Improvements in endotoxemic syndromes using a disintegrin, rhodostomin, through integrin αvβ3-dependent pathway

Septic shock is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units, but there is still no effective therapy for the patients. We evaluated the effects of rhodostomin (Rn), an Arg-Gly-Asp-containing snake venom disintegrin, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated phagocytes in vitro and LPS-induced endotoxemia in vivo.

Rn inhibited adhesion, migration, cytokine production and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation of macrophage induced by LPS. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Rn specifically blocked anti-αv mAb binding to RAW264.7. Besides inhibiting MAPK activation of THP-1, Rn bound to LPS-activated THP-1 and specifically blocked anti-αvβ3 mAb binding to THP-1. Binding assays proved that integrin αvβ3 was the binding site for rhodostomin on phagocytes. Rn reversed the enhancement of fibronectin and vitronectin on LPS-induced monocyte adhesion and cytokine release. Transfection of integrin αv siRNA also inhibited LPS-induced activation of monocyte, and Rn exerted no further inhibitory effect. Furthermore, Rn significantly decreased the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-6, -1β and -10 and attenuated cardiovascular dysfunction, including blood pressure and heart pulse, and thrombocytopenia in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. Rn also protected against tissue inflammation as evidenced by histological examination.

Rn may interact with αvβ3 integrin of monocytes/macrophages leading to interfere with the activation of phagocytes triggered by LPS. These results suggest that the protective function of Rn in LPS-induced endotoxemia may be attributed to its anti-inflammation activities in vivo.