Hemolinfa bruta e frações de Lonomia obliqua Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae : avaliação do perfil proteico e viabilidade celular em cultura hipocampal primária de ratos Wistar

Abstract

Increased life expectancy and the decline in births results in aging population, with increasing of neurodegenerative diseases incidence. The therapeutic is limited, often only palliative, with low or no prospect damage reversal. Study of substances with potentially neuroprotective has been the focus of research. Toxic proteins of Lonomia obliqua caterpillars, which have caused several accidents in southern Brazil, were identified in the hemolymph with anti-apoptotic activity. This protein had demonstrated the maintaining of high electric potential of mitochondrial membrane, preventing cell death by apoptosis mechanism. This study aims the evaluation of the protein profile and effect of hemolymph and fraction on cell viability of rats primary cultured hippocampal neurons after induction of apoptosis. Semi-quantitative shotgun proteomics approach was used to evaluate the protein profile of 3 lots of different origin, 71 in hemolymph and 40 in fractions, in a total of 76 proteins. Antiviral protein predominated in crude extract of hemolymph, following by serine proteases, hemolines and protease inhibitors. In fractions were identified hemolines, serine proteases and protease inhibitors. No statistics differences were found (p<0.05) in the cell viability induced of oxidative damage, which were treated with hemolymph or fractions. However, the treatment with the fraction at concentration of 0.05 and 0.1% (v/v) for 24 hours, was able to maintain cell viability significantly higher than positive control (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). These results may contribute to the identification of proteins with potential use as neuroprotective in degenerative conditions.