Alternagin-C (ALT-C), a Disintegrin-Like Cys-Rich Protein Isolated from the Venom of the Snake Rhinocerophis alternatus, Stimulates Angiogenesis and Antioxidant Defenses in the Liver of Freshwater Fish, Hoplias malabaricus

• Published in: Toxins 2017-09, Vol.9 (10), p.307
• Main Authors: Monteiro, Diana Amaral, Selistre-de-Araújo, Heloisa Sobreiro, Tavares, Driele, Fernandes, Marisa Narciso, Kalinin, Ana Lúcia, Rantin, Francisco Tadeu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; antioxidant enzymes; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; blood vessel formation; Blood Vessels - drug effects; Bothrops; Catalase; Catalase - metabolism; Cell proliferation; Characiformes - metabolism; Characiformes - physiology; Crotalid Venoms; disintegrin; Disintegrins - pharmacology; Endothelial cells; Fish; Freshwater fish; Glutathione; Glutathione - metabolism; Glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Glutathione reductase; Glutathione Reductase - metabolism; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Hoplias malabaricus; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Liver; Liver - blood supply; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; oxidative stress biomarkers; Peroxidase; Proteins; Regeneration; Snakes; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tissue engineering; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vascularization; VEGF; Venom
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins9100307

Alternagin-C (ALT-C) is a disintegrin-like protein isolated from snake venom, which induces endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic effects of a single dose of alternagin-C (0.5 mg·kg , via intra-arterial) on oxidative stress biomarkers, histological alterations, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production, and the degree of vascularization in the liver of the freshwater fish traíra, , seven days after the initiation of therapy. ALT-C treatment increased VEGF levels and hepatic angiogenesis. ALT-C also enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, decreasing the basal oxidative damage to lipids and proteins in the fish liver. These results indicate that ALT-C improved hepatic tissue and may play a crucial role in tissue regeneration mechanisms.