Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom effects on inflammatory mediators production by human lineage monocytes

Abstract

The human envenomation scorpion is a serious problem faced by health professionals in emergency departments and intensive care units worldwide. Our group with great experience in the area has shown that peritoneal macrophages J774.1 line, stimulated with the T. serrulatus venom (TsV) and their toxins Ts1, Ts2 or Ts6, produced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-±. In addition, we also demonstrated that the Ts2 and Ts6 from TsV when inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of mice, induced intense inflammatory response and production of IL-6, TNF-±, prostaglandin (PG)E2, leukotriene (LT)B4, IL-1² and neutrophil recruitment. Data of the literature demonstrated in human, that after the envenomation with scorpions occurs increase in the serum of IL-1±, IL-6, IFN-³ and GM-CSF, and that patients develop severe shock and pulmonary edema. In addition, our group demonstrated that intranasal administration of hyaluronidase in mice, decreases lung injury and fibrosis induced by bleomycin. Although apparently hyaluronidase contribute to the pathophysiology of envenomation, however, until the present time, nothing has been described on the role of hyaluronidase in the envenomation, and based on our previous results, this work have hypothesized that hyaluronidase regulates the activation of monocytes induced by scorpion venom. So in this research project, we aim to investigate the human monocyte activation strain induced TsV in the absence or presence of hyaluronidase, and determine whether this enzyme contributes to the production of inflammatory mediators. It is expected from this research information to assist in the treatment of patients after envenomation.