title: Factors altering the haemolytic power of crude venom from Aiptasia mutabilis (Anthozoa) nematocysts.
abstract: The effect of different agents upon the haemolytic power of Aiptasia mutabilis crude venom was studied inhuman erythrocytes to determine its toxicity and stability. Nematocysts were isolated from acontia of the Anthozoan A. mutabilis and submitted to sonication for extracting crude venom. Aliquots of venom were tested in 0.05% erythrocyte suspensions in the presence of various factors such as proteases (papain,collagenase, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin); cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, K+ and Cu2+), osmotic protectants as polyethylenglycole (PEG) of different MW and antioxidant compounds (GSH, cysteine and ascorbic acid).Results demonstrate the dose-response of the haemolytic effect of A. mutabilis. Haemolysis by the crude venom was prevented by Ca2+, Ba2+ and Cu2+ treatment, and to a minor extent by Mg2+ and K+. Papain and PEG with a molecular mass exceeding 1000 Da also prevented haemolysis. These findings are consistent with a pore-forming mechanism of crude venom in erythrocytes rather than an oxidative damage at the employed doses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences "M. Malpighi", Section of General Physiology and Pharmacology, Salita Sperone 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Spada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002412:Cations; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D008670:Metals; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases