Rabbit IgG antibodies against phospholipase A2 from Crotalus durissus terrificus neutralize the lethal activity of the venom

• Autores: Rodriguez, J.P.; De Marzi, M.; Maruñak, S.; Malchiodi, E.L.; Leiva, L.C.; Acosta, O.
• Año de publicación: 2006
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: Medicina (Argentina) 2006;66(6):512-516
• Materia: Antibodies IgG; Crotalus durissus terrificus; Neutralization; Phospholipase A2; crotoxin; Freund adjuvant; immunoglobulin G; phospholipase A2; snake venom; snake venom antiserum; animal experiment; animal model; article; controlled study; drug efficacy; envenomation; enzyme isolation; gel filtration chromatography; incubation time; inoculation; lethality; male; mortality; mouse; muscle disease; neurotoxicity; nonhuman; rabbit; snake; treatment outcome; Animals; Antibody Specificity; Antivenins; Buffers; Crotalus; Crotoxin; Hemolysis; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Mice; Neuromuscular Blockade; Neutralization Tests; Phospholipases A; Rabbits
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales

Crotalus durissus terrificus (C.d.t.) (South American rattlesnake) venom possesses myotoxic and neurotoxic activities, both of which are also expressed by crotoxin, the principal toxin of this venom. Crotoxin contains a basic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and a non toxic acidic protein, crotapotin. We have produced and investigated the ability of IgG antibodies raised in rabbits against PLA2 to neutralize the lethality of the whole venom. PLA2 was isolated by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-75). Specific antibodies were obtained by subcutaneous and intramuscular inoculation of PLA2 (700 μg) with Freund adjuvant. Groups of six mice (20 ± 2 g) were inoculated with 0.5 ml i.p. of C. d. t. venom (4 μg) or a mixture of venom that had been preincubated with the desired volume of IgG antibodies. Mortality, recorded 24 and 48 h after inoculation, showed that IgG anti-PLA2 were more effective than anticrotalic serum in neutralizing the lethal activity. These results demonstrate that it could be possible to obtain an anti-venom made by specific antibodies with a high level of protection against the lethal component of C.d.t. venom, and/or the inclusion of these antibodies as a supplement in heterologous anti-venoms.