Production of human antibody fragments binding to melittin and phospholipase A2 in Africanised bee venom: minimising venom toxicity

The hybrid created from the crossbreeding of European and African bees, known as the Africanised bee, has provided numerous advantages for current beekeeping. However, this new species exhibits undesirable behaviours, such as colony defence instinct and a propensity to attack en masse, which can result in serious accidents. To date, there is no effective treatment for cases of Africanised bee envenomation. One promising technique for developing an efficient antivenom is the use of phage display technology, which enables the production of human antibodies, thus avoiding the complications of serum therapy, such as anaphylaxis and serum sickness. The aim of this study was to produce human monoclonal single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragments capable of inhibiting the toxic effects of Africanised bee venom. We conducted four rounds of selection of antibodies against the venom and three rounds of selection of antibodies against purified melittin. Three clones were selected and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to verify their specificity for melittin and phospholipase A2. Two clones (C5 and C12) were specific for melittin, and one (A7) was specific for phospholipase A2. In a kinetic haemolytic assay, these clones were evaluated individually and in pairs. The A7-C12 combination had the best synergistic effect and was chosen to be used in the assays of myotoxicity inhibition and lethality. The A7-C12 combination inhibited the in vivo myotoxic effect of the venom and increased the survival of treated animals.     

Gangliosides inhibit bee venom melittin cytotoxicity but not phospholipase A(2)-induced degranulation in mast cells

Sting accident by honeybee causes severe pain, inflammation and allergic reaction through IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. In addition to this hypersensitivity, an anaphylactoid reaction occurs by toxic effects even in a non-allergic person via cytolysis followed by similar clinical manifestations. Auto-injectable epinephrine might be effective for bee stings, but cannot inhibit mast cell lysis and degranulation by venom toxins. We used connective tissue type canine mast cell line (CM-MC) for finding an effective measure that might inhibit bee venom toxicity. We evaluated degranulation and cytotoxicity by measurement of β-hexosaminidase release and MTT assay. Melittin and crude bee venom induced the degranulation and cytotoxicity, which were strongly inhibited by mono-sialoganglioside (G_M1), di-sialoganglioside (G_D1a) and tri-sialoganglioside (G_T1b). In contrast, honeybee venom-derived phospholipase A₂ induced the net degranulation directly without cytotoxicity, which was not inhibited by G_M1, G_D1a and G_T1b. For analysis of distribution of Gα_q and Gα_i protein by western blotting, lipid rafts were isolated by using discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifuge. Melittin disrupted the localization of Gα_q and Gα_i at lipid raft, but gangliosides stabilized the rafts. As a result from this cell-based study, bee venom-induced anaphylactoid reaction can be explained with melittin cytotoxicity and phospholipase A₂-induced degranulation. Taken together, gangliosides inhibit the effect of melittin such as degranulation, cytotoxicity and lipid raft disruption but not phospholipase A₂-induced degranulation in mast cells. Our study shows a potential of gangliosides as a therapeutic tool for anaphylactoid reaction by honeybee sting.     

Hydrolysis of short-chain phosphatidylcholines by bee venom phospholipase A2

In order to find out the aggregation state of the substrate, preferred by bee venom phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4), its action on short-chain phosphatidylcholines with two identical (C6-C10) fatty acids has been tested. The rate of hydrolysis as a function of acyl chain length showed a maximum at dioctanoylphosphatidylcholine. The effects of alcohols, NaCl and Triton X-100, which affect the aggregation state of phospholipids in water, were also studied. The addition of n-alcohol led to a significant inhibition of the hydrolysis of the substrates present in micellar form and activated the hydrolysis of substrates which form liposomes. The inhibitory effect increased with increasing length of the aliphatic carbon chain of the alcohol. Triton X-100 at low Triton/phospholipid molar ratios enhanced enzyme activity. These results do not agree with the accepted idea that bee venom phospholipase A2 hydrolyzes short-chain lecithins in their molecularly dispersed form and that micelles cannot act as substrates. The data indicate that short-chain lecithins in the aggregated state are hydrolyzed and that the requirements of bee venom phospholipase A2 for the aggregation state of the substrate are not strict.     

Two-step inactivation of bee venom phospholipase A2 by scalaradial

Scalaradial (SLD), a marine natural product isolated from the sponge (Cacospongia sp., possesses anti-inflammatory properties in vivo and in vitro (Pharmacologist 32: 168, 1990). In this study we characterize its effects against bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2; EC 3.1.1.4). SLD is a potent inactivator of bee venom PLA2 with an IC50 value of 0.07 microM. Inactivation of bee venom PLA2 occurred in a time-dependent, irreversible manner. The rate of inactivation followed first-order reaction kinetics and was dependent on the concentration of SLD. Kinetic analysis suggested a two-step mechanism of inactivation: an initial apparent noncovalent binding (Ki = 4.5 x 10(-5) M) followed by covalent modification. The rate of inactivation was reduced markedly in the presence of excess phosphatidylcholine, suggesting that modification of the enzyme occurs at or near the substrate binding site.     

Molecular pharmacology of manoalide. Inactivation of bee venom phospholipase A2

The marine natural product manoalide (MLD) was shown to directly inactivate bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Inactivation was pH dependent (maximum inactivation occurred at pH 8.0), time dependent and concentration dependent. The IC50 was estimated at 0.05 microM and virtually complete inactivation of the enzyme occurred at 4.0 microM. The time-dependent loss of PLA2 activity suggested that inactivation does not follow typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Reversibility was studied directly by dilution and dialysis; both methods were ineffective in dissociating the MLD-PLA2 complex. A kinetic plot of initial velocity (v) versus [PLA2] supported our hypothesis that MLD apparently inactivates bee venom PLA2 by an irreversible mechanism.     

Inactivation of phospholipase A2 by manoalide. Localization of the manoalide binding site on bee venom phospholipase A2

The marine natural product manoalide (MLD), a potent inhibitor of phospholipases, completely inactivates bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) by an irreversible mechanism. It has been proposed [K. B. Glaser and R. S. Jacobs, Biochem. Pharmac. 36, 2079 (1987)] that the reaction of MLD with PLA2 may involve the selective reactivity of MLD to a peptide sequence, possibly a Lys-X-X-Lys peptide. Localization of the MLD binding site on bee venom PLA2 demonstrated that upon MLD modification of bee venom PLA2 the only change in amino acid content was an apparent loss of Lys, corresponding to approximately three of the eleven Lys residues present. Selective chemical modification of Lys residues with [14C]maleic anhydride demonstrated that all eleven Lys residues on bee venom PLA2 were accessible to this reagent (11.6 mol maleyl group incorporated/mol of PLA2). Pretreatment of PLA2 with MLD (less than 0.7% residual activity) resulted in a molar ratio of 8.7, also consistent with the loss of three Lys residues upon modification by MLD. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of the cyanogen bromide (CNBr) digestion product of MLD-treated PLA2 produced three peaks (A280). The second peak showed the most intense absorbance at 434 nm. This material corresponded to residues 81-128, as determined by gas-phase microsequence analysis. Sequencing failure was observed at Lys-88 in the MLD-treated fragment. The control carboxymethylated-PLA2 fragment corresponding to residues 81-128 sequenced beyond Lys-88 without significant change in the expected yield. These data suggest that Lys-88 may correspond to one of the three MLD-modified Lys residues. The minor absorbance at 434 nm of the CNBr fragments containing residues 42-80 and 1-36 as compared to the fragment of residues 81-128 suggests that the major MLD binding fragment residues in residues 81-128.     

Effects of phospholipase A2 from cobra and bee venom on the presynaptic membrane

L. G. Magazanik, I. M. Gotgilf, T. I. Slavnova, A. I. Miroshnikov and U. R. Apsalon. Effects of phospholipase A₂ from cobra and bee venom on the presynaptic membrane. Toxicon17, 477–488, 1979.—Phospholipases A₂ from bee venom and cobra venom have been isolated and studied. A parallelism was found between enzymatic activity and the ability to block spontaneous miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.'s) or end-plate potentials (e.p.p.'s) induced by nerve stimulation in the frog sartorius muscle. Different experimental procedures affected both enzymatic activity and blocking ability in qualitatively the same way. Thus, modification of the histidine residue in cobra venom phospholipase by bromophenacyl bromide or the removal of Ca-ions from the medium abolished both activities. Replacement of Ca²⁺ by Sr²⁺ inhibited both the enzymatic and presynaptic effects of cobra venom phospholipase, but did not inhibit the presynaptic action of bee venom phospholipase and decreased its enzymatic activity only 6-fold. Irreversible binding of cobra and bee venom phospholipase to the presynaptic membrane was found in Ca-free solution but Ca-ions were essential for the presynaptic blocking effect induced by these phospholipases. A reduction in the effect of high K⁺ on m.e.p.p. frequency was observed after cobra venom phospholipase treatment. The similar effects of hypertonic sucrose solution and the mitochondrial poison TTFB (4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole) were changed only slightly by bee and cobra venom phospholipase pretreatment. It is concluded that the mechanism of presynaptic blockade induced by bee venom and cobra venom phospholipase consists mainly of damage to sites of release at the presynaptic membrane. There are also some signs of disturbances of depolarization-secretion coupling and of the process of formation of new quanta. The possible functional role of enzymatic activity in the presynaptic effect is discussed.     

蜂毒溶血肽及蜂毒主要功能成分研究进展

蜂毒是一种具有高度药理学和生物活性的天然生物毒素。本文结合本研究团队近期的研究,从4个方面综述了近年来与蜂毒分子生物学相关的研究进展:(1)蜂毒的组成成份;(2)蜂毒作用的分子机制;(3)蜂毒主要功能物质的分子生物学;(4)蜂毒今后研究的方向及趋势。     

Anaphylactogenic properties of bee venom and its fractions

I have investigated the anaphylactogenicity of whole bee venom and its pure protein and peptide components (phospholipase A, melittin and apamin) and the partially purified protein and peptide fractions (the highest-molecular weight fraction I, hyaluronidase, fractions Op, P₁ and P₂ and protease inhibitor) obtained by means of gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. Anaphylactogenicity was observed with the whole bee venom and the high molecular weight protein fractions—fraction I, phospholipase A and hyaluronidase. The peptides melittin, apamin, fraction Op (mast cell degranulating peptide, MCD) and fractions P₁ and P₂ did not show any anaphylactic properties after sensitization with or without Freund's complete adjuvant.     

Africanized honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom profiling: Seasonal variation of melittin and phospholipase A2 levels

Apis mellifera venom is comprised basically of melittin, phospholipase A₂, histamine, hyaluronidase, catecholamine and serotonin. Some of these components have been associated with allergic reactions, amongst several other symptoms. On the other hand, bee mass stinging, caused by Africanized honey bee (AHB), is increasingly becoming a serious public health issue in Brazil; therefore, the development of efficient serum-therapies has become necessary. In this work, we have analyzed the venom composition of AHB in Brazil through one year. In order to verify the homogeneity of this venom, one specific hive was selected and the correlation with climatic parameters was assessed. It was possible to perceive a seasonal variation on the venom contents of melittin and phospholipase A₂. Moreover, both compounds presented a synchronized variation of their levels, with an increased production in the same months. This variation does not correlate or synchronize with any climatic parameter. Data on the variation of the AHB venom composition is necessary to guide future intra and inter species studies.     

Effect of bee venom and melittin on plasma cortisol in the unanesthetized monkey

Twenty-three adult Rhesus monkeys were injected subcutaneously with varying doses of bee venom or melittin which produced within 1–3 hr significant elevations in circulating plasma cortisol levels. These increases persisted for 72–96 hr, after which the cortisol levels returned to control values. The higher dose of venom or melittin usually produced the most pronounced elevations in cortisol. Reinjection at 72 hr resulted in a second increase in cortisol levels which persisted for 17–21 days followed by a gradual decline reaching near control levels at 30 days. The amount of melittin required to produce significant elevations in plasma cortisol was 1/10 that of whole bee venom. Four of the monkeys which received the higher doses of venom or melittin were autopsied and showed no significant gross or microscopic tissue changes. Surgical removal of the pituitary gland in four additional monkeys prevented the increase in cortisol previously noted in monkeys receiving either venom or melittin. Results indicate that bee venom or one of its components, melittin, appears to stimulate the production of cortisol from the adrenal gland through some action on the anterior pituitary gland. These observations may explain the reported beneficial effects of bee venom administration in a variety of disease conditions which also respond to adrenal steroid therapy.     

Contribution of phospholipase A2 to the lethal potency of Bothrops alternatus (víbora de la cruz) venom

Purified phospholipase A2 from Bothrops alternatus venom is one single protein species with a molecular weight of 15,000 and isoelectric point 5.08. When injected i.p. or i.v. at a dose of 0.7 microgram/g body weight it is lethal to mice, eliciting a typical syndrome of dyspnea, tachycardia, arrhythmia and irreversible shock. Post mortem and histopathologic studies have demonstrated that the lungs (massive pulmonary hemorrhage), heart (foci of myocardial and endocardial necrosis with interfibrillar hemorrhage), liver (congestion, hepatocytic microvacuolization with zones of massive necrosis) and kidneys (foci of tubular and glomerular necrosis) were severely injured. Except for the less extensive hemorrhages and the significantly longer survival time, the observed lesions are similar to those observed after the injection of lethal doses of whole venom. The lethal potency of the purified enzyme (LD50 i.p. 0.14 microgram/g body weight) is 46-fold greater than that of the whole venom (LD50 i.p. 6.4 micrograms/g body weight). The contribution of phospholipase A2 to the overall lethal effect of B. alternatus venom is suggested by the decreased lethal potency of a venom sample in which a significant amount of phospholipase A2 has been removed and the full restoration of the lethal potency upon supplementation of the depleted sample with purified enzyme. It is concluded that phospholipase A2 is a major component responsible for lethality of the whole B. alternatus venom, while the contribution of other venom components appears to be significant mainly in reducing the time of survival.     

Changes induced in cat serum by bee venom,melittin and apamin: The therapeutic effect of propranolol

Injection of cats with sublethal doses of bee venom and two of its most toxic components: melittin and apamin, induces the following changes in serum: hyperglycemia, decrease in the sodium and calcium levels and increase in potassium and phosphate levels. Most of the changes induced in the venom are antagonized by the administration of propranolol.     

眼镜蛇毒分泌型磷脂酶A_2的研究进展

眼镜蛇毒分泌型磷脂酶A2(sPLA2)作为眼镜蛇毒中的一个重要成分,有着广泛的生物学活性,近年来的研究热点正日益从眼镜蛇粗毒转向毒素中的某个单体,如sPLA2的研究。该文简要综述了眼镜蛇毒sPLA2的结构特征、分离纯化以及分子生物学特性,着重论述了sPLA2多样的药理毒理作用,并对其作用机制和发展前景进行了探讨。     

Effects of morin on snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

Flavonoids are potent anti-inflammatory compounds isolated from several plant extracts, and have been used experimentally against inflammatory processes. In this work, a PLA2 isolated from the Crotalus durissus cascavella venom and rat paw oedema were used as a model to study the effect of flavonoids on PLA2. We observed that a treatment of PLA2 with morin induces several modifications in the aromatic amino acids, with accompanying changes in its amino acid composition. In addition, results from circular dichroism spectroscopy and UV scanning revealed important structural modifications. Concomitantly, a considerable decrease in the enzymatic and antibacterial activities was observed, even though anti-inflammatory and neurotoxic activities were not affected. These apparent controversial results may be an indication that PLA2 possess a second pharmacological site which does not affect or depend on the enzymatic activity.     

Phospholipid hydrolysis in serum lipoproteins by a basic phospholipase A2 from Naja nigricollis snake venom and an acidic phospholipase A2 from Naja naja atra snake venom

Apparent Km and Vmax values for PC and PE hydrolysis were determined following exposure of HDL, LDL, and VLDL to a basic phospholipase A2 from N. nigricollis snake venom and an acidic phospholipase A2 from N. nigricollis snake venom and an acidic phospholipase A2 from N. n. atra snake venom. Both enzymes hydrolyzed the lipoprotein phospholipids approximately as fast as they hydrolyzed pure phospholipids in mixed micelles, however, the N. nigricollis enzyme, which has a much stronger anticoagulant effect than the N. n. atra enzyme, had lower apparent Vmax values. These values were highest for phospholipids in VLDL and lowest for HDL, however, the differences between the lipoproteins were relatively small with the N. nigricollis enzyme while the differences were much larger with the N. n. atra enzyme. Fractions of the two enzymes in which varying numbers of lysines were carbamylated showed much larger differences in relative rates of phospholipid hydrolysis in HDL, LDL and VLDL. Triton X-100 eliminates these differences in rates of hydrolysis. These results are discussed in terms of the differences in the organized structure of the lipoprotein classes and in the penetration ability of the phospholipases.