Citation

Pucca MB, Cerni FA, Lopes E, Junior P, Bordon KCF, Amorim FG, Cordeiro FA, Longhim HT, Cremonez CM, de Oliveira GH, Arantes EC. Toxicon 2015; 108: 272-284.

Affiliation

Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ecabraga@fcfrp.usp.br.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.10.015

PMID

26522893

Abstract

Tityus serrulatus (Ts) is the main scorpion species of medical importance in Brazil. Ts venom is composed of several compounds such as mucus, inorganic salts, lipids, amines, nucleotides, enzymes, kallikrein inhibitor, natriuretic peptide, proteins with high molecular mass, peptides, free amino acids and neurotoxins. Neurotoxins are considered the most responsible for the envenoming syndrome due to their pharmacological action on ion channels such as voltage-gated sodium (Nav) and potassium (Kv) channels. The major goal of this review is to present important advances in Ts envenoming research, correlating both the crude Ts venom and isolated toxins with alterations observed in all human systems. The most remarkable event lies in the Ts induced massive releasing of neurotransmitters influencing, directly or indirectly, the entire body. Ts venom proved to extremely affect nervous and muscular systems, to modulate the immune system, to induce cardiac disorders, to cause pulmonary edema, to decrease urinary flow and to alter endocrine, exocrine, reproductive, integumentary, skeletal and digestive functions. Therefore, Ts venom possesses toxins affecting all anatomic systems, making it a lethal cocktail. However, its low lethality may be due to the low venom mass injected, to the different venom compositions, the body characteristics and health conditions of the victim and the local of Ts sting. Furthermore, we also described the different treatments employed during envenoming cases. In particular, throughout the review, an effort will be made to provide information from an extensive documented studies concerning Ts in vitro, in animals and in humans (a total of 151 references). Over the past three decades (since 1981), our research team has undertaken several studies involving the isolation, purification and characterization of toxins from the Brazilian yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus (Ts). The present review deals with Ts venom and toxins studies and focuses on their effects on all anatomic systems. Indeed, different human systems are known to be affected by Ts venom components. In this research, we review and discuss the clinical/laboratorial manifestations and pathophysiology of Ts envenoming on the different anatomical systems: nervous, muscular, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, endocrine and exocrine, digestive, integumentary, skeletal and reproductive systems. All this modulating and blocking action of Ts neurotoxins on ion channels can be correlated with the effects on neurons and skeletal muscles.

Language: en