A mouse model to study the alterations in haemostatic and inflammatory parameters induced by Lonomia achelous caterpillar haemolymph

• Published in: Toxicon (Oxford) Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 547 - 554
• Main Authors: Barrios, M., Taylor, P., Rodríguez-Acosta, A., Sánchez, E.E., Arocha-Piñango, C.L., Gil, A., Salazar, A.M., Carvajal, Z., Abad, M.J., Guerrero, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: animal models; Animal poisons toxicology. Antivenoms; Animals; Arthropod Venoms - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; blood platelet count; blood serum; fibrinogen; Fibrinogen - analysis; Haemorrhagic syndrome; Haemostasis; hemoglobin; Hemolymph; Hemostasis - drug effects; humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - etiology; leukocyte count; Lonomia achelous; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Animal; Moths; Nitric oxide; plasminogen; TNF; Toxicology; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; NO; Haemorrhagic syndrome; Inflammation; Lonomia achelous; Haemostasis; IL-1, IL-6 e IL-8; TNF; LAH; TNF-α; FXIII; LA; Nitric oxide; PAI-1; u-PA; t-PA; Saturniidae; Toxicity; Insecta; Rodentia; Animal origin; Hemorrhage; Syndrome; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Hemostasis; Arthropoda; Animal; Lepidoptera; Parameter; Models; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0041-0101; 1879-3150
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.01.003

A mouse model was established to reproduce the haemorrhagic syndrome which occurs in humans after accidental contact with the hairs of the caterpillar Lonomia achelous (LA) and measures the haemostatic and inflammatory alterations that occur as a result of this contact. Mice were injected intradermally with different doses (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/animal) of L. achelous haemolymph (LAH). Haematological (haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelet count, differential leukocyte count), haemostatic (fibrinogen, plasminogen, factor XIII [FXIII], fibrinolytic activity) and inflammatory parameters (tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], nitric oxide [NO]) were measured at different times up to 48 h. C57BL/6 mice responded to LAH injection, in terms of these parameters, in a manner similar to that seen in humans, whereas the BALB/c mice were unresponsive. In C57BL/6 mice injected with LAH, time course measurements showed: a) a reduction in the haemoglobin, haematocrit, fibrinogen, FXIII and plasminogen levels, b) no effect on the platelet count and c) immediate leukocytosis and an increase in the fibrinolytic activity in plasma. An inflammatory response (TNF-α) was observed within 1 h post-injection, followed by a more persistent increase in serum NO. These findings suggest that C57BL/6 mice represent a useful model of the haemorrhagic syndrome observed in humans who have suffered contact with the caterpillar, permitting a deeper understanding of the role of the inflammatory response in the haematological and haemostatic manifestations of this syndrome.
► A mouse model repeating the haemorrhagic syndrome in humans with caterpillar Lonomia achelous. ► A reduction in haemoglobin, haematocrit, fibrinogen, FXIII and plasminogen levels was observed. ► The toxins do not affect platelet count. ► Immediate leukocytosis and increase in the fibrinolytic activity in plasma was seen.