Time course of acute-phase response induced by Tityus serrulatus venom and TsTX-I in mice

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 3; no. 5; pp. 765 - 774
• Main Authors: Pessini, Andréa C., de Souza, Ana M., Faccioli, Lúcia H., Gregório, Zita M.O., Arantes, Eliane C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acute-phase proteins; Acute-Phase Reaction - pathology; Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Cell Count; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Blood Proteins - metabolism; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inflammation - pathology; Inflammatory response; Interleukin; Interleukin-1 - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Kinetics; Leucocytes; Leukocytosis - chemically induced; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Peritoneal Cavity - cytology; Scorpion Venoms - toxicity; Serum Albumin - metabolism; Tityus serrulatus; Toxicology; TsTX-I; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Leucocytes; Inflammatory response; Acute-phase proteins; TsTX-I; Tityus serrulatus; Interleukin; Scorpionides; Intraperitoneal administration; Leukocyte; Toxicity; Rodentia; Peritoneal cavity; Inflammation; Blood; Arachnida; Vertebrata; Acute phase protein; Leucocytes: Interleukin; Mammalia; Leukocytosis; Mouse; Arthropoda; Animal; Venom; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/S1567-5769(03)00078-X

Animal venom can induce systemic alterations similar to those observed in acute-phase inflammatory response. In the present study, we report the systemic (circulatory) and local (peritoneal cavity) effects induced by Tityus serrulatus venom and its major toxin TsTX-I (Ts1) in mice over various time periods. Both the venom and TsTX-I elicited quite similar responses in most assays. Responses included reduction of albumin, increased C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-1α and TNF-α. Local and systemic leucocytosis, with a predominance of polymorphonuclear cells, was also observed. These effects show that a systemic inflammation-like syndrome is triggered during the severe envenomation caused by the T. serrulatus sting. The initial increases of albumin and total protein were probably consequences of the dehydration that occurs at the beginning of envenomation. Time-course analysis of these effects shows that responses are most pronounced on the first day after poisoning. However, leucocytosis and changes in acute-phase protein concentrations can be observed up to 7 days after envenomation.