Age-Related Changes in Inflammatory Response after Experimental Envenomation: Impact on the Susceptibility to Androctonus australis hector Venom.
In regions at risk of scorpion envenomation, children remain the principal victims; they exhibit severe symptoms and represent a higher mortality rate compared to adults. The pathophysiology of envenomation is related to an excessive inflammatory response; however, no studies have identified the differences in immune responses to scorpion stings and mainly the mechanisms of inflammation between children and adults, which may be a determinant key of the susceptibility of children to scorpion envenomation. In this study, we compared the systemic (blood and lung) and the central (brain) inflammatory responses after injection of Androctonus australis hector (Aah) venom to 7 and 21 postnatal days (pnds) and adult mice by subcutaneous route. Results revealed that 7 and 21 pnd mice were more sensitive to Aah venom than adults and presented also severe systemic and central inflammatory responses characterized by a high activation of immune cells, NO liberation, and lipid peroxidation. Lymphocyte levels were much lower in young animals than in adults; however, neutrophil levels seemed to be higher in immature mice. The antioxidant GSH and catalase levels were more reduced in 7 and 21 pnd mice compared to adults leading to more pronounced tissular alterations and edema formation in lung and brain. These findings show a relationship between the severity of the pathophysiological effects of Aah venom and the age. The vulnerability of immature animals to Aah venom might result from uncontrolled inflammatory response and central nervous system alterations. Data from the present study emphasize the need for the development of age-specific therapeutic modalities.
['Haddad-Ishak-Boushaki|Wassila|W|', 'Laraba-Djebari|Fatima|F|']
D000367:Age Factors D000818:Animals D002490:Central Nervous System D004198:Disease Susceptibility D006801:Humans D007249:Inflammation D008168:Lung D051379:Mice D065008:Scorpion Stings D012604:Scorpion Venoms
Androctonus australis hector age immune system maturation inflamatory response scorpion venom