Abstract
The prominent myotoxic effects induced by Bothrops jararacussu crude venom are due, in part, to its polycationic myotoxins, BthTX-I and BthTX-II. Both myotoxins have a phospholipase A2 structure: BthTX-II is an active enzyme Asp-49 PLA2, while BthTX-I is a Lys-49 PLA2 devoid of enzymatic activity. In this study, the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), 685 nm laser at a dose of 4.2 J/cm2 on edema formation, leukocyte influx and myonecrosis caused by BthTX-I and BthTX-II, isolated from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom, was analyzed. BthTX-I and BthTX-II caused a significant edema formation, a prominent leukocyte infiltrate composed predominantly by neutrophils and myonecrosis in envenomed gastrocnemius muscle. LLLT significantly reduced the edema formation, neutrophil accumulation and myonecrosis induced by both myotoxins 24 hours after the injection. LLLT reduced the myonecrosis caused by BthTX-I and BthTX-II, respectively, by 60 and 43%; the edema formation, by 41 and 60.7%; and the leukocyte influx, by 57.5 and 51.6%. In conclusion, LLLT significantly reduced the effect of these snake toxins on the inflammatory response and myonecrosis. These results suggest that LLLT should be considered a potential therapeutic approach for treatment of local effects of Bothrops species venom.
Highlights
Venom phospholipases A2 (PLA2, EC 3.1.1.4) catalyze the hydrolysis of the sn-2-acyl bond of glycerophospholipids in a calciumdependent fashion to release free fatty acids and lysophospholipids
Two myotoxic PLA2s were isolated from Bothrops jararacussu snake venom and characterized as bothropstoxin I (BthTX-I) and bothropstoxin II (BthTX-II) [11, 12]
The local inflammatory process and myonecrosis induced by BthTX-I (Lys49 PLA2) and BthTXII (Asp49 PLA2), and their possible blockade by laser treatment, were investigated
Summary
Venom phospholipases A2 (PLA2, EC 3.1.1.4) catalyze the hydrolysis of the sn-2-acyl bond of glycerophospholipids in a calciumdependent fashion to release free fatty acids and lysophospholipids. These reaction products may display direct biological activities or may be transformed into other active compounds with hemostatic, cardiotoxic, convulsant, hemolytic, hypotensive, hepatotoxic, myotoxic and neurotoxic activities [1,2,3,4]. Two myotoxins had been isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom, bothropstoxin I (BthTX-I) – a basic Lys 49 major – and bothropstoxin II (BthTX-II) – a basic Asp 49 [11, 12] These proteins play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of local tissue damage induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom, causing myotoxic and edema-forming effects. A conspicuous inflammatory cell infiltrate has been described in muscle that had been affected by those PLA2s [13]
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