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

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.