Lonomia obliqua bristle extract modulates Rac1 activation, membrane dynamics and cell adhesion properties

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) 2019-04, Vol.162, p.32-39
• Main Authors: Bernardi, L., Pinto, A.F.M., Mendes, E., Yates, J.R., Lamers, M.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actin; Focal adhesion kinase; Paxillin; RhoGTPases; Vinculin
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.02.019

Lonomia obliqua is a caterpillar of potential therapeutic interest whose venom is able to induce severe blood leakage and modulate leukocyte migration. Since both phenotypes are associated with changes in cytoskeleton dynamics and cell adhesion properties, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of Lonomia obliqua bristle extract (LOBE) in cell adhesion and migration signaling. Proteomic analysis revealed that epithelial cells (CHO-K1) exposed to LOBE (30 μg/mL, 30 min) exhibited changes in levels of actin regulatory proteins, including RhoGTPases. These changes correlated with an increase in the activity of the RhoGTPase family member Rac as measured by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). When plated in migration promoting conditions, CHO-K1 cells exposed to LOBE (10 μg/mL) showed an increase in membrane ruffling after short (30 min) period of incubation that was accompanied by changes in the distribution of the adhesion markers paxillin, vinculin and an increase of focal adhesion kinase autophosphorylation levels (Y397), suggesting changes in cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion properties and signaling. These data suggest that LOBE possesses bioactive molecules that are capable to modulated cell migration signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell-ECM properties of several cell types. •Accidents with L. obliqua caterpillars are associated with severe hemorrhagic disorder.•This study analyzed the effects of Lonomia obliqua bristle extract (LOBE) on CHO-K1 cell adhesion and migration signaling.•LOBE promoted changes in actin regulatory proteins and increase the activity of the RhoGTPase and the cell membrane ruffling.•LOBE changed paxillin and vinculin distribution and increased FAK levels suggesting changes in cell adhesion properties.•These data indicates the presence of clinically-relevant bioactive molecules.