Isolation and Partial Characterization of Proteins with Vasodegenerative and Proinflammatory Properties from the Egg-Nests ofHylesia metabus(Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Abstract

The Hylesia genus comprises a group of Neotropical moths ubiquitous in the Americas from Arizona to Argentina. One of the species of the Hylesia genus in Venezuela, French Guyana, and Trinidad has been identified as Hylesia metabus (Cramer 1775) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). In Venezuela, these moths are found in abundance in the mangrove (Avicennia spp.) swamps surrounding the Gulf of Paria and the Orinoco Delta in the eastern part of the country. During the mating season, the female adults shed copious amounts of urticating setae in the air, producing a severe papulovesicular dermatitis among the population in the affected areas. The females also use their urticating setae to protect the eggs during the hatching period. In the current study, we have isolated and partially characterized proteins with proinflammatory properties from the urticating setae in the egg-nests by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and anionic exchange-high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We also have studied the biological response of the egg-nest extract and the HPLC purified fractions by inoculation in guinea pigs; and, analyzing the tissue samples by means of histopathological methods. The results of this study show that the extracted venom and HPLC purified subcomponents give rise to an intense inflammatory reaction characterized by massive infiltration of inflammatory cells, echymoses, and vascular degeneration. Chromatographic separation showed that the venom was made up of proteins having selectively vasodegenerative-fibrinolytic or proinflammatory-quimotactic properties.

Skin Reactions to Pine Processionary Caterpillar Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff

“…It is likely that the same mechanisms are valid for other processionary species, although hair venom composition in the various Lepidoptera families is yet to be completely recognized. Shared venom components include histamine, histamine releasers, serotonin, and proteases [28, 29]. In 1986, Lamy and Coll isolated a protein, thaumetopoein, from pine processionary hairs [30].…”

The mothHylesia metabusand French Guiana lepidopterism: centenary of a public health concern

“…Some of them proposed a role for the histamine (Dinehart et al , 1987) and other studies did not (Benaim-Pinto et al , 1992; Vassal, 1989; Lundberg et al , 2007). However, the clinical manifestations such as the necrosis of epidermic and dermic cells and the delayed cutaneous manifestations, suggest the presence of proteolytic enzymes (Benaim-Pinto et al , 2002; Battisti et al , 2011).…”

“…This enzyme increases the vascular permeability and creates inflammation and pains at the inoculation point. But, according to Lundberg et al (2007), other proteins are involved in the mechanisms of action of the venomous substance.…”

“…Only one Quincke’s oedema has been reported (Michel, 1981 in Ducombs et al , 1983) and even if no anaphylactic shock was mentioned, some authors do not exclude this event (Paniz-Mondolfi et al , 2011). Other systemic manifestations can also occur, such as nausea, fever, dizziness, tiredness and arthralgia (Rodriguez-Morales et al , 2005; Lundberg et al , 2007; Paniz-Mondolfi et al , 2011). …”