Hemorrhage Caused by Snake Venom Metalloproteinases: A Journey of Discovery and Understanding

 

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gutiérrez, José María, Escalante Muñoz, Teresa, Rucavado Romero, Alexandra, Herrera Arias, Cristina
Formato: artículo original
Fecha de Publicación:2016
Descripción:The historical development of discoveries and conceptual frames for understanding the hemorrhagic activity induced by viperid snake venoms and by hemorrhagic metalloproteinases (SVMPs) present in these venoms is reviewed. Histological and ultrastructural tools allowed the identification of the capillary network as the main site of action of SVMPs. After years of debate, biochemical developments demonstrated that all hemorrhagic toxins in viperid venoms are zinc-dependent metalloproteinases. Hemorrhagic SVMPs act by initially hydrolyzing key substrates at the basement membrane (BM) of capillaries. This degradation results in the weakening of the mechanical stability of the capillary wall, which becomes distended owing of the action of the hemodynamic biophysical forces operating in the circulation. As a consequence, the capillary wall is disrupted and extravasation occurs. SVMPs do not induce rapid toxicity to endothelial cells, and the pathological effects described in these cells in vivo result from the mechanical action of these hemodynamic forces. Experimental evidence suggests that degradation of type IV collagen, and perhaps also perlecan, is the key event in the onset of microvessel damage. It is necessary to study this phenomenon from a holistic, systemic perspective in which the action of other venom components is also taken into consideration.
País:Kérwá
Institución:Universidad de Costa Rica
Repositorio:Kérwá
OAI Identifier:oai:https://www.kerwa.ucr.ac.cr:10669/30166
Acceso en línea:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/4/93
https://hdl.handle.net/10669/30166
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Snake venom
Viperids
Metalloproteinases
Hemorrhage
Capillary vessels
Basement Membrane
Type IV collagen