Molecular Aspects Involved in the Mechanisms of Venom-Induced Hyperalgesia: Participation of NK1 Receptor and Glial Cells.

Accidents caused by (Bj) snakes result in several local and systemic manifestations, with pain being a fundamental characteristic. The inflammatory process responsible for hyperalgesia induced by Bj venom (Bjv) has been studied; however, the specific roles played by the peripheral and central nervous systems in this phenomenon remain unclear. To clarify this, we induced hyperalgesia in rats using Bjv and collected tissues from dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord (SC) at 2 and 4 h post-induction.

Crotoxin Modulates Macrophage Phenotypic Reprogramming.

Macrophage plasticity is a fundamental feature of the immune response since it favors the rapid and adequate change of the functional phenotype in response to the pathogen or the microenvironment. Several studies have shown that Crotoxin (CTX), the major toxin of the snake venom, has a long-lasting antitumor effect both in experimental models and in clinical trials. In this study, we show the CTX effect on the phenotypic reprogramming of macrophages in the mesenchymal tumor microenvironment or those obtained from the peritoneal cavity of healthy animals.

Effects of methylene blue-mediated photodynamic therapy on a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma and normal skin.

Background: Photodynamic therapy is used to treat a variety of cancers and skin diseases by inducing apoptosis, necrosis, immune system activation, and/or vascular damage. Here, we describe the effects of a single photodynamic therapy session using methylene blue on a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma and normal skin.

Methods: The photodynamic therapy protocol comprised application of a 1% methylene blue solution, followed by irradiation with a diode laser for 15 min at 74 mW/cm, for a total dose of 100 J/cm.

Role of Translocator 18 KDa Ligands in the Activation of Leukotriene B4 Activated G-Protein Coupled Receptor and Toll Like Receptor-4 Pathways in Neutrophils.

TSPO (Translocator 18 KDa; tryptophan-rich sensory protein oxygen sensor) is a constitutive outer mitochondrial membrane protein overexpressed in inflammatory cells during local or systemic processes. Despite its expression is characterized, role of TSPO in inflammation remains elusive. For this study, we investigated the role of TSPO ligands on neutrophil functions elicited by two different inflammatory pathways.

Crotoxin, a rattlesnake toxin, down-modulates functions of bone marrow neutrophils and impairs the Syk-GTPase pathway.

Neutrophils have a critical role in the innate immune response; these cells represent the primary line of defense against invading pathogens or tissue injury. Crotoxin (CTX), the major toxin of the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom, presents longstanding anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting neutrophil migration and phagocytosis by peritoneal neutrophils for 14 days. Herein, to elucidate these sustained inhibitory effects induced by CTX, we performed in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the functionality of bone marrow neutrophils and possible molecular mechanisms associated with these effects.