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Characterization of crude Echis carinatus venom-induced cytotoxicity in HEK 293T cells
Journal of Venom Research (2011)
  • Rebecca D. Pierce
  • Ethan S. Kim
  • Lance W. Girton
  • Jonathan McMurry
  • Joshua W. Francis
  • Eric A. Albrecht
Abstract
Echis carinatus (saw-scaled viper) produces potent hemorrhagic venom that causes the development of apoptotic and necrotic tissues. In this study, we used polyethyleneimine (PEI) to enhance cellular adherence, and to determine whether the substrate attachment influenced the survival of cells treated with crude E. carinatus venom. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells were grown for 18hr in tissue culture plates with or without polyethyleneimine (PEI), and were then stimulated with crude E. carinatus venom for 3 or 12hr. HEK 293T cells grown without PEI displayed a robust oxidative response to corresponding substrate detachment, loss of plasma membrane integrity and decreased cell viability. Cells grown on PEI adsorbed substrates demonstrated prolonged substrate attachment resulting in significantly higher cell viabilities. These observations suggest that the cytotoxicity of crude E. carinatus venom is dependent upon cellular detachment.
Keywords
  • Anoikis,
  • Echis carinatus,
  • polyethlyeneimine,
  • apoptosis,
  • cytotoxcity
Disciplines
Publication Date
2011
Citation Information
Rebecca D. Pierce, Ethan S. Kim, Lance W. Girton, Jonathan McMurry, et al.. "Characterization of crude Echis carinatus venom-induced cytotoxicity in HEK 293T cells" Journal of Venom Research Vol. 2 (2011) p. 59 - 67 ISSN: 2044-0324
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jonathan_mcmurry/64/