Oliveira Isadora S, Ferreira Isabela G, Alexandre-Silva Gabriel M, Cerni Felipe A, Cremonez Caroline M, Arantes Eliane C, Zottich Umberto, Pucca Manuela B
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, RR, Brazil.
J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2019 Apr 15;25:e148118. doi: 10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-1481-18. eCollection 2019.
Scorpion venoms are natural sources of molecules that have, in addition to their toxic function, potential therapeutic applications. In this source the neurotoxins can be found especially those that act on potassium channels. Potassium channels are responsible for maintaining the membrane potential in the excitable cells, especially the voltage-dependent potassium channels (Kv), including Kv1.3 channels. These channels (Kv1.3) are expressed by various types of tissues and cells, being part of several physiological processes. However, the major studies of Kv1.3 are performed on T cells due its importance on autoimmune diseases. Scorpion toxins capable of acting on potassium channels (KTx), mainly on Kv1.3 channels, have gained a prominent role for their possible ability to control inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Some of these toxins have already left bench trials and are being evaluated in clinical trials, presenting great therapeutic potential. Thus, scorpion toxins are important natural molecules that should not be overlooked in the treatment of autoimmune and other diseases.
蝎毒是分子的天然来源，这些分子除了具有毒性功能外，还具有潜在的治疗应用价值。在这种来源中可以发现神经毒素，特别是那些作用于钾通道的神经毒素。钾通道负责维持可兴奋细胞中的膜电位，尤其是电压依赖性钾通道（Kv），包括Kv1.3通道。这些通道（Kv1.3）由各种类型的组织和细胞表达，是多种生理过程的一部分。然而，由于Kv1.3在自身免疫性疾病中的重要性，对其的主要研究是在T细胞上进行的。能够作用于钾通道（KTx），主要是Kv1.3通道的蝎毒素，因其控制炎症性自身免疫疾病的潜在能力而发挥了重要作用。其中一些毒素已经完成了实验室试验，正在进行临床试验评估，显示出巨大的治疗潜力。因此，蝎毒素是重要的天然分子，在自身免疫性疾病和其他疾病的治疗中不应被忽视。
