title: Crude venom from nematocysts of Pelagia noctiluca (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) elicits a sodium conductance in the plasma membrane of mammalian cells.
abstract: Cnidarians may negatively impact human activities and public health but concomitantly their venom represents a rich source of bioactive substances. Pelagia noctiluca is the most venomous and abundant jellyfish of the Mediterranean Sea and possesses a venom with hemolytic and cytolytic activity for which the mechanism is largely unknown. Here we show that exposure of mammalian cells to crude venom from the nematocysts of P. noctiluca profoundly alters the ion conductance of the plasma membrane, therefore affecting homeostatic functions such as the regulation and maintenance of cellular volume. Venom-treated cells exhibited a large, inwardly rectifying current mainly due to permeation of Na+and Cl-, sensitive to amiloride and completely abrogated following harsh thermal treatment of crude venom extract. Curiously, the plasma membrane conductance of Ca2+and K+was not affected. Current-inducing activity was also observed following delivery of venom to the cytosolic side of the plasma membrane, consistent with a pore-forming mechanism. Venom-induced NaCl influx followed by water and consequent cell swelling most likely underlie the hemolytic and cytolytic activity of P. noctiluca venom. The present study underscores unique properties of P. noctiluca venom and provides essential information for a possible use of its active compounds and treatment of envenomation.
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D' Alcontres 31, Messina, I-98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.affiliation: Paracelsus Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Strubergasse 21, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D' Alcontres 31, Messina, I-98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D' Alcontres 31, Messina, I-98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remigante
authors.affiliation: Paracelsus Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Strubergasse 21, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria.
authors.forename: Charity
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nofziger
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D' Alcontres 31, Messina, I-98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Spada
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D' Alcontres 31, Messina, I-98166, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Paracelsus Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Strubergasse 21, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulmichl
authors.affiliation: Paracelsus Medical University, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Strubergasse 21, Salzburg, A-5020, Austria.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dossena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D058894:Nematocyst / Q000737:chemistry; D037401:Scyphozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium