 bee venom equivalent/μg crude venom protein. The venom induced cytotoxic in a dose- and time-dependent manner with IC20 approximately at 4.01 µg/mL. The increased levels of COX-2 and PGE2 were observed after 1 h of treatment correlating with an upregulation of COX-2 expression. Moreover, the level of mPGES-1 expression was obviously increased after 12 h of venom induction. Hence, our results suggested that the induction of COX-2/mPGEs-1 pathway could be a direct pathway for the ant venom-induced inflammation.
Highlights
Tetraponera rufonigra, an arboreal bicolor ant, is one of the most dangerous invasive pests on a global scale [1]
The molecular weight of the ant venom proteins found in our study was similar to the Dinoponera quadriceps venom [2]
A previous study identified several ant venom proteins from other species of ants such as venom protein with a molecular weight ranging from 15.2–70.1 KDa of Solenopsis invicta venom [22], 20.1–97 kDa of Neoponera villosa venom [19], 18–160 kDa of Odontomachus bauri venom [26], and 12–85 kDa of Brachyponera chinensis [26]
Summary
Tetraponera rufonigra, an arboreal bicolor ant, is one of the most dangerous invasive pests on a global scale [1]. T. rufonigra is classified as the Hymenoptera, family Formicidae, and subfamily Psudomyrmecinae It can be found in widespread regions in Pakistan, India, and Southeast Asia [1,2]. The ant venom consists of various types of proteins, alkaloids, hydrocarbons, and formic acid [4,5,6]. These substances exerted paralytic, cytolytic, hemolytic, and allergenic effects after exposure [4,5]. The investigation of venom composition in genus Tetraponera has been identified [9,10] It contained pseudomyrmecitoxins (PSDTX), phospholipase, and venom allergens which acted as a defensive venom with a very painful action to aggressors. The most abundant venom protein in the Fierce Stinging Ant was identified as phospholipases and venom allergen [9]
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