Scorpion venom increases mRNA expression of lung cytokines.
Previous studies have demonstrated that scorpion toxins increase the serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, INF-gamma, and GM-CSF in patients with severe shock and pulmonary edema. Moreover, it has been shown that experimental models of scorpion envenomation presented an increase in serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IFN-gamma and nitric oxide. Thus, it is possible that the cytokine release may contribute to the onset and maintenance of the pulmonary edema induced by scorpion venom. This study was designed to investigate whether inflammatory and non-inflammatory cytokines, contribute to the pulmonary injury induced by infusion of Tityus serrulatus scorpion toxin in rats. We show that scorpion venom not only increases the expression of mRNA pulmonary inflammatory cytokines but also non-inflammatory cytokines as well. Moreover, the expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA was shown to be higher among the remaining detectable cytokines. The findings of this study provide additional insight towards the understanding of the pathophysiology of the pulmonary edema induced by scorpion venom. The increased level of pulmonary cytokines observed during the pulmonary edema may be responsible for the exacerbation and maintenance of the inflammatory response to scorpion venom in the lungs.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 30130-100, Brazil. andradem@medicina.ufmg.br
Marcus V
MV
Andrade
Felipe Assis
FA
Lisboa
André Lopes
AL
Portugal
Rosa Maria Esteves
RM
Arantes
José Renan
JR
Cunha-Melo
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018925:Chemokines / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012604:Scorpion Venoms