title: Induction of IL-12 from human monocytes after stimulation with Androctonus crassicauda scorpion venom.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of venom from Androctonus crassicauda to induce expression/production of interleukin (IL)-12 by isolated human monocytes. For this purpose, isolated human monocytes were exposed to different concentrations of the venom (0.16-20 μg/ml) for varying periods (6, 12, and 24 h). Apart from measures of venom cytotoxicity (i.e., lactase dehydrogenase activity [LDH] release), measures of IL-12 p40 mRNA (by Real-time PCR) of IL-12 release (by ELISA) were performed. The results showed that the venom produced significant concentration- and duration of incubation-dependent cytotoxicity. Expression of IL-12 p40 mRNA was significantly increased at all exposure timepoints relative to that in unexposed cells, but was maximal after 6 h of exposure. At that timepoint, the effect from a dose of 2.5 μg venom/ml provided the maximal increase among all doses tested. At the level of the protein itself, IL-12 production remained almost consistently elevated (vs. unexposed control values) across all exposure timepoints, with the greatest formation again occurring after 6 h of incubation at a dose of 2.5 μg venom/ml. The findings from this study demonstrated that venom from the A. crassicauda scorpion contained active constituents that could induce a sustained activation of human monocytes that was manifested, in part, as promotion of the expression/production of IL-12.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samahir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Department of Immunology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: assarehma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Assarehzadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pipelzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hadaddezfuli
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; D018664:Interleukin-12
keywords: Androctonus crassicauda; Cytotoxicity; IL-12; Monocytes; Venom