Up-regulation of the expressions of phospholipase A2 inhibitors in the liver of a venomous snake by its own venom phospholipase A2.
Venomous snakes such as Gloydius brevicaudus have three distinct types of phospholipase A(2) inhibitors (PLIalpha, PLIbeta, and PLIgamma) in their blood so as to protect themselves from their own venom phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s). Expressions of these PLIs in G. brevicaudus liver were found to be enhanced by the intramuscular injection of its own venom. The enhancement of gene expressions of PLIalpha and PLIbeta in the liver was also found to be induced by acidic PLA(2) contained in this venom. Furthermore, these effects of acidic PLA(2) on gene expression of PLIs were shown to be unrelated to its enzymatic activity. These results suggest that these venomous snakes have developed the self-protective system against their own venom, by which the venom components up-regulate the expression of anti-venom proteins in their liver.
Kinkawa
Kohshi
K
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
Shirai
Ryoichi
R
Watanabe
Shin
S
Toriba
Michihisa
M
Hayashi
Kyozo
K
Ikeda
Kiyoshi
K
Inoue
Seiji
S
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000201:enzymology*; D017819:Viperidae / Q000378:metabolism*
D001798:Blood Proteins; C400481:PLIalpha; D014757:Viper Venoms; D054467:Phospholipases A2