Page 10 - PR 2014 2016 04 Biotechnology

96 Biotechnology | Progress Report

Cancer cellular and in a wide range of biological processes; for ex-
molecular biology ample, in regulating the cell cycle, cell growth

and differentiation, affect the haemostatic
The renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for system, antigen processing and angiogenesis.
approximately 2-3% of human malignancies In addition, it is becoming apparent that the
and, among urologic tumors, it is the most aberrant functioning of certain proteases
aggressive. Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) is the most may be involved in several disease states,
frequent RCC histological subtype, which is including Alzheimer’s disease, in cancer me-
characterized by frequent inactivation of the tastasis and in inflammation (over-reactive
VHL gene. This mutation confers chemore- inflammatory reactions in CNS often cause
sistance and radioresistance, making ccRCC irreversible neuronal damage).Other fields of
one of the most difficult metastatic cancers investigation include the isolation and char-
to treat. Our group has been investigating acterization of snake venom peptides with
molecular therapeutic targets, biomarkers antimicrobial activity, structurally related to
and also, mechanisms of radioresistance of beta-defensins. In the field of antivenoms, a
ccRCC. novel anti-coral snake venom formulation,
based on Australian venoms produced very
Biological screening of promising results, with the new formulation

snake venoms and toxins being much more effective than the currently
available antivenom produced in Brazil.
Snake venoms are an extremely rich source
of biologically active substances modulating Biological evaluation of
several aspects of the regulation of homeosta- new products for health
sis. The investigation of potential new drugs
in biological samples has been a major field This activity is mainly based on the biological
of research in many laboratories. This activity evaluation of substances and biomaterials
has focused part of its efforts in screening and performing in vitro and in vivo tests. These
isolating toxins with potential therapeutic tests are carried out in compliance with the
uses. Amongst those, toxins from the Brazilian rules of ISO-10.993 and some other interna-
rattlesnake which seem to be involved in the tional directives. Such tests include: cytotox-
down regulation of the sodium/potassium icity, genotoxicity, hemocompatibility etc.
pump have been investigated. Such molecules and some others tests of systemic toxicity
have a potential for further understanding and implants. Synthesis of polymeric bio-
the fine physiology of many cell types and materials was also done, resulting in three
for guiding the rationale design of cellular patents submitted to INPI in 2007. A bioma-
metabolism modulators. Also, toxins with terial can be defined as a substance (with
modulatory activity on the blood clotting the exception of drugs) or a combination
system (Snake Venom Serine Protease - SVSP) of substances (either synthetic or natural),
are under investigation. Such toxins might be employed in the treatment, improvement or
employed for the treatment of coagulation substitution of organism tissues, organs or
disorders and as auxiliary drugs in major sur- function. Since interaction with the biological
geries where unexpected activation of the system is involved, biocompatibility implies
blood clotting cascade could put the patient the capability of the material to exhibit in the
at risk. These proteases are also key players host the appropriate functional and “biomi-

Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares