Production of TNF-alpha by primary cultures of human keratinocytes challenged with loxosceles gaucho venom
Primary cultures of human keratinocytes were challenged with increasing doses from 10 ng/mL to 2 &mgr;g/mL of Loxosceles gaucho venom, responsible for dermonecrotic lesion in humans. TNF-alpha was investigated by bioassay and ELISA in the supernatant of the cultures challenged with 100 ng/mL, 500 ng/mL, 1 and 2 &mgr;g/mL of venom. TNF-alpha was detected by bioassay in the supernatant of cultures challenged with 100 ng/mL, after 6 h. The cytokine was detected by ELISA in the supernatant of the cells challenged with doses of l &mgr;g/mL, after 6 and 12 h. The results point out the capacity of this venom to activate the keratinocytes in primary cultures to produce TNF-alpha. The production of cytokines could contribute to the local inflammatory process in patients bitten by Loxosceles sp.
Malaque
CM
Laboratorio de Investigacao Medica (LIM 54), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Ori
M
Santos
SA
Andrade
DR