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Cardiotoxin‐I: An Unexpectedly Potent Insulinotropic Agent
Author(s) -
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung,
Folch Benjamin,
Létourneau Myriam,
Vaudry David,
Truong Nam Hai,
Doucet Nicolas,
Chatenet David,
Fournier Alain
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.201200081
Subject(s) - cardiotoxin , secretion , insulin , hemolysis , viability assay , snake venom , biology , pharmacology , chemistry , venom , biochemistry , cell , endocrinology , immunology
Abstract Insulin secretion from pancreatic β‐cells is a complex process, involving the integration and interaction of multiple external and internal stimuli, in which glucose plays a major role. Understanding the physiology leading to insulin release is a crucial step toward the identification of new targets. In this study, we evaluated the presence of insulinotropic metabolites in Naja kaouthia snake venom. Only one fraction, identified as cardiotoxin‐I (CTX‐I) was able to induce insulin secretion from INS‐1E cells without affecting cell viability and integrity, as assessed by MTT and LDH assays. Interestingly, CTX‐I was also able to stimulate insulin secretion from INS‐1E cells even in the absence of glucose. Although cardiotoxins have been characterized as potent hemolytic agents and vasoconstrictors, CTX‐I was unable to induce direct hemolysis of human erythrocytes or to induce potent vasoconstriction. As such, this newly identified insulin‐releasing toxin will surely enrich the pool of existing tools to study β‐cell physiology or even open a new therapeutic avenue.