Summary
Thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction occur in patients bitten by Bothrops sp snakes in Latin America. An experimental model was developed in mice to study
the effects of B. asper venom in platelet numbers and function. Intravenous administration of this venom
induces rapid and prominent thrombocytopenia and ex vivo platelet hypoaggregation. The drop in platelet numbers was primarily due to aspercetin,
a protein of the C-type lectin family which induces von Willebrand factor-mediated
platelet aggregation/agglutination. In addition, the effect of class P-III hemorrhagic
metalloproteinases on the microvessel wall also contributes to thrombocytopenia since
jararhagin, a P-III metalloproteinase, reduced platelet counts. Hypoaggregation was
associated with the action of procoagulant and defibrin(ogen)ating proteinases jararacussin-I
(a thrombin-like serine proteinase) and basparin A (a prothrombin activating metalloproteinase).
At the doses which induced hypoaggregation, these enzymes caused defibrin(ogen)ation,
increments in fibrin(ogen) degradation products and D-dimer and prolongation of the
bleeding time. Incubation of B. asper venom with batimastat and α2-macroglobulin abrogated the hypoaggregating activity, confirming the role of venom
proteinases in this effect. Neither aspercetin nor the defibrin(ogen)ating and hypoaggregating
components induced hemorrhage upon intravenous injection. However, aspercetin, but
not the thrombin-like or the prothrombin-activating proteinases, potentiated the hemorrhagic
activity of two hemorrhagic metalloproteinases in the lungs.
Keywords
Snake venom - coagulopathy - defibrin(ogen)ation - thrombocytopenia - hypoaggregation