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Bartlett KE, Hall SR, Rasmussen SA, Crittenden E, Dawson CA, Albulescu LO, Laprade W, Harrison RA, Saviola AJ, Modahl CM, Jenkins TP, Wilkinson MC, Gutiérrez JM, Casewell NR. Dermonecrosis caused by a spitting cobra snakebite results from toxin potentiation and is prevented by the repurposed drug varespladib. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2315597121. [PMID: 38687786 PMCID: PMC11087757 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2315597121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that causes substantial mortality and morbidity globally. The venom of African spitting cobras often causes permanent injury via tissue-destructive dermonecrosis at the bite site, which is ineffectively treated by current antivenoms. To address this therapeutic gap, we identified the etiological venom toxins in Naja nigricollis venom responsible for causing local dermonecrosis. While cytotoxic three-finger toxins were primarily responsible for causing spitting cobra cytotoxicity in cultured keratinocytes, their potentiation by phospholipases A2 toxins was essential to cause dermonecrosis in vivo. This evidence of probable toxin synergism suggests that a single toxin-family inhibiting drug could prevent local envenoming. We show that local injection with the repurposed phospholipase A2-inhibiting drug varespladib significantly prevents local tissue damage caused by several spitting cobra venoms in murine models of envenoming. Our findings therefore provide a therapeutic strategy that may effectively prevent life-changing morbidity caused by snakebite in rural Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keirah E. Bartlett
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Steven R. Hall
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Sean A. Rasmussen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and Dalhousie University, Halifax, NSB3H 1V8, Canada
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte A. Dawson
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Laura-Oana Albulescu
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - William Laprade
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens LyngbyDK-2800, Denmark
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J. Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Cassandra M. Modahl
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens LyngbyDK-2800, Denmark
| | - Mark C. Wilkinson
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - José María Gutiérrez
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José11501–2060, Costa Rica
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Centre for Drugs & Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, LiverpoolL3 5QA, United Kingdom
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Sampat GH, Hiremath K, Dodakallanavar J, Patil VS, Harish DR, Biradar P, Mahadevamurthy RK, Barvaliya M, Roy S. Unraveling snake venom phospholipase A 2: an overview of its structure, pharmacology, and inhibitors. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1454-1473. [PMID: 37926795 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Snake bite is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide. WHO reported approximately 5 million people are bitten by various species of snakes each year, resulting in nearly 1 million deaths and an additional three times cases of permanent disability. Snakes utilize the venom mainly for immobilization and digestion of their prey. Snake venom is a composition of proteins and enzymes which is responsible for its diverse pharmacological action. Snake venom phospholipase A2 (SvPLA2) is an enzyme that is present in every snake species in different quantities and is known to produce remarkable functional diversity and pharmacological action like inflammation, necrosis, myonecrosis, hemorrhage, etc. Arachidonic acid, a precursor to eicosanoids, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, is released when SvPLA2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 positions of membrane glycerophospholipids, which is responsible for its actions. Polyvalent antivenom produced from horses or lambs is the standard treatment for snake envenomation, although it has many drawbacks. Traditional medical practitioners treat snake bites using plants and other remedies as a sustainable alternative. More than 500 plant species from more than 100 families reported having venom-neutralizing abilities. Plant-derived secondary metabolites have the ability to reduce the venom's adverse consequences. Numerous studies have documented the ability of plant chemicals to inhibit the enzymes found in snake venom. Research in recent years has shown that various small molecules, such as varespladib and methyl varespladib, effectively inhibit the PLA2 toxin. In the present article, we have overviewed the knowledge of snake venom phospholipase A2, its classification, and the mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of cytotoxicity, myonecrosis, anticoagulation, and inflammation clinical application and inhibitors of SvPLA2, along with the list of studies carried out to evaluate the potency of small molecules like varespladib and secondary metabolites from the traditional medicine for their anti-PLA2 effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh H Sampat
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
- KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
| | - Kashinath Hiremath
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
- KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
| | - Jagadeesh Dodakallanavar
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
- KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
| | - Vishal S Patil
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
- KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
| | - Darasaguppe R Harish
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India.
| | - Prakash Biradar
- KLE College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India.
| | | | - Manish Barvaliya
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
| | - Subarna Roy
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, Karnataka, 590010, India
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Nafiseh NN, Hossein V, Nasser MD, Mojtaba N, Minoo A, Mohammad Ali B, Giti P. Analysis and Identification of Putative Novel Peptides Purified from Iranian Endemic Echis Carinatus Sochureki Snake Venom by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry. ARCHIVES OF RAZI INSTITUTE 2023; 78:1503-1527. [PMID: 38590689 PMCID: PMC10998951 DOI: 10.22092/ari.2023.78.5.1503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The Iranian Echis Carinatus (IEC) venom is an exclusive natural source of bio-substances for a wide range of purposes in the blood coagulation cascade. The present study for the first time was aimed to assess novel pro-coagulant, anti-coagulant and anti-platelet proteins, named EC1.5 (a), EC5.1 (b) and EC4 (a) from Iranian Echis Carinatus (IEC) venom. These peptides were purified by multi-step chromatography methods. Hematological properties were measured using activated clotting tests, platelet aggregation studies, and hemorrhage assessment. Subsequently, these proteins were identified through both their intact molecular mass and peptide mass fingerprint (PMF) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Multiple sequence alignments were performed by ClustalW, Bioedit software. Molegro Data Modeller (MDM) 3.0 software was used to predict the putative tertiary structure of proteins.EC1.5 (a), a single-band protein with a molecular mass of 66 and 55 kDa, was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a reduced and non-reduced state, respectively. Based on the Mascot results, we considered that EC1.5 (a) is a metalloproteinase of group ΙΙ which exhibited potent pro-coagulant activity. It is predicted that the EC1.5 (a) with hemorrhagic activity, potentially is a metalloproteinase/disintegrin region that constitutes the disintegrin-like domains. Our findings demonstrate that the disintegrin domain of EC1.5 (a) lacks platelet aggregation inhibitory activity. On the contrary, this factor shows the property of a platelet aggregation inducer. Also, the EC5.1 (b) was observed as a single-band protein with a molecular mass of 7.5 kDa. EC5.1 (b) showed both anti-coagulant and anti-platelet properties. Additionally, the structure of the EC5.1 (b) fraction is expected to be similar to that of phospholipase A2, while EC4 (a) structure is potentially very similar to that of Echistatin with 5 kDa molecular mass. We introduce the predicted structure of P-II snake venom metalloproteinase/ disintegrin domains, phospholipase A2 and Echistatin-like fractions. Further research is therefore needed to determine the complete structure of these novel fractions and elucidate their mechanism of action and future therapeutic applications of cardiovascular and homeostasis disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasri Nasrabadi Nafiseh
- Student Research Committee, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
| | - Vatanpour Hossein
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
| | | | - Najafi Mojtaba
- Department of Venomous Animals and Anti-venom, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ahmadinejad Minoo
- Department of Molecular Genetic and Animal Breeding, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Golestan, Iran
| | - Bayatzadeh Mohammad Ali
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pouyanmehr Giti
- Ph.D. student of toxicology, Tehran Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Deikumah JP, Biney RP, Awoonor-Williams JK, Gyakobo MK. Compendium of medically important snakes, venom activity and clinical presentations in Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011050. [PMID: 37506181 PMCID: PMC10411737 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Snake bite envenoming (SBE) is one neglected tropical disease that has not received the needed attention. The sequelae of burdensome disability and mortality impact the socioeconomic life of communities adversely with little documentation of SBE in health facility records in Ghana. This study details SBE and snake distribution, habits/habitats, type of venom expressed and clinical manifestations. METHODOLOGY We conducted a structured thematic desk review of peer reviewed papers, books and reports from repositories including PubMed, World Health Organization (WHO) and Women's & Children's Hospital (WCH) Clinical Toxinology Resources using bibliographic software EndNote and search engine Google Scholar with the following key words; snakes, medical importance, snake bites, venom and venom type, envenomation, symptoms and signs, vaccines, venom expenditure, strike behaviour and venom-metering + Ghana, West Africa, Africa, World. We also reviewed data from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Outcome variables were organized as follows: common name (s), species, habitat/habit, species-specific toxin, clinical manifestation, antivenom availability, WHO category. FINDINGS Snake bites and SBE were grouped by the activity of the expressed venom into neurotoxic, cardiotoxic, haemorrhagic, cytotoxic, myotoxic, nephrotoxic and procoagulants. Neurotoxic snake bites were largely due to elapids. Expressed venoms with cardiotoxic, haemorrhagic, nephrotoxic and procoagulant activities principally belonged to the family Viperidae. Snakes with venoms showing myotoxic activity were largely alien to Ghana and the West African sub-region. Venoms showing cytotoxic activity are expressed by a wide range of snakes though more prevalent among the Viperidae family. Snakes with neurotoxic and haemorrhagic venom activities are prevalent across all the agro-ecological zones in Ghana. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Understanding the characteristics of snakes and their venoms is useful in the management of SBE. The distribution of snakes by their expressed venoms across the agro-ecological zones is also instructive to species identification and diagnosis of SBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus Precious Deikumah
- Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology, School of Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Robert Peter Biney
- Department of Pharmacotherapeutics and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Mawuli Kotope Gyakobo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Okot DF, Namukobe J, Vudriko P, Anywar G, Heydenreich M, Omowumi OA, Byamukama R. In Vitro Anti-Venom Potentials of Aqueous Extract and Oils of Toona ciliata M. Roem against Cobra Venom and Chemical Constituents of Oils. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073089. [PMID: 37049851 PMCID: PMC10096364 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There are high mortality and morbidity rates from poisonous snakebites globally. Many medicinal plants are locally used for snakebite treatment in Uganda. This study aimed to determine the in vitro anti-venom activities of aqueous extract and oils of Toona ciliata against Naja melanoleuca venom. A mixture of venom and extract was administered intramuscularly in rats. Anticoagulant, antiphospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibition assay, and gel electrophoresis for anti-venom activities of oils were done. The chemical constituents of the oils of ciliata were identified using Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (GC-MS/MS). The LD50 of the venom was 0.168 ± 0.21 µg/g. The venom and aqueous extract mixture (1.25 µg/g and 3.5 mg/g) did not cause any rat mortality, while the control with venom only (1.25 µg/g) caused death in 1 h. The aqueous extract of T. ciliata inhibited the anticoagulation activity of N. melanoleuca venom from 18.58 min. to 4.83 min and reduced the hemolytic halo diameter from 24 to 22 mm. SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis showed that oils completely cleared venom proteins. GC-MS/MS analysis showed that the oils had sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (60%) in the volatile oil (VO) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (48.89%) in the non-volatile oils (NVO). Some major compounds reported for the first time in T. ciliata NVOs were: Rutamarin (52.55%), β-Himachalol (9.53%), Girinimbine (6.68%) and Oprea1 (6.24%). Most compounds in the VO were reported for the first time in T. ciliata, including the major ones Santalene (8.55%) and Himachal-7-ol (6.69%). The result showed that aqueous extract and oils of T. ciliata have anti-venom/procoagulant activities and completely neutralized the venom. We recommend a study on isolation and testing the pure compounds against the same venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fred Okot
- Department of Chemistry, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
- Centre for Snakebites and Venom Research, Department of Chemistry, Gulu University, Gulu P.O. Box 166, Uganda
| | - Jane Namukobe
- Department of Chemistry, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
| | - Patrick Vudriko
- Research Centre for Tropical Diseases and Vector Control, Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinics and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
| | - Godwin Anywar
- Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology & Biotechnology, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
| | - Matthias Heydenreich
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Oyedeji Adebola Omowumi
- Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X1, Mthatha 5099, South Africa
| | - Robert Byamukama
- Department of Chemistry, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
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Cardiac Effects of Micrurus corallinus and Micrurus dumerilii carinicauda (Elapidae) Venoms and Neutralization by Brazilian Coralsnake Antivenom and Varespladib. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2023; 23:132-146. [PMID: 36813862 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-023-09786-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we examined the action of two South American coralsnake (Micrurus corallinus and Micrurus dumerilii carinicauda) venoms on rat heart function in the absence and presence of treatment with Brazilian coralsnake antivenom (CAV) and varespladib (VPL), a potent phospholipase A2 inhibitor. Anesthetized male Wistar rats were injected with saline (control) or a single dose of venom (1.5 mg/kg, i.m.) and monitored for alterations in echocardiographic parameters, serum CK-MB levels and cardiac histomorphology, the latter using a combination of fractal dimension and histopathological methods. Neither of the venoms caused cardiac functional alterations 2 h after venom injection; however, M. corallinus venom caused tachycardia 2 h after venom injection, with CAV (given i.p. at an antivenom:venom ratio of 1:1.5, v/w), VPL (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and CAV + VPL preventing this increase. Both venoms increased the cardiac lesional score and serum CK-MB levels compared to saline-treated rats, but only the combination of CAV + VPL prevented these alterations, although VPL alone was able to attenuate the increase in CK-MB caused by M. corallinus venom. Micrurus corallinus venom increased the heart fractal dimension measurement, but none of the treatments prevented this alteration. In conclusion, M. corallinus and M. d. carinicauda venoms caused no major cardiac functional alterations at the dose tested, although M. corallinus venom caused transient tachycardia. Both venoms caused some cardiac morphological damage, as indicated by histomorphological analyses and the increase in circulating CK-MB levels. These alterations were consistently attenuated by a combination of CAV and VPL.
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Zeng L, Hou J, Ge C, Li Y, Gao J, Zhang C, Huang P, Du J, Mo Z, Liu Y, Zeng Z. Clinical study of anti-snake venom blockade in the treatment of local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra (Naja atra) bites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010997. [PMID: 36525460 PMCID: PMC9803274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficacy of anti-snake venom serum blockade in treating local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra (Naja atra) bites. METHODS Patients bitten by a Chinese cobra (Naja atra) (n = 50) that met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 25) and the control group (n = 25). The experimental group received regular as well as anti-snake venom serum blocking treatment, whereas regular treatment plus chymotrypsin blocking therapy was given to the control group. The necrotic volumes around snake wounds in these groups were detected on the first, third and seventh days. On the third day of treatment, some local tissues in the wounds were randomly selected for pathological biopsy, and the necrosis volume of the local tissue was observed. Furthermore, the amount of time required for wound healing was recorded. RESULTS On the third and seventh days post-treatment, the necrotic volume of the wound of the experimental group was much smaller than that of the control group, and the experimental group's wound healing time was shorter than that of the control group (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the pathological biopsies taken from the control group showed nuclear pyknosis, fragmentation, sparse nuclear density, and blurred edges, and the degree of necrosis was much higher than that of the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS Anti-snake venom blocking therapy is a new and improved therapy with good clinical effect on local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra bites; moreover, it is superior to conventional chymotrypsin blocking therapy in the treatment of cobra bites. It can better neutralize and prevent the spread of the toxin, reduce tissue necrosis, and shorten the course of the disease by promoting healing of the wound. Furthermore, this treatment plan is also applicable to wound necrosis caused by other snake toxins, such as tissue necrosis caused by elapidae and viper families. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, a primary registry of International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, World Health Organization (Registration No. ChiCTR2200059070; trial URL:http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=134353&htm=4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Linsheng Zeng
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingjing Hou
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cuihong Ge
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital,Guangzhou,China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianhua Gao
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Congcong Zhang
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peiying Huang
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Du
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhizhun Mo
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (ZZ)
| | - Zhongyi Zeng
- Department of Emergency, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (ZZ)
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Lewin MR, Carter RW, Matteo IA, Samuel SP, Rao S, Fry BG, Bickler PE. Varespladib in the Treatment of Snakebite Envenoming: Development History and Preclinical Evidence Supporting Advancement to Clinical Trials in Patients Bitten by Venomous Snakes. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:783. [PMID: 36422958 PMCID: PMC9695340 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of effective, reliably accessible, and affordable treatments for snakebite envenoming is a critical and long unmet medical need. Recently, small, synthetic toxin-specific inhibitors with oral bioavailability used in conjunction with antivenom have been identified as having the potential to greatly improve outcomes after snakebite. Varespladib, a small, synthetic molecule that broadly and potently inhibits secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2s) venom toxins has renewed interest in this class of inhibitors due to its potential utility in the treatment of snakebite envenoming. The development of varespladib and its oral dosage form, varespladib-methyl, has been accelerated by previous clinical development campaigns to treat non-envenoming conditions related to ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, sepsis, and acute coronary syndrome. To date, twenty-nine clinical studies evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and efficacy of varespladib for non-snakebite envenoming conditions have been completed in more than 4600 human subjects, and the drugs were generally well-tolerated and considered safe for use in humans. Since 2016, more than 30 publications describing the structure, function, and efficacy of varespladib have directly addressed its potential for the treatment of snakebite. This review summarizes preclinical findings and outlines the scientific support, the potential limitations, and the next steps in the development of varespladib's use as a snakebite treatment, which is now in Phase 2 human clinical trials in the United States and India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Lewin
- Division of Research, Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA
- Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | | | - Isabel A. Matteo
- Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | | | - Sunita Rao
- Division of Research, Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Philip E. Bickler
- Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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9
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Arrahman A, Kazandjian TD, Still KBM, Slagboom J, Somsen GW, Vonk FJ, Casewell NR, Kool J. A Combined Bioassay and Nanofractionation Approach to Investigate the Anticoagulant Toxins of Mamba and Cobra Venoms and Their Inhibition by Varespladib. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:736. [PMID: 36355986 PMCID: PMC9695013 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14110736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Envenomation by elapid snakes primarily results in neurotoxic symptoms and, consequently, are the primary focus of therapeutic research concerning such venoms. However, mounting evidence suggests these venoms can additionally cause coagulopathic symptoms, as demonstrated by some Asian elapids and African spitting cobras. This study sought to investigate the coagulopathic potential of venoms from medically important elapids of the genera Naja (true cobras), Hemachatus (rinkhals), and Dendroaspis (mambas). Crude venoms were bioassayed for coagulant effects using a plasma coagulation assay before RPLC/MS was used to separate and identify venom toxins in parallel with a nanofractionation module. Subsequently, coagulation bioassays were performed on the nanofractionated toxins, along with in-solution tryptic digestion and proteomics analysis. These experiments were then repeated on both crude venoms and on the nanofractionated venom toxins with the addition of either the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor varespladib or the snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) inhibitor marimastat. Our results demonstrate that various African elapid venoms have an anticoagulant effect, and that this activity is significantly reduced for cobra venoms by the addition of varespladib, though this inhibitor had no effect against anticoagulation caused by mamba venoms. Marimastat showed limited capacity to reduce anticoagulation in elapids, affecting only N. haje and H. haemachatus venom at higher doses. Proteomic analysis of nanofractionated toxins revealed that the anticoagulant toxins in cobra venoms were both acidic and basic PLA2s, while the causative toxins in mamba venoms remain uncertain. This implies that while PLA2 inhibitors such as varespladib and metalloproteinase inhibitors such as marimastat are viable candidates for novel snakebite treatments, they are not likely to be effective against mamba envenomings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Arrahman
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI, Depok 16424, Indonesia
| | - Taline D. Kazandjian
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Kristina B. M. Still
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Slagboom
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Govert W. Somsen
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Freek J. Vonk
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Division of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam (CASA), 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Chowdhury A, Youngman NJ, Liu J, Lewin MR, Carter RW, Fry BG. The relative efficacy of chemically diverse small-molecule enzyme-inhibitors against anticoagulant activities of Black Snake (Pseudechis spp.) venoms. Toxicol Lett 2022; 366:26-32. [PMID: 35788045 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.06.009] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Snakebite remains a worldwide public health burden and a severely neglected tropical disease. Recent research has begun to focus on the potential use of repurposed small-molecule enzyme-inhibitors as early treatments to neutralise the effects of snake venoms. Black snakes (Pseudechis spp.) are a widespread and dangerously venomous group found throughout Australia and New Guinea. Utilising validated coagulation assays, our study assessed the efficacy of two chemically different small molecule inhibitors, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor (varespladib) and a metalloproteinase inhibitor (prinomastat), in vitro neutralisation of the anticoagulant prothrombinase-inhibiting activity of venom from seven species within the Pseudechis genus (P. australis, P. butleri, P. coletti, P. guttatus, P. papuanus, P.rossignolii, P. sp (NT).). Varespladib was shown to be highly effective at neutralising this anticoagulant activity for all seven species, but with P. coletti notably less so than the others. In contrast, prinomastat showed strong neutralisation for five out of the seven species, but was ineffective at neutralising the activity of P. coletti or P. rossignolii venoms. This suggests that varespladib binds to a highly conserved site but that prinomastat binds to a more variable site. These results build upon recent literature indicating that metalloproteinase inhibitors have cross-neutralising potential towards snake venom phospholipase A2 toxins, but with higher degrees of variability that PLA2-specific inhibitors. An important caveat is that these are in vitro tests and while suggestive of potential clinical utility, in vivo animal testing and clinical trials are required as future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Chowdhury
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD, 4072 Australia; Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
| | - Nicholas J Youngman
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Jiaojiao Liu
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Matthew R Lewin
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA; Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA, 94925, USA
| | | | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD, 4072 Australia.
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11
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Wang R, Gao D, Yu F, Han J, Yuan H, Hu F. Phospholipase A 2 inhibitor varespladib prevents wasp sting-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Toxicon 2022; 215:69-76. [PMID: 35724947 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify whether varespladib, a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, can be used as a therapeutic agent for wasp sting-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Rats were divided into control, AKI, and AKI + varespladib groups. The AKI model was established by subcutaneously injecting wasp venom at five different sites in rats. Varespladib treatment showed a significant inhibitory effect on wasp venom PLA2in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we observed that varespladib decreased the levels of rhabdomyolysis and hemolysis markers compared with that in the AKI group. Histopathological changes in the kidney decreased significantly, and rat serum creatinine levels were reduced after varespladib administration. The significantly regulated genes in the kidney of the AKI group were mostly involved in inflammatory response pathway, and the administration of varespladib remarkably attenuated the expression of these genes. Therefore, varespladib inhibited wasp sting-induced functional and pathological damage to the kidneys. We propose that the PLA2 inhibitor varespladib protects the kidney tissue in a wasp sting-induced AKI model by inhibiting PLA2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China; Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China
| | - Dan Gao
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China
| | - Fanglin Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China
| | - Jiamin Han
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China
| | - Hai Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China.
| | - Fengqi Hu
- Department of Nephrology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441000, China.
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12
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Menzies SK, Clare RH, Xie C, Westhorpe A, Hall SR, Edge RJ, Alsolaiss J, Crittenden E, Marriott AE, Harrison RA, Kool J, Casewell NR. In vitro and in vivo preclinical venom inhibition assays identify metalloproteinase inhibiting drugs as potential future treatments for snakebite envenoming by Dispholidus typus. Toxicon X 2022; 14:100118. [PMID: 35321116 PMCID: PMC8935517 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming affects more than 250,000 people annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Envenoming by Dispholidus typus (boomslang) results in venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC), whereby highly abundant prothrombin-activating snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) consume clotting factors and deplete fibrinogen. The only available treatment for D. typus envenoming is the monovalent SAIMR Boomslang antivenom. Treatment options are urgently required because this antivenom is often difficult to source and, at US$6000/vial, typically unaffordable for most snakebite patients. We therefore investigated the in vitro and in vivo preclinical efficacy of four SVMP inhibitors to neutralise the effects of D. typus venom; the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors marimastat and prinomastat, and the metal chelators dimercaprol and DMPS. The venom of D. typus exhibited an SVMP-driven procoagulant phenotype in vitro. Marimastat and prinomastat demonstrated equipotent inhibition of the SVMP-mediated procoagulant activity of the venom in vitro, whereas dimercaprol and DMPS showed considerably lower potency. However, when tested in preclinical murine models of envenoming using mixed sex CD1 mice, DMPS and marimastat demonstrated partial protection against venom lethality, demonstrated by prolonged survival times of experimental animals, whereas dimercaprol and prinomastat failed to confer any protection at the doses tested. The preclinical results presented here demonstrate that DMPS and marimastat show potential as novel small molecule-based therapeutics for D. typus snakebite envenoming. These two drugs have been previously shown to be effective against Echis ocellatus VICC in preclinical models, and thus we conclude that marimastat and DMPS should be further explored as potentially valuable early intervention therapeutics to broadly treat VICC following snakebite envenoming in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie K. Menzies
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Rachel H. Clare
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Chunfang Xie
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adam Westhorpe
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Steven R. Hall
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Rebecca J. Edge
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Jaffer Alsolaiss
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Edouard Crittenden
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Amy E. Marriott
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Robert A. Harrison
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
| | - Jeroen Kool
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicholas R. Casewell
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, England, UK
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13
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Silva-Carvalho R, Gaspar MZ, Quadros LHB, Lobo LGG, Giuffrida R, Santarém CL, Silva EO, Gerez JR, Silva NJ, Hyslop S, Lomonte B, Floriano RS. Partial efficacy of a Brazilian coralsnake antivenom and varespladib in neutralizing distinct toxic effects induced by sublethal Micrurus dumerilii carinicauda envenoming in rats. Toxicon 2022; 213:99-104. [PMID: 35489427 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we report the efficacy of a combination of Brazilian therapeutic coralsnake antivenom (CAV) and varespladib (phospholipase A2 inhibitor - VPL) in partially neutralizing selected toxic effects of Micrurus dumerilii carinicauda coralsnake venom in rats. Venom caused local myonecrosis and systemic neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity within 2 h of injection. CAV and VPL administered separately failed to prevent most of these alterations. However, a combination of CAV plus VPL offered variable protection against venom-induced coagulation disturbances, leukocytosis, and renal and hepatic morphological alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosimeire Silva-Carvalho
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, B2-205, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Matheus Z Gaspar
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, B2-205, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz H B Quadros
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, B2-205, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Luís G G Lobo
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, B2-205, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogério Giuffrida
- Graduate Program in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Cecília L Santarém
- Graduate Program in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Elisangela O Silva
- Graduate Program in Animal Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana R Gerez
- Department of Histology, State University of Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid Km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Nelson J Silva
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences and Health, School of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás (PUC-Goiás), 74605-140, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Stephen Hyslop
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, 13083-887, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Lomonte
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Rafael S Floriano
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Western São Paulo, Rodovia Raposo Tavares Km 572, B2-205, 19067-175, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
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14
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Gutierres PG, Pereira DR, Vieira NL, Arantes LF, Silva NJ, Torres-Bonilla KA, Hyslop S, Morais-Zani K, Nogueira RMB, Rowan EG, Floriano RS. Action of Varespladib (LY-315920), a Phospholipase A 2 Inhibitor, on the Enzymatic, Coagulant and Haemorrhagic Activities of Lachesis muta rhombeata (South-American Bushmaster) Venom. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:812295. [PMID: 35095526 PMCID: PMC8790531 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.812295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Varespladib (VPL) was primarily developed to treat inflammatory disturbances associated with high levels of serum phospholipase A2 (PLA2). VPL has also demonstrated to be a potential antivenom support agent to prevent PLA2-dependent effects produced by snake venoms. In this study, we examined the action of VPL on the coagulant, haemorrhagic and enzymatic activities of Lachesis muta rhombeata (South-American bushmaster) venom. Conventional colorimetric enzymatic assays were performed for PLA2, caseinolytic and esterasic activities; in vitro coagulant activities for prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were performed in rat citrated plasma through a quick timer coagulometer, whereas the dimensions of haemorrhagic haloes obtained after i.d. injections of venom in Wistar rats were determined using ImageJ software. Venom (1 mg/ml) exhibited accentuated enzymatic activities for proteases and PLA2in vitro, with VPL abolishing the PLA2 activity from 0.01 mM; VPL did not affect caseinolytic and esterasic activities at any tested concentrations (0.001–1 mM). In rat citrated plasma in vitro, VPL (1 mM) alone efficiently prevented the venom (1 mg/ml)-induced procoagulant disorder associated to extrinsic (PT) pathway, whereas its association with a commercial antivenom successfully prevented changes in both intrinsic (aPTT) and extrinsic (PT) pathways; commercial antivenom by itself failed to avoid the procoagulant disorders by this venom. Venom (0.5 mg/kg)-induced hemorrhagic activity was slightly reduced by VPL (1 mM) alone or combined with antivenom (antivenom:venom ratio 1:3 ‘v/w’) in rats, with antivenom alone producing no protective action on this parameter. In conclusion, VPL does not inhibit other major enzymatic groups of L. m. rhombeata venom, with its high PLA2 antagonize activity efficaciously preventing the venom-induced coagulation disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamella G Gutierres
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | - Diego R Pereira
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | - Nataly L Vieira
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | - Lilian F Arantes
- Graduate Program in Zootechnics, Rural Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Nelson J Silva
- Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences and Health, School of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Kristian A Torres-Bonilla
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Stephen Hyslop
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Rosa M B Nogueira
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
| | - Edward G Rowan
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael S Floriano
- Laboratory of Toxinology and Cardiovascular Research, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, Brazil
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15
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Chowdhury A, Lewin MR, Zdenek CN, Carter R, Fry BG. The Relative Efficacy of Chemically Diverse Small-Molecule Enzyme-Inhibitors Against Anticoagulant Activities of African Spitting Cobra ( Naja Species) Venoms. Front Immunol 2021; 12:752442. [PMID: 34691069 PMCID: PMC8529177 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.752442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
African spitting cobras are unique among cobras for their potent anticoagulant venom activity arising from strong inhibition of Factor Xa. This anticoagulant effect is exerted by venom phospholipase A2 (Group I PLA2) toxins whose activity contributes to the lethality of these species. This anticoagulant toxicity is particularly problematic as it is not neutralized by current antivenoms. Previous work demonstrated this trait for Naja mossambica, N. nigricincta, N. nigricollis, and N. pallida. The present work builds upon previous research by testing across the full taxonomical range of African spitting cobras, demonstrating that N. ashei, N. katiensis, and N. nubiae are also potently anticoagulant through the inhibition of Factor Xa, and therefore the amplification of potent anticoagulant activity occurred at the base of the African spitting cobra radiation. Previous work demonstrated that the enzyme-inhibitor varespladib was able to neutralize this toxic action for N. mossambica, N. nigricincta, N. nigricollis, and N. pallida venoms. The current work demonstrates that varespladib was also able to neutralize N. ashei, N. katiensis, and N. nubiae. Thus varespladib is shown to have broad utility across the full range of African spitting cobras. In addition, we examined the cross-reactivity of the metalloprotease inhibitor prinomastat, which had been previously intriguingly indicated as being capable of neutralizing viperid venom PLA2 (Group II PLA2). In this study prinomastat inhibited the FXa-inhibiting PLA2 toxins of all the African spitting cobras at the same concentration at which it has been shown to inhibit metalloproteases, and thus was comparably effective in its cross-reactivity. In addition we showed that the metalloprotease-inhibitor marimastat was also able to cross-neutralize PLA2 but less effectively than prinomastat. Due to logistical (cold-chain requirement) and efficacy (cross-reactivity across snake species) limitations of traditional antivenoms, particularly in developing countries where snakebite is most common, these small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) might hold great promise as initial, field-based, treatments for snakebite envenoming as well as addressing fundamental limitations of antivenom in the clinical setting where certain toxin effects are unneutralized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinandan Chowdhury
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Matthew R Lewin
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Ophirex, Inc., Corte Madera, CA, United States
| | - Christina N Zdenek
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Bryan G Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Science, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
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