title: Neuropathophysiological effect and immuno-inflammatory response induced by kaliotoxin of androctonus scorpion venom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kaliotoxin (KTX) is a neurotoxin purified from Androctonus scorpion venom. Purification and pharmacological and immunological characterization of this neurotoxin has been extensively studied, but its biological effects have not. The ability of KTX to induce neuropathophysiological and immuno-inflammatory effects was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  NMRI mice were injected with a sublethal dose of KTX (20 ng/20 g of body weight) or saline solution via the intra-cerebro-ventricular route. Tissue damage and immunological biomarkers such as eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nitric oxide (NO) were analyzed in serum, brain, lung, and heart tissue. Protein levels, LDH, and CPK activities were also determined in serum 24 h after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, KTX injection induced severe alterations in the cerebral cortex, myocardium, and pulmonary parenchyma. Tissue damage was correlated with seric increase in creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. KTX also induced an immuno-inflammatory response distinguished by cell infiltration characterized by a significant increase in EPO and MPO activities in the brain, heart, and lungs. This infiltration was also associated with an increase in albumin, α-, β-, and γ-globulin fractions, and NO release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KTX binding to its targets in CNS (Kv1.1 and Kv1.3 channels) may induce severe modifications in the structure and function of various organs associated with the activation of immuno-inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: USTHB, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ladjel-Mendil
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Martin-Eauclaire
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laraba-Djebari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C072276:kaliotoxin