Crotamine is a low-molecular-weight cationic polypeptide isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, classified as a non-enzymatic toxin with distinctive structural and functional properties. This toxin also exhibits characteristics of a cell-penetrating peptide, owing to its ability to translocate across biological membranes in a largely non-specific manner and to deliver diverse molecular cargos into cells. Beyond its well-established internalization capacity, emerging evidence suggests that crotamine exerts immunomodulatory effects. In our mini review, we discuss current advances in understanding crotamine as a venom-derived immunomodulatory peptide, highlighting its structural similarities with host defense peptides, its interactions with immune cells, and its potential applications in immunotherapy and drug delivery.
Increasing importance of patient-generated real-world data for healthcare policy decisions about medicinal products: Volume III Real-world data (RWD) and the real-world evidence (RWE) derived from it have moved from the margins to the centre of decision-making about medicinal pro…
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are major public health issues, with a significant negative impact on the health system and the economy. Unfortunately, only a handful of pharmacotherapeutic agents are available to treat patients with AUD. Notably, these medications have limited effic…
The expression of certain genes and proteins in brain tumors, particularly gliomas, presents potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. One of such genes encodes the protein PINK1 (PTEN-induced Kinase 1), which has been primarily studied due to its mutations being linked to Pa…
Background Conventional dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) comprises aspirin and a P2Y 12 inhibitor. However, aspirin increases gastrointestinal and bleeding risks. Indobufen, a reversible COX-1 inhibitor, may offer a safer alternative.…
Background Matrine and oxymatrine are bioactive alkaloids from Sophora species with reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their overall efficacy has not been systematically evaluated. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, We…
Background The optimal vasopressor-escalation strategy after norepinephrine in septic shock remains uncertain, with randomized trials showing no clear winner and observational data suggesting severity-dependent effects. We characterized severity-stratified heterogeneity for addin…