Chitosan-Coated Scorpion Venom Ameliorates Acute Lung Injury Caused by Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Nosocomial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria result in significant economic costs and human health issues, including acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the scorpion venom in countering lung injury induced by bacterial sepsis. Androctonus crassicauda (Acra) scorpion venom was fractionated using HPLC and tested against bacteria. The anti-bacterial fraction obtained at 36th min (AcraX) was used to generate chitosan-coated particles. Following induction of sepsis in rats, they were administered venom on the sixth hour and sacrificed at 24 h. Lung tissues were used for histopathological analyses and after homogenization, for cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) measurements by ELISA. Immunohistochemical examinations were performed in terms of extracellular matrix and fibrosis using anti-MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibodies. Among the bacterial strains used in our research for the antibacterial effect of AcraX (S.aureus, K.pneumoniae, A.baumannii, and P.aeruginosa), positive results were obtained only against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The regenerative effect of the venom against lesions developed in tissue and HeLa cell line was also observed. 100% vitality was achieved in the HeLa cell line exposed to the venom. This was also observed histologically via changes in the alveolar septa in lung tissue sections and a decrease in areas of inflammation and the hyaline membrane structure in the sepsis group. In conclusion, Acra venom acts as an efficient anti-inflammatory agent against K. pneumoniae induced pneumoniae.