title: In vitro effects of Habu snake venom on cultured mesangial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Habu snake venom (HSV)-induced glomerulonephritis is a unique model showing a progressive course of mesangial proliferation. To elucidate the in vitro effects of HSV, we examined whether HSV itself could have direct effects on the cultured mesangial cells, such as cell proliferation and activation of chemokine gene expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The incorporation of 5-[(125)I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine was measured with a gamma-counter, and gene expressions of growth factors, chemokines and cytokines were evaluated by a real time quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that excessive or continuous HSV stimulation decreased a mesangial cell viability. However, adequate and temporary HSV stimulation induced proliferation of mesangial cells in vitro along with a significant elevation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA levels. In addition to these in vitro results, we showed that MCP-1 mRNA levels increased in renal cortices of glomerulonephritis induced by HSV. Immunohistochemistry also showed a positive staining for MCP-1 in the marginal area of glomerulus with mesangiolysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that HSV itself may elicit direct biological effects on mesangial cells which may participate in pathophysiology of glomerulonephritis induced by HSV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwano
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kyoda
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Isumi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samejima
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minamino
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonemasu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017841:Trimeresurus; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D006133:Growth Substances; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004247:DNA