Efeito antiinflamatório e antinociceptivo da lectina de sementes de Canavalia boliviana Piper: mecanismos e mediadores envolvidos

Abstract

Lectins are non-immune (glyco)proteins that can recognize and reversibly bind to carbohydrates or other substances derived from sugars. The lectin from seeds of Canavalia boliviana Piper (CboL) is a protein of aproximately ± 100 KDa with a binding specificity to D-Glucose. The aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinoceptive activity of lectin from Canavalia boliviana seeds. To this end, we used Swiss mice (25-35g) and Wistar rats (150-220g). In the study of anti-inflammatory activity, CboL (1, 5 and 10 mg / kg, and i.v. 15 minutes) reduced vascular permeability and inhibited the migration of neutrophils (rolling and adhesion) to the peritoneal cavity of animals stimulated with carrageenan (Cg), and this effect seems to be related to the reduction of the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). Co-administration of CboL with D-glucose (sugar ligand) reversed its anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting involvement of the lectin site in this activity. CboL heated at 100°C for 10 minutes inhibited the anti-inflammatory effect, indicating the importance of the reported biological structure activity. The lectin did not induce the production of nitric oxide in serum. What is more, in relation to anti-inflammatory activity, CboL was able to inhibit the migration of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity of immunized animals and when stimulated with ovoalbumin (OVA), the same lectin was effective in inhibiting the migration of neutrophils in vitro stimulated by MIP-2, thus demonstrating a direct role of CboL inhibition in migration. In the study of antinociceptive activity, CbolL (1, 5 and 10 mg / kg, i.v.; 15 minutes) reduced the writhing induced by acetic acid and decreased the first and second phase of the formalin test, showing activity on pain and neurogenic inflammation. In the hot plate test, CboL had no effect involving opioid receptors, wich was confirmed by modulation with naloxone. To assess the hypernociception, esthesiometer mechanic was used. Thus CboL (1, 5 and 10 mg / kg, i.v.; 15 minutes) inhibited the induced mechanical hypernociception intraplantar administration of Cg, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and OVA (immunized animals). This effect correlated to the blockade of the influx of neutrophils, suggested by the decreased activity of myeloperoxidase in the legs of animals pretreated with CboL (5 mg / kg, and v, 15 minutes) and stimulated by Cg and OVA. This anti-hipernociception did not seem to be involved in the reduction of local concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β or increase in IL-10 since CboL (5 mg / kg, i.v.; 15 minutes) did not reduce levels in these mediators in the paw tissue of animals stimulated with Cg. CboL was also able to establish itself in the model hypernociceptive effect. The intra-cerebro-ventricular CboL (10, 30 and 100 µg) proved effective in inhibiting the hypernociception induced by Cg, confirming once again the effect of opioid receptors by modulation with naloxone. Regarding the effects caused by central activity, CboL (1, 5 and 10 mg / kg) did not alter the locomotor and motor activity in animals. The subchronic toxicity was evaluated by treating mice with CboL (5 mg / kg, i.v.) for 14 consecutive days for several parameters of kidney function (blood urea nitrogen) and liver (evaluation of the kinetics of aspartate transaminase and alanine amino transaminase), heart, stomach (evaluation of possible injuries), body weight and leukogram. The results did not show any change in the parameters evaluated, demonstrating that the CboL did not show any toxicity in animals. Therefore, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive CboL is associated with inhibition of neutrophil migration, which probably reflects the inhibition of the release of TNF- α and IL-1β and increased IL-10, and that there is involvement of PGE2 via antigen. The effect seems to occur via the central opioid system.