Description
Sarafotoxin 6C (S6C) is an isoform of a toxin found in the venom of Atractaspis engaddensis snakes. S6C acts as a peptide agonist at endothelin B (ET-B) receptors and exhibits anti-arrhythmic and cardiomodulatory activities. S6C can be vasodilatory, vasoconstrictive, cardiotoxic, or cardioprotective depending on the model being studied. When administered as a pretreatment prior to cerebral occlusion in animal models of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion, S6C induces NO release and activates mitoK(ATP) K+ channels, decreasing infarct size and arrhythmia occurrence and increasing overall survival rates. S6C also increases levels of superoxide anions in sympathetic ganglia and induces hypertension in some animal models. In vitro, S6C delays suicidal erythrocyte death, and in contracted aortic and vena cava rings, it induces relaxation.
References
Li J, Cao YX, Liu Y, et al. Minimally modified LDL upregulates endothelin type B receptors in rat basilar artery. Microvasc Res. 2012 Mar;83(2):178-84. PMID: 22198335.
Föller M, Mahmud H, Qadri SM, et al. Endothelin B receptor stimulation inhibits suicidal erythrocyte death. FASEB J. 2010 Sep;24(9):3351-9. PMID: 20427706.
Tykocki NR, Gariepy CE, Watts SW. Endothelin ET(B) receptors in arteries and veins: multiple actions in the vein. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009 Jun;329(3):875-81. PMID: 19297422.
Li M, Dai X, Watts S, et al. Increased superoxide levels in ganglia and sympathoexcitation are involved in sarafotoxin 6c-induced hypertension. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 Nov;295(5):R1546-54. PMID: 18768769.
Das B, Sarkar C, Shankar PR. Pretreatment with sarafotoxin 6c prior to coronary occlusion protects against infarction and arrhythmias via cardiomyocyte mitochondrial K(ATP) channel activation in the intact rabbit heart during ischemia/reperfusion. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2007 Aug;21(4):243-51. PMID: 17520332.
