Document Detail


Immunological and toxinological responses to jellyfish stings.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21824077     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Just over a century ago, animal responses to injections of jellyfish extracts unveiled the phenomenon of anaphylaxis. Yet, until very recently, understanding of jellyfish sting toxicity has remained limited. Upon contact, jellyfish stinging cells discharge complex venoms, through thousands of barbed tubules, into the skin resulting in painful and, potentially, lethal envenomations. This review examines the immunological and toxinological responses to stings by prominent species of jellyfish including Physalia sp (Portuguese Man-o-War, Blue-bottle), Cubozoan jellyfish including Chironex fleckeri, several Carybdeids including Carybdea arborifera and Alatina moseri, Linuche unguiculta (Thimble jellyfish), a jellyfish responsible for Irukandji syndrome (Carukia barnesi) and Pelagia noctiluca. Jellyfish venoms are composed of potent proteinaceous porins (cellular membrane pore-forming toxins), neurotoxic peptides, bioactive lipids and other small molecules whilst the tubules contain ancient collagens and chitins. We postulate that immunologically, both tubular structural and functional biopolymers as well as venom components can initiate innate, adaptive, as well as immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions that may be amenable to topical anti-inflammatory-immunomodifier therapy. The current challenge for immunotoxinologists is to deconstruct the actions of venom components to target therapeutic modalities for sting treatment.
Authors:
James Tibballs; Angel A Yanagihara; Helen C Turner; Ken Winkel
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Inflammation & allergy drug targets     Volume:  10     ISSN:  2212-4055     ISO Abbreviation:  Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets     Publication Date:  2011 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-08-23     Completed Date:  2011-12-22     Revised Date:  2012-03-13    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101266886     Medline TA:  Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets     Country:  United Arab Emirates    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  438-46     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Australia. james.tibballs@rch.org.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptive Immunity
Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Antivenins / therapeutic use*
Bites and Stings / immunology*,  physiopathology,  therapy*
Cnidarian Venoms / immunology*
Cubozoa
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunity, Innate
Immunomodulation
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Neurotoxins / immunology,  metabolism
Porins / immunology,  metabolism
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1 R21 DA024444-01/DA/NIDA NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Inflammatory Agents; 0/Antivenins; 0/Cnidarian Venoms; 0/Neurotoxins; 0/Porins

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