Nephrotoxicity induced by the venom of Hypnale hypnale from Sri Lanka: Studies on isolated perfused rat kidney and renal tubular cell lines
Artículo académicoIndividual
The hump-nosed pit viper Hypnale hypnale is responsible for a high number of snakebite 23 cases in southwestern India and Sri Lanka. Although most patients only develop local signs 24 and symptoms of envenoming, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that these 25 envenomings may be associated with systemic alterations, including acute kidney injury. In 26 this study we evaluated the direct renal toxicity of H. hypnale venom by using a perfused 27 isolated rat kidney system and by assessing cytotoxicity in two different renal tubular cell 28 lines in culture. The venom caused alterations in several renal functional parameters, such 29 as reduction on perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, and sodium and chloride 30 tubular transport, whereas glomerular filtration rate and urinary flow initially decreased and 31 then increased after venom perfusion. In addition, this venom was cytotoxic to proximal 32 and distal renal tubular cells in culture, with predominance of necrosis over apoptosis. 33 Moreover, the venom affected the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced an 34 increment in reactive oxygen species in these cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate 35 a nephrotoxic activity of H. hypnale venom in these experimental models, in agreement 36 with clinical observations.
