The impact of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and mesenchymal stem cell-derived IL-6 on neurological conditions.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a versatile cytokine crucial for immune response modulation, inflammation regulation, and various physiological processes in the body. Its wide-ranging functions underscore its importance in maintaining health. Dysregulated IL-6 is closely associated with many diseases, making it a key research and therapeutic target.

The Cloning and Characterization of a Three-Finger Toxin Homolog (NXH8) from the Coralsnake That Interacts with Skeletal Muscle Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

Coralsnakes ( spp.) are the only elapids found throughout the Americas. They are recognized for their highly neurotoxic venom, which is comprised of a wide variety of toxins, including the stable, low-mass toxins known as three-finger toxins (3FTx).

Synthetic polypeptide crotamine: characterization as a myotoxin and as a target of combinatorial peptides.

Crotamine is a rattlesnake-derived toxin that causes fast-twitch muscle paralysis. As a cell-penetrating polypeptide, crotamine has been investigated as an experimental anti-cancer and immunotherapeutic agent. We hypothesized that molecules targeting crotamine could be designed to study its function and intervene in its adverse activities.

Venom and Its Components Strongly Affect Osteoclasts' Maturation and Protein Patterns.

Osteoclasts (OCs) are important for bone maintenance, calcium balance, and tissue regeneration regulation and are involved in different inflammatory diseases. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of venom and its low and high molecular mass (HMM and LMM) fractions on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived OCs' in vitro differentiation. , a Brazilian lanced-head viper, presents a rich but not well-explored, venom composition.

Comprehensive analysis of peptides and low molecular weight components of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps venom.

Ants (Hymenoptera, Apocrita, Aculeata, Formicoidea) comprise a well-succeeded group of animals. Like bees and wasps, ants are mostly venomous, having a sting system to deliver a mixture of bioactive organic compounds and peptides. The predatory giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps belongs to the subfamily Ponerinae that includes one of the largest known ant species in the world.

Comprehensive analysis of peptides and low molecular weight components of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps venom.

Ants (Hymenoptera, Apocrita, Aculeata, Formicoidea) comprise a well-succeeded group of animals. Like bees and wasps, ants are mostly venomous, having a sting system to deliver a mixture of bioactive organic compounds and peptides. The predatory giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps belongs to the subfamily Ponerinae that include one of the largest known ant species in the world.

Bottom-Up Proteomic Analysis of Polypeptide Venom Components of the Giant Ant .

Ant species have specialized venom systems developed to sting and inoculate a biological cocktail of organic compounds, including peptide and polypeptide toxins, for the purpose of predation and defense. The genus comprises predatory giant ants that inoculate venom capable of causing long-lasting local pain, involuntary shaking, lymphadenopathy, and cardiac arrhythmias, among other symptoms. To deepen our knowledge about venom composition with regard to protein toxins and their roles in the chemical-ecological relationship and human health, we performed a bottom-up proteomics analysis of the crude venom of the giant ant , popularly known as the "false" tocandiras.

Biogeochemical typing of paddy field by a data-driven approach revealing sub-systems within a complex environment--a pipeline to filtrate, organize and frame massive dataset from multi-omics analyses.

We propose the technique of biogeochemical typing (BGC typing) as a novel methodology to set forth the sub-systems of organismal communities associated to the correlated chemical profiles working within a larger complex environment. Given the intricate characteristic of both organismal and chemical consortia inherent to the nature, many environmental studies employ the holistic approach of multi-omics analyses undermining as much information as possible. Due to the massive amount of data produced applying multi-omics analyses, the results are hard to visualize and to process.

State of the art in the studies on crotamine, a cell penetrating peptide from South American rattlesnake.

Animal venoms comprise a naturally selected cocktail of bioactive peptides/proteins and other molecules, each of which playing a defined role thanks to the highly specific interactions with diverse molecular targets found in the prey. Research focused on isolation, structural, and functional characterizations of novel natural biologics (bioactive peptides/proteins from natural sources) has a long way to go through from the basic science to clinical applications. Herein, we overview the structural and functional characteristics of the myoneurotoxin crotamine, firstly isolated from the South American rattlesnake venom.

Transcriptome analysis in venom gland of the predatory giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps: insights into the polypeptide toxin arsenal of hymenopterans.

Background: Dinoponera quadriceps is a predatory giant ant that inhabits the Neotropical region and subdues its prey (insects) with stings that deliver a toxic cocktail of molecules. Human accidents occasionally occur and cause local pain and systemic symptoms. A comprehensive study of the D.

Enzyme specificity and effects of gyroxin, a serine protease from the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, on protease-activated receptors.

Gyroxin is a serine protease displaying a thrombin-like activity found in the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. Typically, intravenous injection of purified gyroxin induces a barrel rotation syndrome in mice. The serine protease thrombin activates platelets aggregation by cleaving and releasing a tethered N-terminus peptide from the G-protein-coupled receptors, known as protease-activated receptors (PARs).

Crotamine pharmacology revisited: novel insights based on the inhibition of KV channels.

Crotamine, a 5-kDa peptide, possesses a unique biological versatility. Not only has its cell-penetrating activity become of clinical interest but, moreover, its potential selective antitumor activity is of great pharmacological importance. In the past, several studies have attempted to elucidate the exact molecular target responsible for the crotamine-induced skeletal muscle spasm.

Crotamine toxicity and efficacy in mouse models of melanoma.

Objectives: Selective anticancer cell activity for both cell-penetrating and cationic antimicrobial peptides has previously been reported. As crotamine possesses activities similar to both of these, this study investigates crotamine's anticancer toxicity in vitro and in vivo.

Research Design And Methods: In vitro cancer cell viability was evaluated after treatment with 1 and 5 μg/ml of crotamine.

Transcriptome analysis of the Amazonian viper Bothrops atrox venom gland using expressed sequence tags (ESTs).

Bothrops atrox is a highly dangerous pit viper in the Brazilian Amazon region. We produced a global catalogue of gene transcripts to identify the main toxin and other protein families present in the B. atrox venom gland.