Prolonged cardiac xenograft survival in guinea pig-to-rat model by a highly active cobra venom factor

Toxicon. 2003 Sep;42(3):257-62. doi: 10.1016/s0041-0101(03)00140-5.

Abstract

A highly active cobra venom factor (CVF) was isolated from the venom of Naja kaouthia by sequential column chromatography. It displays strong anticomplementary activity, and has 1515 U of anticomplementary activity per mg protein. A single dose of 0.1 mg/kg CVF given i.v. to rats completely abrogated complement activity for nearly 5 days. Given 0.02 mg/kg of CVF, the complement activity of rats was reduced by more than 96.5% in 6 h. In guinea pig-to-rat heart transplant model, rats treated with a single dose of 0.05 mg/kg CVF had significantly prolonged xenograft survival (56.12+/-6.27 h in CVF-treated rats vs. 0.19+/-0.07 h in control rats, P<0.001).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Factors / isolation & purification
  • Biological Factors / pharmacology
  • Complement Inactivator Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Complement Inactivator Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Elapid Venoms / chemistry
  • Elapid Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Graft Survival / drug effects*
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Heart Transplantation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / physiology*

Substances

  • Biological Factors
  • Complement Inactivator Proteins
  • Elapid Venoms