AUTHOR=Pucca Manuela B. , Ahmadi Shirin , Cerni Felipe A. , Ledsgaard Line , Sørensen Christoffer V. , McGeoghan Farrell T. S. , Stewart Trenton , Schoof Erwin , Lomonte Bruno , auf dem Keller Ulrich , Arantes Eliane C. , Çalışkan Figen , Laustsen Andreas H. 

TITLE=Unity Makes Strength: Exploring Intraspecies and Interspecies Toxin Synergism between Phospholipases A2 and Cytotoxins

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00611

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.00611

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Toxin synergism is a complex biochemical phenomenon, where different animal venom proteins interact either directly or indirectly to potentiate toxicity to a level that is above the sum of the toxicities of the individual toxins. This provides the animals possessing venoms with synergistically enhanced toxicity with a metabolic advantage, since less venom is needed to inflict potent toxic effects in prey and predators. Among the toxins that are known for interacting synergistically are cytotoxins from snake venoms, phospholipases A<sub>2</sub> from snake and bee venoms, and melittin from bee venom. These toxins may derive a synergistically enhanced toxicity <italic>via</italic> formation of toxin complexes by hetero-oligomerization. Using a human keratinocyte assay mimicking human epidermis <italic>in vitro</italic>, we demonstrate and quantify the level of synergistically enhanced toxicity for 12 cytotoxin/melittin-PLA<sub>2</sub> combinations using toxins from elapids, vipers, and bees. Moreover, by utilizing an interaction-based assay and by including a wealth of information obtained <italic>via</italic> a thorough literature review, we speculate and propose a mechanistic model for how toxin synergism in relation to cytotoxicity may be mediated by cytotoxin/melittin and PLA<sub>2</sub> complex formation.</p>