Martentoxin, a large-conductance Ca^(2+)-activated K^+ channel inhibitor, attenuated TNF-α-induced nitric oxide release by human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Martentoxin, a 4,046 Da polypeptide toxin purified from the venom of the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch, has been demonstrated to block large-conductance Ca2＋-activated K＋ （BKca） channels; however, its biological roles are still largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological effects of martentoxin on regulating the production of nitric oxide induced by TNF-a in human umbilical vein endothelial cells （HU- VECs）. We found that, 1, 10 and 100 ~tmol/L martentoxin decreased nitric oxide production by HUVECs ex- posed to 10 ng/mL TNF for 6, 12 and 24 hours. We further demonstrated that martentoxin inhibited the activity of iNOS and retarded the down-regulation of eNOS mRNA induced by TNF-a. Therefore, martentoxin could be a potential therapeutic agent for vascular diseases.

Martentoxin:一种大电导钙激活钾离子通道的独有配体(英文)

大电导钙激活钾离子(BK)通道广泛分布于可兴奋细胞与非兴奋细胞中,行使着一系列重要的生理功能。以源于蝎粗毒的高亲和性毒素作为研究工具,使BK通道的药理学和结构性质正逐步被揭示。Martentoxin是一种分离提取自东亚短钳蝎(Buthus martensi Karsch)粗毒的短链多肽,由37个氨基酸残基构成。研究表明,其对BK通道的特异性远高于其它各类型的电压门控钾通道(Kv)。迄今为止,由于用以探明BK通道亚型结构与功能及相关病理的特异性药物工具仍然稀缺,因此阐明martentoxin与BK通道间的相互作用模式就显得至关重要了。鉴于此原因,本综述将针对martentoxin的药理性质和其与BK通道相互作用的分子机制做进一步阐明。

Martentoxin对TNF-α引起脐静脉内皮细胞释放一氧化氮的影响

目的:研究东亚钳蝎毒素Martentoxin对脐静脉内皮细胞释放NO的影响。方法:人脐带经胶原酶消化分离后获得脐静脉内皮细胞,经抗血管性血友病8因子鉴定后,用TNF-α建立NO释放模型,观察Martentoxin对脐静脉内皮细胞释放NO的影响。结果:①经6,12,24h作用后,10μM、100μM Martentoxin能降低TNF-α引起的NO释放增加(P<0.05)。②Martentoxin降低TNF-α引起的iNOS活性增强并对TNF-α引起的内皮源性一氧化氮合酶mRNA下调具有一定保护作用(P<0.05)。结论:Martentoxin抑制TNF-α引起的脐静脉内皮细胞释放NO增加。