title: Role of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in the local tissue damage induced by Bothrops asper snake venom: an experimental assessment in mice.
abstract: The role of the cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 in the acute local pathological effects induced by Bothrops asper snake venom was assessed in mice. Intramuscular injection of this venom induced increments in IL-1beta and IL-6 in muscle, but no elevations of TNF-alpha were detected. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative that inhibits the synthesis of TNF-alpha, and antibodies against these three cytokines were used to assess the role of these cytokines in venom-induced effects. As a control, PTX pretreatment was effective at abrogating lethality and serum TNF-alpha increments in mice subjected to endotoxemia induced by injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, although it did not affect the increment in IL-1beta and IL-6 in such endotoxic model. PTX failed to reduce lethality, hemorrhage, myonecrosis, dermonecrosis and edema induced by B. asper venom. Moreover, pretreatment with anti-cytokine antibodies was also ineffective at reducing venom-induced myonecrosis and hemorrhage. It is concluded that TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 do not have a significant role in the pathogenesis of the acute local pathological effects induced by B. asper venom in mice, although this does not exclude the possibility that these cytokines play a role in other aspects of venom-induced local pathology, as well as in the reparative and regenerative responses that take place after the onset of tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Microbiología, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Catarina F P
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017837:Bothrops; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010431:Pentoxifylline