Acute and repeated dose toxicity studies of recombinant saxatilin, a disintegrin from the Korean snake (Gloydius saxatilis).

To examine the toxicological effect of saxatilin, a disintegrin isolated from the venom of a Korean snake (Gloydius saxatilis), recombinant saxatilin was highly expressed as a biologically active form in Pichia pastoris, and was successfully purified to homogeneity from the culture broth supernatant. The molecular and biological properties of the recombinant protein were the same as those of its natural form. Plasma half-life of the protein in rat was determined to 13.8 min. The maximum tolerated dose of the recombinant saxatilin was examined in ICR mice. The determined LD(50) values were 400 and 600 mg/kg of the body weight of a male and female mouse, respectively. To investigate the repeated dose toxicity of saxatilin in mice, the test item was intravenously administered to groups of ICR mice every day for 4 weeks. We observed a decrease in locomotor activity, piloerection, and crouching in clinical findings, a decrease of red blood cells (RBCs) in hematology, and hyperplasia of the spleen in histology related to administration of the test item. These results suggest that the target organ of intravenous administration of the test item is the spleen. The no adverse effect level (NOAEL) in this test for both males and females is considered to be 3mg/kg. Our results also indicate that recombinant saxatilin is non-toxic at an administration dose with an anti-platelet effect, and might be a potential anti-adhesion therapeutic agent for thrombosis, cancer, restenosis, cataract, and osteoporosis.