Evaluating the inhibitory potential of Withania somnifera on platelet aggregation and inflammation enzymes: An in vitro and in silico study

Context Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is traditionally used for treating various ailments, but lacks scientific evaluation.

Objective This study evaluates Withania somnifera (WS) for its effect on platelet activity and inflammatory enzymes.

Materials and methods Aqueous and ethanolic (1:1) leaf extracts were subjected to in vitro indirect haemolytic activity using Naja naja venom, human platelet aggregation was quantified for lipid peroxidation using arachidonic acid (AA) as agonist and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) levels were determined using standard spectrometric assays. Further, molecular docking was performed by the ligand fit method using molegro software package (Molegro ApS, Aarhus, Denmark).

Results The study found that aqueous and ethanol extracts have very negligible effect (15%) with an IC₅₀ value of 13.8?mg/mL on PLA₂ from Naja naja venom. Further, extracts of WS also had very little effect (18%) with an IC₅₀ value of 16.6?mg/mL on malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. However, a 65% inhibition of 5-LOX with an IC₅₀ value of 0.92?mg/mL was observed in 1:1 ethanol extracts. The same was evident from SAR model with the active ingredient withaferin A binding predominantly on Phe 77, Tyr 98, Arg 99, Asp 164, Leu 168, Ser 382, Arg 395, Tyr 396 and Tyr 614 with an atomic contact energy value of??128.96 compared to standard phenidone (?103.61). Thus, the current study validates the application of WS for inflammatory diseases.

Conclusion This study reveals the inhibitory potential of W. somnifera on inflammatory enzymes and platelet aggregation. Thus, WS can serve as a newer, safer and affordable medicine for inflammatory diseases.     

Tityus perijanensis González-Sponga (Scorpiones, Buthidae): molecular assessment of its geographical distribution and venom lethality of Venezuelan populations.

An extensive field survey allowed us to expand the geographical distribution of the scorpion Tityus perijanensis in the Perijá range, western Zulia State, Venezuela, including areas where adult cases of severe scorpionism have been reported. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, DL(50) determination, and native PAGE suggest low genetic and venom proteomic divergence across the distribution range. The results also indicate phylogenetic divergence between T. perijanensis and T. discrepans, the species prevalent in northcentral Venezuela. T. perijanensis venom lethality (0.91-0.94 mg/kg) is comparable to that of the Brazilian T. serrulatus and ranks highest among toxic Venezuelan Tityus studied so far. The data indicate that the Perijá range should be included amongst the endemic areas of scorpionism of Venezuela and Colombia.     

Triterpenoid saponins, new metalloprotease snake venom inhibitors isolated from Pentaclethra macroloba.

We report here the antiproteolytic and antihemorrhagic properties of triterpenoid saponin inhibitors, named macrolobin-A and B, from Pentaclethra macroloba, against Bothrops snake venoms. The inhibitors were able to neutralize the hemorrhagic, fibrin(ogen)olytic, and proteolytic activities of class P-I and P-III metalloproteases isolated from B. neuwiedi and B. jararacussu venoms. Clotting and fibrinogenolytic activities induced by snake venoms and isolated thrombin-like enzymes were partially inhibited. Furthermore, the potential use of these inhibitors to complement antivenom therapy as an alternative treatment and/or used as molecular models for development of new therapeutical agents in the treatment of snake bite envenomations needs to be evaluated in future studies.     

C端序列的删除对非出血重组蛇毒纤溶酶的影响

[目的]研究C端序列对非出血重组纤溶酶(rFⅡ)特异性、活性和热敏感性的影响.[方法]通过SOEing PCR方法构建删除C端序列的突变体,突变体和rFⅡ分别在P.pastoris中诱导表达.表达和纯化的蛋白用SDS-PAGE和Westeren blot进行鉴定.之后分析其生化特性.[结果]rFⅡ及突变体通过SDS-PAGE和Westeren blot得到证实.生化分析揭示:①突变体对显色底物N-(p-Tosyl)-Gly-Pro-Lys-pNA的催化效率(Kcat/Km)是rFⅡ的1.9倍;②突变体和rFⅡ对氧化的胰岛素B链拥有共同的优先裂解位点,可是在随后的裂解中开始展现差异;③突变体显示了更高的纤(原)活性;④热处理表明突变体相较r FⅡ对温度的增加更敏感;⑤通过圆二色谱测量,突变体的螺旋比例有所增加.[结论]删除的序列参与rFⅡ的特异性、活性和热敏感性,该序列可作为下一步优化的候选序列.     

BJ-48, a novel thrombin-like enzyme from the Bothrops jararacussu venom with high selectivity for Arg over Lys in P1: Role of N-glycosylation in thermostability and active site accessibility.

BJ-48, a serine protease from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu, was purified to homogeneity using affinity chromatography on p-aminobenzamidine-agarose followed by HPLC gel filtration. BJ-48 presented 52kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis and 48,036Da by electron spray mass spectrometry. The enzyme was shown to be highly glycosylated with 42% of N-linked carbohydrates composed of Fuc(1):GalN(4):GlcN(5):Gal(1):Man(2) and a high content of sialic acid residues (8-12%). BJ-48 had optimal esterase activity at pH 7.5 and displayed maximum catalytic rate at 50 degrees C. Its hydrolytic activity was strongly inhibited by aprotinin and dithiothreitol while N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, 6-aminocaproic acid, E-64 and soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) were ineffective. The kinetics of BJ-48 with chromogenic substrates revealed an unprecedented selectivity (10(4)-fold) for Arg over Lys in P1. BJ-48 proved to be a thrombin-like enzyme (TLE) with a specific fibrinogen-clotting activity of 73.4NIH units/mg. The TLE rapidly digested human fibrinogen Bbeta chain, but the Aalpha chain was cleaved specifically to release fibrinopeptide A with k(cat)/K(m)=2.1muM(-1)s(-1). The TLE showed no activity toward other thrombin substrates like protein C, protease-activated receptor-1 or inhibitors such as hirudin and antithrombin. A non-denaturing procedure using PNGase F and neuraminidase followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography was employed to obtain active BJ-48 forms with variable carbohydrate content. Compared to the native enzyme, total or partially deglycosylated BJ-48 forms presented up to 2-fold reduction in their specific activities upon heating at 55/65 degrees C or treatment with SBTI. These results point out a role for BJ-48 glycosylation in thermostability and controlling the access of some canonical protein inhibitors to the active site.     

~(125)Ⅰ眼镜蛇毒及抗眼镜蛇毒血清在小白鼠体内分布的比较观察

用氯胺-T法125I标记眼镜蛇毒示踪液及抗眼镜蛇毒血清。小白鼠分二组，用125I-眼镜蛇毒、125I-抗眼镜蛇毒血清分别给小白鼠尾静脉注射，于注射后的不同时间测定血、颈部肌肉、肝、肺、肾、心等脏器放射性分布。结果发现：125I-眼镜蛇毒在肌肉及肝、肺等器官中于注射后2小时过高峰，在肾脏中浓度高，在脑未见放射性分布，抗眼镜蛇毒血清与眼镜蛇毒分布相似但在肌肉及肺脏有更高的分布。证明抗眼镜蛇毒血清能跟踪分布眼镜蛇毒。     

一种新的五步蛇蛇毒类凝血酶Cdna的克隆和序列分析

目的：克隆出五步蛇的类凝血酶cDNA，为研究其结构和功能的关系。并为下一步基因表达开发抗血栓药物提供依据和基础。方法：从五步蛇蛇腺中提取了总RNA，通过反转录合成第一链cDNA，经PCR扩增出五步蛇毒腺中类凝血酶TLE1的cDNA片段，并将其连接到质粒载体扩增，然后进行DNA测序。结果：成功克隆出一种新的五步蛇类凝血酶的cDNA片段。此片段全长794bp，包括编码部分的全长为777bp。推导其编码的蛋白质序列为258个氨基酸，其中包括18个氨基酸的信号肽，6个氨基权的前肽和234个氨基酸的成熟氨基酸顺序。TLE1成熟肽与其它蛇毒类凝血酶相比，蛋白质一级结构具有较高的同源性。结论：从五步蛇中成功克隆出一 种新的类凝血酶cDNA，并确定了它的DNA顺序。     

出血性蛇毒诱导血管内皮细胞凋亡的成分及作用机制研究进展

出血性蛇毒能专一性诱导血管内皮细胞(vascular endothelial cells，VEC)凋亡，研究人员已从中分离出5种VEC凋亡诱导成份，其中2种为L—aa氧化酶类，3种属于金属蛋白酶／解整联蛋白家族。研究证实前者可通过氧化VEC细胞膜上的L—leu产生H2O2而诱导其凋亡，后者则通过干扰膜整联蛋白与其配体的结合而使VEC凋亡。在由蛇毒诱导的VEC凋亡过程中，p53和bcl-2基因表达增加，且bcl-2的mRNA被剪辑成2条。已证实锚定依赖性信号分子αvβ3和磷脂信号分子PC-PLC参与该过程的信号转导。对该领域进一步研究，有望从蛇毒中纯化出或人工构建出专一地诱导肿瘤血管细胞凋亡的成分。本文总结了出血性蛇毒方面的研究进展。     

Expression, purification and molecular modeling of recombinant fibrinogenase [IV], a metalloproteinase from Deinakistrodon acutus venom.

A novel metalloproteinase, recombinant fibrinogenase IV (rFIV(a)), was expressed and purified from Deinakistrodon acutus venom. It was a single chain protein with an apparent molecular weight 27 kDa and an isoeletric point of pH 7.1. RFIV(a) cleaved preferentially the Aalpha-chain and also cleaved Bbeta, gamma-chains of fibrinogen when the incubation time was prolonged. The proteolytic activity was inhibited by EDTA, l-cysteine, and DTT, indicating rFIV(a) was a metalloproteinase requiring disulfide bonds for its activity. It kept above 85% of the initial activity from pH 4.5-11, showed an equal maximum activity at the temperature range from 30 to 50 degrees C, and was inactivated by Zn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+. Homology modeling of rFIV(a) showed that two highly conserved disulfide bonds (Cys159-Cys164 and Cys117-Cys197) was maintained from its structure, and it exhibited the characteristic conserved motif H142E143XXH146XXGXXH152, whose three histidine residues were involved in binding of the catalytically essential zinc ion. This work demonstrates the expression, purification and characterization of recombinant fibrinogenase IV, which belongs to class P-I metalloproteinase from D. acutus venom.     

蝎毒多肽提取物对肺癌荷瘤裸鼠血流变学的影响

目的观察蝎毒多肽提取物（PESV）对肺癌荷瘤裸鼠血流变学的影响。方法移植肺癌荷瘤裸鼠随机分为PESV组（皮下注射PESV）与对照组（皮下注射生理盐水）。采用FASCO-300型全自动表观黏度快测仪对两组的全血黏度进行检测。结果与对照组相比，PESV组血流变学指标均有不同程度的降低，尤其是全血低切表观黏度、全血高切表观黏度、Casson黏度、Casson屈服应力均明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）。结论PESV可降低荷瘤裸鼠血液黏度，对肺癌荷瘤裸鼠肿瘤转移能力有明显的抑制作用。