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Abstract

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-met pathway, which mainly consists of HGF activator (HGFA) and its substrate HGF, protects various types of cells via anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory signals. Thrombin is the main physiological activator of such plasmatic pathway, and increased plasma concentrations of HGF have been considered as a molecular marker for some pathological conditions, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation. Since thrombin generation is often linked to tissue injury, and these events are common during snake venom-induced consumption coagulopathies (VICC), our goals were to examine whether Bothrops jararaca venom (Bjv), which induces VICC in vivo: (i) activates the HGF/c-met pathway in vivo and (ii) cleaves zymogen forms of HGFA and HGF (proHGFA and proHGF, respectively) in vitro. Two experimental groups (n = 6, each) of male adult Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with 500 μL of 0.9% NaCl solution (control) or sub-lethal doses (1.6 mg/kg) of Bjv. Three hours after envenomation, whole blood samples were collected from the carotid arteries to evaluate relevant coagulation parameters using rotational thromboelastometry and fibrinogen level (colorimetric assay). Additionally, the plasma concentration of HGF was assayed (ELISA). Thromboelastometric assays showed that blood clotting and fibrin polymerization were severely impaired 3 h after Bjv injection. Total plasma HGF concentrations were almost 6-fold higher in the Bjv-injected group (410.0 ± 91) compared with control values (68 ± 18 pg/mL, p < 0.05). Western blotting assay showed that Bjv processed proHGFA and proHGF, generating bands resembling those generated by thrombin and kallikrein, respectively. In contrast to the serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride (AEBSF), the metalloprotease inhibitor ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na₂-EDTA) strongly reduced the ability of Bjv to process proHGFA and generated one active band similar to that of thrombin. Since Bjv contains prothrombin and factor X activators, increased intravascular thrombin formation might partly explain the increased HGF levels after bothropic envenomation. In conclusion, these findings suggest that snake venom metalloproteases may be determinant for elevation of plasma levels of HGF in rats experimentally envenomated with Bjv.