In vitro hemolytic activity of Bothrops lanceolatus (fer-de-lance) venom

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: LJ Martins, PMF de Araújo, C Bon, S Hyslop, AL de Araújo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2009
• Subjects: Bothrops lanceolatus; hemolytic activity; phospholipase A2; snake venom; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992009000300011; https://doaj.org/article/3ad287494462433e80529f78f7553369

Bothrops lanceolatus venom contains a variety of enzymatic and biological activities. The present work investigated the hemolytic activity of this venom and its phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Bothrops lanceolatus venom (6.7 µg/mL) caused indirect hemolysis of cow, horse, rat and sheep erythrocytes, with horse erythrocytes being the most sensitive; no direct hemolysis was observed. Hemolysis in sheep erythrocytes was concentration-dependent (5-11.7 µg/mL) and markedly attenuated by heating the venom for 30 minutes at ≥ 40°C and by the PLA2 inhibitor p-bromophenacyl bromide. An acidic PLA2 (5 µg/mL) purified from B. lanceolatus venom also caused hemolysis. This PLA2 showed immunoprecipitin lines with antivenom against B. lanceolatus, which suggests that the enzymatic and hemolytic activities of this enzyme may be neutralized during antivenom therapy. These results indicate that B. lanceolatus venom and its PLA2 can cause hemolysis in vitro.