title: Isolation and partial characterization of proteins with vasodegenerative and proinflammatory properties from the egg-nests of Hylesia metabus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).
abstract: The Hylesia genus comprises a group of Neotropical moths ubiquitous in the Americas from Arizona to Argentina. One of the species of the Hylesia genus in Venezuela, French Guyana, and Trinidad has been identified as Hylesia metabus (Cramer 1775) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). In Venezuela, these moths are found in abundance in the mangrove (Avicennia spp.) swamps surrounding the Gulf of Paria and the Orinoco Delta in the eastern part of the country. During the mating season, the female adults shed copious amounts of urticating setae in the air, producing a severe papulovesicular dermatitis among the population in the affected areas. The females also use their urticating setae to protect the eggs during the hatching period. In the current study, we have isolated and partially characterized proteins with proinflammatory properties from the urticating setae in the egg-nests by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and anionic exchange-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We also have studied the biological response of the egg-nest extract and the HPLC purified fractions by inoculation in guinea pigs; and, analyzing the tissue samples by means of histopathological methods. The results of this study show that the extracted venom and HPLC purified subcomponents give rise to an intense inflammatory reaction characterized by massive infiltration of inflammatory cells, echymoses, and vascular degeneration. Chromatographic separation showed that the venom was made up of proteins having selectively vasodegenerative-fibrinolytic or proinflammatory-quimotactic properties.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Estructural, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Carretera Panamericana. Km 11. Estado Miranda, Venezuela, Apdo. 21827, Caracas 1020A, Venezuela. ulundber4412@cantv.net
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tovar
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000645:Ammonium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000645:Ammonium Sulfate