Kunitz-Type Peptides from the Sea Anemone Heteractis crispa Demonstrate Potassium Channel Blocking and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Author(s):Show less -

Gladkikh, Irina ^[1] ; Peigneur, Steve ^[2] ; Sintsova, Oksana ^[1] ; Lopes Pinheiro-Junior, Ernesto ^[2] ; Klimovich, Anna ^[1] ; Menshov, Alexander ^[1] ; Kalinovsky, Anatoly ^[1] ; Isaeva, Marina ^[1] ; Monastyrnaya, Margarita ^[1] ; Kozlovskaya, Emma ^[1] ; Tytgat, Jan ^[2] ; Leychenko, Elena ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Russian Acad Sci, GB Elyakov Pacif Inst Bioorgan Chem, Far Eastern Branch, Pr 100 Iet Vladivostoku, Vladivostok 690022 - Russia

^[2] Univ Leuven, Toxicol & Pharmacol, KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg N2, POB 922, B-3000 Leuven - Belgium

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOMEDICINES; v. 8, n. 11 NOV 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The Kunitz/BPTI peptide family includes unique representatives demonstrating various biological activities. Electrophysiological screening of peptides HCRG1 and HCRG2 from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa on six Kv1.x channel isoforms and insect Shaker IR channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed their potassium channels blocking activity. HCRG1 and HCRG2 appear to be the first Kunitz-type peptides from sea anemones blocking Kv1.3 with IC50 of 40.7 and 29.7 nM, respectively. In addition, peptides mainly vary in binding affinity to the Kv1.2 channels. It was established that the single substitution, Ser5Leu, in the TRPV1 channel antagonist, HCRG21, induces weak blocking activity of Kv1.1, Kv1.2, and Kv1.3. Apparently, for the affinity and selectivity of Kunitz-fold toxins to Kv1.x isoforms, the number and distribution along their molecules of charged, hydrophobic, and polar uncharged residues, as well as the nature of the channel residue at position 379 (Tyr, Val or His) are important. Testing the compounds in a model of acute local inflammation induced by the introduction of carrageenan administration into mice paws revealed that HCRG1 at doses of 0.1-1 mg/kg reduced the volume of developing edema during 24 h, similar to the effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, at a dose of 5 mg/kg. ELISA analysis of the animals blood showed that the peptide reduced the synthesis of TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory mediator playing a leading role in the development of edema in this model. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/04761-4 - Functional and structural characterization and immune response evaluation of a recombinant serine protease from Crotalus durissus collilineatus modified by PEGylation
• Grantee: Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)