An overview of the immune modulating effects of enzymatic toxins from snake venoms

Author(s)

Burin, Sandra M. ^[1] ; Menaldo, Danilo L. ^[1] ; Sampaio, Suely V. ^[1] ; Frantz, Fabiani G. ^[1] ; Castro, Fabiola A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules; v. 109, p. 664-671, APR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds, including proteins belonging to the protease (serine and metalloproteinases), oxidase (L-amino acid oxidases), and phospholipase (especially phospholipases A(2)) enzyme classes. These toxins account for the serious deleterious effects of snake envenomations, such as tissue necrosis, neurotoxicity, and hemorrhage. In addition to their toxic effects, snake venom toxins have served as important tools for investigating the mechanisms underlying envenomation and discovering new pharmacologically active compounds with immunotherapeutic potential. In this sense, the present review discusses the new findings and therapeutic perspectives in the immune modulating potential of enzymatic toxins from snake venoms belonging to the classes metalloproteinase, serine protease, L-amino acid oxidase, and phospholip'ase A(2). (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/23236-4 - Native and recombinant animal toxins: functional, structural and molecular analysis
• Grantee: Suely Vilela
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/25637-7 - Epigenetic modulation of apoptotic machinery in Bcr-Abl positive cells by BmooLAAO-I and MjTX-I toxins
• Grantee: Sandra Mara Burin de Menezes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral