Effect of Vipera ammodytes ammodytes Snake Venom on the Human Cytokine Network
Francisc Boda,
Krisztina Banfai,
Kitti Garai,
Augustin Curticapean,
Lavinia Berta,
Emese Sipos,
Krisztian Kvell
Affiliations
Francisc Boda
Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No. 38, 540139 Tirgu Mures, Romania
Krisztina Banfai
Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, Rokus Street No. 2, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
Kitti Garai
Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, Rokus Street No. 2, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
Augustin Curticapean
Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No. 38, 540139 Tirgu Mures, Romania
Lavinia Berta
Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No. 38, 540139 Tirgu Mures, Romania
Emese Sipos
Department of Specialty Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tirgu Mures, Gheorghe Marinescu Street No. 38, 540139 Tirgu Mures, Romania
Krisztian Kvell
Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pecs, Rokus Street No. 2, 7624 Pecs, Hungary
Local inflammation is a well-known symptom of envenomation by snakes of the family Viperidae, attributed primarily to the phospholipase A2s, metalloproteinases and L-amino acid oxidases contained in their venom. The inflammatory effect of snake venoms has been associated with a marked increase of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α. To determine the impact of Vipera ammodytes ammodytes snake venom on the expression of inflammation-related genes, we incubated human U937 monocyte cells with dilutions of snake venom. Gene expression was quantified for 28 different genes using a TaqMan® Array Human Cytokine Network 96-well Plate in a RT-qPCR system. Our results have demonstrated that 1.0 μg/mL Vipera ammodytes ammodytes venom solution induces a notable change in the expression of several cytokine network genes. Among the upregulated genes, there were several that encode interleukins, interferons, and tumor necrosis factors. We further report the downregulation of three interleukin-related genes. Our findings come as supportive information for the known complex effect of snake venoms on the human cytokine network. It also provides relevant new information regarding the expression of genes that have not been previously associated with the effect of snake venoms.
