Exploring the Profile of Cell Populations and Soluble Immunological Mediators in Bothrops atrox Envenomations

Toxins (Basel). 2023 Mar 4;15(3):196. doi: 10.3390/toxins15030196.

Abstract

Bothrops atrox envenomations are common in the Brazilian Amazon. The venom of B. atrox is highly inflammatory, which results in severe local complications, including the formation of blisters. Moreover, there is little information on the immune mechanisms associated with this condition. Thus, a longitudinal study was carried out to characterize the profile of the cell populations and soluble immunological mediators in the peripheral blood and blisters in B. atrox patients s according to their clinical manifestations (mild and severe). A similar response in both B. atrox patient groups (MILD and SEV) was observed, with an increase in inflammatory monocytes, NKT, and T and B cells, as well as CCL2, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10, IL-1β and IL-10, when compared with the group of healthy blood donors. After the administration of antivenom, the participation of patrolling monocytes and IL-10 in the MILD group was observed. In the SEV group, the participation of B cells was observed, with high levels of CCL2 and IL-6. In the blister exudate, a hyperinflammatory profile was observed. In conclusion, we revealed the involvement of cell populations and soluble mediators in the immune response to B. atrox envenomation at the local and peripheral level, which is related to the onset and extent of the inflammation/clinical manifestation.

Keywords: Bothrops snakebite; blister; cell populations; chemokines; cytokines; immune response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antivenins
  • Blister / complications
  • Bothrops*
  • Crotalid Venoms* / immunology
  • Interleukin-10
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Snake Bites* / complications

Substances

  • Antivenins
  • Crotalid Venoms
  • Interleukin-10

Grants and funding

Financial support was provided in the form of grants from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM) (Pró-Estado Program—#002/2008, #007/2018 and #005/2019, and POSGRAD Program #008/2021 and #005/2022), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). K.F.C., J.C.F.N., H.N.S.I. and F.M.-G. have fellowships from FAPEAM, CAPES and CNPq (Masters and PHD students). A.M., W.M.M. and A.G.C. are Level 2 research fellows from CNPq. A.G.C. is a research fellow from FAPEAM (PRODOC Program #003/2022). The funders had no role in the study’s design, data collection and analysis, the decision to publish or the preparation of the manuscript.