Please login first
Bothrops jararaca snake venom: a reappraisal of its coagulant activity
* 1, 2, 3 , 2, 3 , 2, 3 , 2, 3 , 2
1  Escola Superior do Instituto Butantan, Av. da Universidade, SP, São Paulo, Brazil
2  Biotério Central, Instituto Butantan, Av. Dr. Vital Brasil, 1500, SP, São Paulo, 05503 − 900, Brazil
3  Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, São Paulo, Brazil
Academic Editor: Nilgun E. Tumer

Abstract:

Introduction: Bothrops jararaca snake venom (BjV) contains toxins that activate and inhibit blood coagulation, causing consumption coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, endothelial dysfunction, and secondary fibrinolysis in human and animal victims of snakebites. Objectives: The objective of this work was to study the in vitro coagulant activity of BjV in human, mouse, and rat plasma. Methods: The coagulant activity of BjV was assessed in normal and coagulation-factor-deficient plasma from humans, rats, and mice (C57BL/6, F8-/-, F9-/-, Vwf-/-, and pearl mice (Ap3b1-/-)). The roles of calcium ions, phospholipids, and blood cells in the coagulant activity of BjV were evaluated. Pharmacological inhibitors were used to analyze the generation of factor Xa and/or thrombin and their contribution to the coagulant activity of BjV. Results: Human plasma showed greater sensitivity to BjV than rat and mouse plasma. Calcium ions and phospholipids influenced its coagulant activity. Pre-incubation with rivaraxoban and/or dabigatran showed that the coagulant activity of BjV in rodent plasmas primarily depends on prothrombin activation, whereas in human plasma, it involves both thrombin-like-enzymes and prothrombin activators. Conclusions: This study highlighted important differences in the coagulant activity of BjV in human and rodent plasmas, underscoring the need to consider these disparities in comparative envenomation studies using animal models.

Keywords: blood coagulation factors, von Willebrand factor, phospholipid, blood platelets, erythrocytes.

 
 
Top