title: Production of TNF-alpha by primary cultures of human keratinocytes challenged with loxosceles gaucho venom
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigacao Medica (LIM 54), Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Malaque
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ori
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Andrade