Lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids are involved in the inhibitory effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom or crotoxin on rat macrophage phagocytosis

Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom and its major toxin, crotoxin or type II PLA 2 subunit of this toxin, induce an inhibitory effect on spreading and phagocytosis in 2 h incubated macrophages. The involvement of arachidonate-derived mediators on the inhibitory action of the venom or toxins on rat peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis was presently investigated. Peritoneal cells harvested from naive rats and incubated with the venom or toxins or harvested from the peritoneal cavity of rats pre-treated with the toxins were used. Zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor but not indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, given in vivo and in vitro abolished the inhibitory effect of venom or toxins on phagocytosis. Resident peritoneal macrophages incubated with the venom or toxins showed increased levels of prostaglandin E 2 and lipoxin A 4, with no change in leukotriene B 4. These results suggest that lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids are involved in the inhibitory effect of C.d. terrificus venom, crotoxin or PLA 2 on macrophage phagocytosis.