Immunomodulatory potential evaluation of Calloselasma rhodostoma raw venom and L-amino acid oxidase on the complement system

• Grant number: 14/13717-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2014
• End date: July 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Suely Vilela
• Grantee: Gabriela Toninato de Paula
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/23236-4 - Native and recombinant animal toxins: functional, structural and molecular analysis, AP.TEM

Abstract

The complement system (CS) is one of the major effectors of the inflammatory system, playing an important role in several acute and chronic inflammatory reactions as well as different pathogenic mechanisms of tissue damage associated with autoimmune disease, ischemic diseases and therapeutic interventions (WALPORT, 2001). In many of these situations, the SC is primarily responsible for the initiation, amplification and perpetuation of tissue damage (MORGAN & HARRIS, 2003). The venom of the snake Calloselasma rhodostoma (or rhodostoma Agkistrodon) - Malayan pit viper - Common in parts of Southeast Asia, contains several toxins with thrombin-like actions, inducing or inhibiting platelet aggregation as well as hemorrhagic proteases (FUNG et al., 2010). One of the most abundant enzymes that venom is the L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO), which also has activities on the hemostatic system and together with other proteins, plays an important role in the toxicity of this venom (MOUSTAFA et al., 2006; SAJEVIK et al., 2011). SC, in turn, has several connections to the coagulation cascade, both considered critical systems for the generation of inflammatory processes (AMARA et al., 2008, 2010). Thus, these interactions prompted us to investigate the actions of crude venom and LAAO C. rhodostoma that have activities on the hemostatic system, also on the SC.