BIO083 Immune mediators produced by Ts2 and Ts6 isolated from Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom

Abstract

Scorpion envenomation has become a public health problem in many regions of the world due to the increasing number of accidents. In Brazil, Tityus is the main genus responsible for scorpion envenomation. Scorpion venom mainly consists of neurotoxins that bind to specific sites on ion channels of cell membranes leading to an increase in their permeability. Tityus serrulatus venom (TsV) induces a systemic inflammatory response characterized by increased levels of cytokines and chemokines. The pulmonary edema is the main cause of children death. There are many studies regarding venom actions, however little is known about the interactions of the fractions IX (Ts2) or X (Ts6) with the immune system.