Immediate early inflammatory gene responses of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to hemorrhagic venom

Abstract

Objective and design: This report describes a focused immediate early gene response by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to Echis carinatus snake venom.

Materials or subjects: Primary cultures of HUVEC were used to assess acute inflammatory gene responses.

Treatments: Crude E. carinatus venom (2.5 µg/ml) was used to stimulate HUVEC.

Results: HUVEC stimulated for 3 h with E. carinatus venom showed a focused response to the venom, with significant increases in metallothionein (e.g., MT1H, MT2A, MT1X) and cytochrome P450 (e.g., CYP1A1, CYP1B1) gene expressions compared to non-stimulated controls. Several other genes involved in cell growth and matrix attachment were repressed [e.g., thrombospondin 1 (THBS1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)].

Conclusions: These data suggest that acute vascular injury induced by hemorrhagic snake venom initiates an anti-oxidant response primarily involving metallothioneins.