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Lung Immunoreactivity and Airway Inflammation: Their Assessment After Scorpion Envenomation

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Abstract

Release and activation of pro-inflammatory mediators are among the most important induced factors that are involved in the scorpion envenomation pathogenesis. Inflammatory response and lung reactivity were studied in mice following subcutaneous injection with Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venom. Venom immunodetection in lungs and sequestered cell population in the airways were determined. Cytokines, cellular peroxidase activities (eosinophil peroxidase, myeloperoxydase), and IgE antibodies were also assessed. Immunohistochemical study revealed a positive detection of the Aah venom in the alveolar wall, venule lumens, and inside inflammatory cells. Severe lung edema associated with rapid inflammatory response was observed after animal envenomation. Lung neutrophilia and eosinophilia were accompanied with IL-4, IL-5 release, and IgE synthesis. In conclusion, high cytokine levels, recruitment of inflammatory cells (eosinophils and neutrophils), and increased IgE concentration may contribute to the exacerbation and maintenance of the induced inflammatory response in lungs by scorpion venom. These results lead to the better understanding of this induced pathogenesis and could help the physicians to take care of envenomed patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumédienne, BP 32, El-Alia Bab Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    Sonia Adi-Bessalem, Amina Mendil, Djelila Hammoudi-Triki & Fatima Laraba-Djebari

  2. Laboratoire de Recherche et de Développement sur les Venins, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Route du Petit Staouéli, Dely Brahim, Algiers, Algeria

    Sonia Adi-Bessalem, Amina Mendil, Djelila Hammoudi-Triki & Fatima Laraba-Djebari

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  1. Sonia Adi-Bessalem
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  2. Amina Mendil
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  3. Djelila Hammoudi-Triki
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  4. Fatima Laraba-Djebari
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Correspondence to Fatima Laraba-Djebari.

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Adi-Bessalem, S., Mendil, A., Hammoudi-Triki, D. et al. Lung Immunoreactivity and Airway Inflammation: Their Assessment After Scorpion Envenomation. Inflammation 35, 501–508 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-011-9338-0

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