Scorpion Venom Peptides: Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory and Hepatic Disorders

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  Scorpion Venom Peptides: Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory and Hepatic Disorders Abstract Chronic hepatic disorders, such as metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH), alcohol associated liver disease (ALD), and viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B Virus [HBV]/Hepatitis C Virus [HCV]), are primarily driven by persistent immune-mediated inflammation and hepatic stellate cell activation leading to fibrosis, yet conventional therapies lack tissue and molecular specificity. Scorpion venom peptides, refined through evolutionary selection, provide highly potent, target specific scaffolds capable of modulating intrahepatic inflammatory networks. Recent in vivo preclinical studies indicate that voltage gated potassium (Kv1.3) channel blocking peptides, such as BmKK2, significantly reduce macrophage activation and inhibit downstream cytokine production, effectively ameliorating diet-induced steatohepatitis and tissue scarring in murine models. Engineered hepatotropic ca...

Exploring the antiangiogenic effects of Phospholipases A2 from Bothrops diporus venom

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Exploring the antiangiogenic effects of Phospholipases A2 from Bothrops diporus venom

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is a crucial process in both physiological and pathological contexts, including cancer. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s), enzymes found in snake venoms, have attracted attention due to their potential antiangiogenic properties. In this study, we explored the antiangiogenic effects of PLA2 isoforms isolated from Bothrops diporus venom using a combination of in vivo and ex vivo models. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay revealed a significant reduction in vascular density and branching following PLA2s treatment, with histological analysis confirming vascular regression, including vessel wall thinning and luminal collapse. Moreover, PLA2s induced endothelial cell apoptosis, as shown by TUNEL staining, and reduced VEGF expression. The filter paper disc variant of the CAM assay further supported these findings, demonstrating inhibited neovascularization while preserving mature vessels. Additionally, the CAM explant assay showed a marked decrease in vascular complexity and branching. These results demonstrate the antiangiogenic effect of PLA2 isoforms from B. diporus and suggest that these enzymes may modulate key angiogenic pathways. Based on our previous findings, this modulation may involve interference with integrin-mediated signaling, which could underlie the vascular effects observed. Thus, this work provides compelling evidence for the potential role of snake venom-derived PLA2s in modulating angiogenesis and highlights the need for further research into their mechanisms and possible biomedical applications.

Sasovsky, D.J., Olea, G.B., Ojeda, G. et al. Exploring the antiangiogenic effects of Phospholipases A2 from Bothrops diporus venom. Cell Tissue Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-025-04008-7