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Ferreira IG, Pucca MB, Cardoso IA, de Castro Figueiredo Bordon K, Wiezel GA, Amorim FG, Rodrigues RS, de Melo Rodrigues V, Lucia de Campos Brites V, Rosa JC, Lopes DS, Arantes EC. Insights into structure and function of CdcVEGFs, the vascular endothelial growth factor from Crotalus durissus collilineatus snake venom. Biochimie 2022; 200:68-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Snake venom vascular endothelial growth factors (svVEGFs): Unravelling their molecular structure, functions, and research potential. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2021; 60:133-143. [PMID: 34090786 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of angiogenesis, a physiological process characterized by the formation of new vessels from a preexisting endothelium. VEGF has also been implicated in pathologic states, such as neoplasias, intraocular neovascular disorders, among other conditions. VEGFs are distributed in seven different families: VEGF-A, B, C, D, and PIGF (placental growth factor), which are identified in mammals; VEGF-E, which are encountered in viruses; and VEGF-F or svVEGF (snake venom VEGF) described in snake venoms. This is the pioneer review of svVEGF family, exploring its distribution among the snake venoms, molecular structure, main functions, and potential applications.
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Güler Ö, Güler M, Urfalıoğlu S, Kilci Aİ, Hakkoymaz H. Early effects of viper envenomation on retina and optic nerve blood flow: An optical coherence tomography angiography study. Toxicon 2021; 198:54-63. [PMID: 33961847 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the early retinal and optic nerve blood flows of patients exposed to Viper bite were evaluated with non-invasive optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and compared with healthy controls. The retinal and optic disc OCTA data of 31 victims of viper bite (group S) without systemic envenomation clinical symptoms and 31 healthy controls (group C) were compared. Only patients with early signs of envenomation were included in the study. Optical coherence tomography angiographies were performed with RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue software. Vascular densities in the whole image, foveal, parafoveal regions at the superficial and the deep capillary plexus segments were acquired and statistically analyzed. The flow area parameters were measured in the superficial retinal capillary plexus, deep retinal capillary plexus, outer retinal capillary plexus, and choriocapillaris layers of the macula in 1-mm and 3-mm diameter areas. The peripapillary flow areas were measured for the optic nerve head, vitreous, radial peripapillary capillary (RPC), and choroid in a 4.50-mm diameter area. Foveal and parafoveal thicknesses were also measured and compared. The average hospital admission time of the patients in group S was 1.24 ± 0.75 (0.50-3.00) hours. Age (p = 0.103) and gender (p = 0.714) were similar in both groups. Superficial (p = 0.010), deep flow areas (p = 0.034), and superficial parafoveal vascular density (p = 0.001) were significantly reduced in group S compared to group C. The outer retinal flow area (p < 0.001) increased significantly in group S. Nerve head flow area (p = 0.035), one of the optic disc flow areas, was found to be decreased in group S. Notably, foveal (p < 0.001) and parafoveal (p = 0.003) thicknesses and superficial (p = 0.001) and deep (p < 0.001) foveal vascular densities were greater in group S. Compared to group C, the superficial (p = 0.009) and deep (p = 0.009) foveal flow areas in the central foveal area with a diameter of 1 mm increased significantly in group S. Viper venom may cause blood flow changes in the retina and optic disc and an increase in retinal thickness in the early period although there are no signs of systemic envenomation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özlem Güler
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Turkey.
| | - Mete Güler
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Turkey
| | - Selma Urfalıoğlu
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Turkey
| | - Ali İhsan Kilci
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Turkey
| | - Hakan Hakkoymaz
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Turkey
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Kakumanu R, Kemp-Harper BK, Silva A, Kuruppu S, Isbister GK, Hodgson WC. An in vivo examination of the differences between rapid cardiovascular collapse and prolonged hypotension induced by snake venom. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20231. [PMID: 31882843 PMCID: PMC6934742 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the cardiovascular effects of venoms from seven medically important species of snakes: Australian Eastern Brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), Sri Lankan Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii), Javanese Russell’s viper (D. siamensis), Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica), Uracoan rattlesnake (Crotalus vegrandis), Carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) and Puff adder (Bitis arietans), and identified two distinct patterns of effects: i.e. rapid cardiovascular collapse and prolonged hypotension. P. textilis (5 µg/kg, i.v.) and E. ocellatus (50 µg/kg, i.v.) venoms induced rapid (i.e. within 2 min) cardiovascular collapse in anaesthetised rats. P. textilis (20 mg/kg, i.m.) caused collapse within 10 min. D. russelii (100 µg/kg, i.v.) and D. siamensis (100 µg/kg, i.v.) venoms caused ‘prolonged hypotension’, characterised by a persistent decrease in blood pressure with recovery. D. russelii venom (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, i.m.) also caused prolonged hypotension. A priming dose of P. textilis venom (2 µg/kg, i.v.) prevented collapse by E. ocellatus venom (50 µg/kg, i.v.), but had no significant effect on subsequent addition of D. russelii venom (1 mg/kg, i.v). Two priming doses (1 µg/kg, i.v.) of E. ocellatus venom prevented collapse by E. ocellatus venom (50 µg/kg, i.v.). B. gabonica, C. vegrandis and B. arietans (all at 200 µg/kg, i.v.) induced mild transient hypotension. Artificial respiration prevented D. russelii venom induced prolonged hypotension but not rapid cardiovascular collapse from E. ocellatus venom. D. russelii venom (0.001–1 μg/ml) caused concentration-dependent relaxation (EC50 = 82.2 ± 15.3 ng/ml, Rmax = 91 ± 1%) in pre-contracted mesenteric arteries. In contrast, E. ocellatus venom (1 µg/ml) only produced a maximum relaxant effect of 27 ± 14%, suggesting that rapid cardiovascular collapse is unlikely to be due to peripheral vasodilation. The prevention of rapid cardiovascular collapse, by ‘priming’ doses of venom, supports a role for depletable endogenous mediators in this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahini Kakumanu
- Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Barbara K Kemp-Harper
- Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Anjana Silva
- Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008, Sri Lanka
| | - Sanjaya Kuruppu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Geoffrey K Isbister
- Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.,Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Wayne C Hodgson
- Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia.
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Siigur J, Aaspõllu A, Siigur E. Biochemistry and pharmacology of proteins and peptides purified from the venoms of the snakes Macrovipera lebetina subspecies. Toxicon 2019; 158:16-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Vascular endothelial growth factor from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom specifically binds to VEGFR-2. Biochimie 2015; 116:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Nakamura H, Murakami T, Imamura T, Toriba M, Chijiwa T, Ohno M, Oda-Ueda N. Discovery of a novel vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with no affinity to heparin in Gloydius tsushimaensis venom. Toxicon 2014; 86:107-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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8
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Trummal K, Aaspõllu A, Tõnismägi K, Samel M, Subbi J, Siigur J, Siigur E. Phosphodiesterase from Vipera lebetina venom - structure and characterization. Biochimie 2014; 106:48-55. [PMID: 25079051 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleases and phosphatases are ubiquitous but mostly marginal components of snake venoms. These proteins have been studied quite extensively but up to now no data regarding their amino acid sequences confirmed at protein level have been published. The present study deals with purification, characterization, and structural properties of a phosphodiesterase from Vipera lebetina venom (VLPDE). The VLPDE with molecular mass of about 120 kDa hydrolyses ADP but not ATP and 5'-AMP. The aggregation of platelets induced by ADP or collagen is dose-dependently inhibited by VLPDE. The cloning and sequencing of the VLPDE-encoding cDNA resulted in 2772-nt sequence with ORF of 2556 nt. The translated sequence comprises 851 amino acids including the 23-amino acid signal peptide. VLPDE is synthesized as a 828-amino acid single-chain protein but subsequently cleaved to form a two-chain protein held together with disulfide bonds. In reducing conditions the enzyme behaves like a heterodimeric protein but, differently from the real heterodimers, it is synthesized as a single-chain protein. VLPDE is the first snake venom phosphodiesterase with established and confirmed primary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Trummal
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Anu Aaspõllu
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Külli Tõnismägi
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Mari Samel
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Juhan Subbi
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jüri Siigur
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Ene Siigur
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia.
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Cardioprotective Effect of VEGF and Venom VEGF-like Protein in Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Mice. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2014; 63:274-81. [DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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10
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Snake venomics of Macrovipera mauritanica from Morocco, and assessment of the para-specific immunoreactivity of an experimental monospecific and a commercial antivenoms. J Proteomics 2012; 75:2431-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Revised: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Novel svVEGF isoforms from Macrovipera lebetina venom interact with neuropilins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2009; 389:10-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.08.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2009] [Accepted: 08/12/2009] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Yamazaki Y, Matsunaga Y, Tokunaga Y, Obayashi S, Saito M, Morita T. Snake venom Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF-Fs) exclusively vary their structures and functions among species. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:9885-91. [PMID: 19208624 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m809071200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and its family proteins are crucial regulators of blood vessel formation and vascular permeability. Snake venom has recently been shown to be an exogenous source of unique VEGF (known as VEGF-F), and now, two types of VEGF-F with distinct biochemical properties have been reported. Here, we show that VEGF-Fs (venom-type VEGFs) are highly variable in structure and function among species, in contrast to endogenous tissue-type VEGFs (VEGF-As) of snakes. Although the structures of tissue-type VEGFs are highly conserved among venomous snake species and even among all vertebrates, including humans, those of venom-type VEGFs are extensively variegated, especially in the regions around receptor-binding loops and C-terminal putative coreceptor-binding regions, indicating that highly frequent variations are located around functionally key regions of the proteins. Genetic analyses suggest that venom-type VEGF gene may have developed from a tissue-type gene and that the unique sequence of its C-terminal region was generated by an alteration in the translation frame in the corresponding exons. We further verified that a novel venom-type VEGF from Bitis arietans displays unique properties distinct from already known VEGFs. Our results may provide evidence of a novel mechanism causing the generation of multiple snake toxins and also of a new model of molecular evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Yamazaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan
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Wu J, Jin Y, Zhong S, Chen R, Zhu S, Wang W, Lu Q, Xiong Y. A unique group of inactive serine protease homologues from snake venom. Toxicon 2008; 52:277-84. [PMID: 18590752 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2008.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2008] [Revised: 05/27/2008] [Accepted: 05/27/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A number of inactive serine protease homologues (SPHs), which have poorly understood functions, have been identified in invertebrates and vertebrates. Recently, several SPH transcripts have been reported from snake venom glands, which provide potential new tools for the study of the functions of SPHs. Herein we report for the first time a snake venom serine protease homologue (svSPH) protein, designated as TjsvSPH, isolated from the venom of Trimeresurus jerdonii. Despite its high sequence similarity to snake venom serine proteases (SVSPs), TjsvSPH is devoid of arginine esterase and proteolytic activity. This is probably due to the replacement of Arg-43 by His-43 in the catalytic triad. TjsvSPH did not influence the coagulation time of human plasma, induce human platelet aggregation, inhibit adenosine diphosphate/thrombin-induced human platelet aggregation or increase capillary permeability. Phylogenetic analysis showed that svSPHs were separated from SVSPs and formed an independent group. Structural analysis revealed that the structures of svSPHs are quite different from those of SPHs previously reported. These results indicate that snake venoms contain a unique group of svSPH proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Wu
- Department of Animal Toxinology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 Jiaochang East Road, Kunming 650223, PR China
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Junqueira-de-Azevedo ILM, Ching ATC, Carvalho E, Faria F, Nishiyama MY, Ho PL, Diniz MRV. Lachesis muta (Viperidae) cDNAs reveal diverging pit viper molecules and scaffolds typical of cobra (Elapidae) venoms: implications for snake toxin repertoire evolution. Genetics 2006; 173:877-89. [PMID: 16582429 PMCID: PMC1526512 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.056515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to describe toxins from the two major families of venomous snakes (Viperidae and Elapidae) usually reveal proteins belonging to few structural types, particular of each family. Here we carried on an effort to determine uncommon cDNAs that represent possible new toxins from Lachesis muta (Viperidae). In addition to nine classes of typical toxins, atypical molecules never observed in the hundreds of Viperidae snakes studied so far are highly expressed: a diverging C-type lectin that is related to Viperidae toxins but appears to be independently originated; an ohanin-like toxin, which would be the third member of the most recently described class of Elapidae toxins, related to human butyrophilin and B30.2 proteins; and a 3FTx-like toxin, a new member of the widely studied three-finger family of proteins, which includes major Elapidae neurotoxins and CD59 antigen. The presence of these common and uncommon molecules suggests that the repertoire of toxins could be more conserved between families than has been considered, and their features indicate a dynamic process of venom evolution through molecular mechanisms, such as multiple recruitments of important scaffolds and domain exchange between paralogs, always keeping a minimalist nature in most toxin structures in opposition to their nontoxin counterparts.
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Junqueira-de-Azevedo IDLM, da Silva MB, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM, Ho PL. Identification and cloning of snake venom vascular endothelial growth factor (svVEGF) from Bothrops erythromelas pitviper. Toxicon 2004; 44:571-5. [PMID: 15450933 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2004] [Accepted: 07/12/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) are among the most important angiogenic proteins found on vertebrates. In the last years, some reports of the occurrence of such proteins in snake venoms are rising the importance of this family of proteins as toxins, since they appear to be involved in many features of Viperidae envenoming, such as hypotension and venom spread through increase in vascular permeability. Here we describe the occurrence of snake venom VEGF in Bothrops erythromelas, a clinical important snake from Northeast of Brazil, through immunodetection and cloning of its cDNA and briefly provide an overview comparison of all recent described svVEGF sequences.
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Gasmi A, Bourcier C, Aloui Z, Srairi N, Marchetti S, Gimond C, Wedge SR, Hennequin L, Pouysségur J. Complete structure of an increasing capillary permeability protein (ICPP) purified from Vipera lebetina venom. ICPP is angiogenic via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signalling. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:29992-8. [PMID: 12021274 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m202202200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The partial sequence of the increasing capillary permeability protein (ICPP) purified from Vipera lebetina venom revealed a strong homology to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. We now report its complete amino acid sequence determined by Edman degradation and its biological effects on mouse and human vascular endothelial cells. ICPP is a homodimeric protein linked by cysteine disulfide bonds of 25115 Da revealed by mass spectrometry. Each monomer is composed of 110 amino acids including eight cysteine residues and a pyroglutamic acid at the N-terminal extremity. ICPP shares 52% sequence identity with human VEGF but lacks the heparin binding domain and Asn glycosylation site. Besides its strong capillary permeability activity, ICPP was found to be a potent in vitro angiogenic factor when added to mouse embryonic stem cells or human umbilical vein endothelial cells. ICPP was found to be as potent as human VEGF165 in activating p42/p44 MAPK, in reinitiation of DNA synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and in promoting in vitro angiogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells. All these biological actions, including capillary permeability in mice, were fully inhibited by 1 microm of a new specific VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (ZM317450) from AstraZeneca that belongs to the anilinocinnoline family of compounds. Indeed, up to a 30 times higher concentration of inhibitor did not affect platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, FGF-2, insulin, alpha-thrombin, or fetal calf serum-induced p42/p44 MAPK and reinitiation of DNA synthesis. Therefore, we conclude that this venom-derived ICPP exerts its biological action (permeability and angiogenesis) through activation of VEGF receptor signaling (VEGF-R2 and possibly VEGF-R1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Gasmi
- Laboratoire des Venins et Toxines, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, B. P. 74, 1002 Tunis-Belvedère, Tunisia.
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Abstract
Blood and lymphatic vessels develop in a parallel, but independent manner, and together form the circulatory system allowing the passage of fluid and delivering molecules within the body. Although the lymphatic vessels were discovered already 300 years ago, at the same time as the blood circulation was described, the lymphatic system has remained relatively neglected until recently. This is in part due to the difficulties in recognizing these vessels in tissues because of a lack of specific markers. Over the past few years, several molecules expressed specifically in the lymphatic endothelial cells have been characterized, and knowledge about the lymphatic system has started to accumulate again. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of growth factors and receptors is involved in the development and growth of the vascular endothelial system. Two of its family members, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, regulate the lymphatic endothelial cells via their receptor VEGFR-3. With the aid of these molecules, lymphatic endothelial cells can be isolated and cultured, allowing detailed studies of the molecular properties of these cells. Also the role of the lymphatic endothelium in immune responses and certain pathological conditions can be studied in more detail, as the blood and lymphatic vessels seem to be involved in many diseases in a coordinated manner. Discoveries made so far will be helpful in the diagnosis of certain vascular tumors, in the design of specific treatments for lymphedema, and in the prevention of metastatic tumor spread via the lymphatic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotta Jussila
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Junqueira de Azevedo IL, Farsky SH, Oliveira ML, Ho PL. Molecular cloning and expression of a functional snake venom vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) from the Bothrops insularis pit viper. A new member of the VEGF family of proteins. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:39836-42. [PMID: 11517227 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m106531200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
During the generation of abundant expressed sequence tags from the Viperidae snake Bothrops insularis venom glands, we identified for the first time a cDNA coding for a putative vascular endothelial growth factor-like (VEGF-like) protein. The deduced primary sequence, after complete sequencing of the longest snake venom VEGF (svVEGF) cDNA, displayed similarity with vertebrate VEGFs and with the hypotensive factor from Vipera aspis venom. Its cDNA was subcloned, expressed in Escherichia coli with a His(6) tag as an insoluble monomer, and purified by Ni(2+)-affinity chromatography after 8 m urea extraction. Antiserum against svVEGF was generated and tested in Western blot against proteins from snake venoms and cellular extracts. The mature svVEGF appears to be ubiquitously distributed throughout snake venoms and was also confirmed by Northern blot studies of other related Viperidae species and by cDNA cloning of svVEGF from Bothrops jararaca pit viper. The produced recombinant protein dimerizes after refolding processes and was biologically characterized, showing ability to increase vascular permeability. These results established that svVEGF is a novel and important active toxin during the early stages of bothropic snake bite envenoming and represents a new member of the VEGF family of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- I L Junqueira de Azevedo
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Laboratório de Imunoquimica, Instituto Butantan, 1500 São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
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Mäkinen T, Veikkola T, Mustjoki S, Karpanen T, Catimel B, Nice EC, Wise L, Mercer A, Kowalski H, Kerjaschki D, Stacker SA, Achen MG, Alitalo K. Isolated lymphatic endothelial cells transduce growth, survival and migratory signals via the VEGF-C/D receptor VEGFR-3. EMBO J 2001; 20:4762-73. [PMID: 11532940 PMCID: PMC125596 DOI: 10.1093/emboj/20.17.4762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 616] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3/Flt4) binds two known members of the VEGF ligand family, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, and has a critical function in the remodelling of the primary capillary vasculature of midgestation embryos. Later during development, VEGFR-3 regulates the growth and maintenance of the lymphatic vessels. In the present study, we have isolated and cultured stable lineages of blood vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells from human primary microvascular endothelium by using antibodies against the extracellular domain of VEGFR-3. We show that VEGFR-3 stimulation alone protects the lymphatic endothelial cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis and induces their growth and migration. At least some of these signals are transduced via a protein kinase C-dependent activation of the p42/p44 MAPK signalling cascade and via a wortmannin-sensitive induction of Akt phosphorylation. These results define the critical role of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signalling in the growth and survival of lymphatic endothelial cells. The culture of isolated lymphatic endothelial cells should now allow further studies of the molecular properties of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Satu Mustjoki
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | | | - Bruno Catimel
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Lyn Wise
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Andrew Mercer
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Heinrich Kowalski
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Dontscho Kerjaschki
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Steven A. Stacker
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Marc G. Achen
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
| | - Kari Alitalo
- Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki,
Stem Cell Laboratory and Laboratory of Hematology, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki University Hospital, FIN-00029 Helsinki, Finland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand and Department of Pathology, University of Vienna Medical School, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Corresponding author e-mail:
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Gasmi A, Srairi N, Guermazi S, Dekhil H, Dkhil H, Karoui H, El Ayeb M. Amino acid structure and characterization of a heterodimeric disintegrin from Vipera lebetina venom. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2001; 1547:51-6. [PMID: 11343790 DOI: 10.1016/s0167-4838(01)00168-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A heterodimeric disintegrin designed as lebein was isolated from crude Vipera lebetina venom using gel filtration, anion and cation exchange chromatographies on FPLC. The amino acid sequence of each subunit determined by Edman degradation contains 64 residues with ten half-cystines and an RGD site at the C-terminal part of the molecule. The molecular mass of native lebein determined by mass spectrometry was found to be 14083.4 Da and those of alpha and beta subunits were 6992.05 and 7117.62, respectively. These value are in good agreement with those calculated from the sequences. This protein strongly inhibits ADP induced platelet aggregation on human platelet rich plasma with IC(50)=160 nM. Sequences of this protein subunits displayed significant sequence similarities with many other monomeric and dimeric disintegrins reported from snake venoms. We identified an amino acid residue (N) in the hairpin loop of both subunits (CNRARGDDMNDYC) which is different from all other reported motifs of disintegrins and this subtle difference may contribute to the distinct affinities and selectivities of this class of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gasmi
- Laboratoire des Venins et Toxines, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia.
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