RESUMO
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, relentless, and deadly disease. Little is known about its pathogenetic mechanisms; therefore, developing efficient pharmacological therapies is challenging. This work aimed to apply a therapeutic alternative using immunomodulatory peptides in a chronic pulmonary fibrosis murine model. BALB/c mice were intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (BLM) and followed for 30 days. The mice were treated with the immune modulatory peptides ToAP3 and ToAP4 every three days, starting on the 5th day post-BLM instillation. ELISA, qPCR, morphology, and respiratory function analyses were performed. The treatment with both peptides delayed the inflammatory process observed in the non-treated group, which showed a fibrotic process with alterations in the production of collagen I, III, and IV that were associated with significant alterations in their ventilatory mechanics. The ToAP3 and ToAP4 treatments, by lung gene modulation patterns, indicated that distinct mechanisms determine the action of peptides. Both peptides controlled the experimental IPF, maintaining the tissue characteristics and standard function properties and regulating fibrotic-associated cytokine production. Data obtained in this work show that the immune response regulation by ToAP3 and ToAP4 can control the alterations that cause the fibrotic process after BLM instillation, making both peptides potential therapeutic alternatives and/or adjuvants for IPF.
Assuntos
Fibrose Pulmonar Idiopática , Pulmão , Camundongos , Animais , Pulmão/patologia , Fibrose Pulmonar Idiopática/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrose Pulmonar Idiopática/patologia , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Peptídeos/uso terapêutico , Bleomicina , Colágeno Tipo I , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BLRESUMO
Systemic therapy is generally required for breast cancer. However, treatment toxicity and side effects are a concern, especially for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype that usually develops resistance to chemotherapy. To overcome this issue, new nanoformulations capable of targeting cancer cells have been developed and alternative biomarkers have been explored as target molecules for TNBC management. In this study, we performed anin vivoassay in a murine orthotopic TNBC model to evaluate the targeting ability of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (anti-CEA) loaded nanoparticles (labelled MFCEA), which had been previously synthetized by our research group. 4T1 cells were injected in the mammary gland of balb-c mice, and tumors were evaluated for CEA expression by immunohistochemistry. Tumor-bearing mice received targeted (MFCEA) and non-targeted (MF) nanoparticles intraperitoneally. Tumors were removed 1, 4, 15 and 24 h after treatment, and Prussian blue iron staining was performed. Our results showed, as far as we know for the first time, that 4T1 induced tumors are CEA positive, and this opens up new prospects for treating TNBC. Furthermore, MFCEA nanoparticles were able to target malignant tissue and were retained in the tumor for longer than MF nanoparticles. The retention property of MFCEA, together with the absence of toxicity observed in the MTT assay, make these nanoparticles a promising device for management of CEA positive tumors and perhaps for TNBC. Nevertheless, further studies must be carried out to improve their performance and ensure safety for clinical studies.
Assuntos
Nanopartículas , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas , Animais , Antígeno Carcinoembrionário/uso terapêutico , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Ferro , Camundongos , Nanopartículas/química , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/metabolismo , Neoplasias de Mama Triplo Negativas/patologiaRESUMO
The ST2 receptor is a member of the Toll/IL-1R superfamily and interleukin-33 (IL-33) is its agonist. Recently, it has been demonstrated that IL-33/ST2 axis plays key roles in inflammation and immune mediated diseases. Here, we investigated the effect of ST2 deficiency in Staphylococcus aureus-induced septic arthritis physiopathology. Synovial fluid samples from septic arthritis and osteoarthritis individuals were assessed regarding IL-33 and soluble (s) ST2 levels. The IL-33 levels in samples from synovial fluid were significantly increased, whereas no sST2 levels were detected in patients with septic arthritis when compared with osteoarthritis individuals. The intra-articular injection of 1 × 107 colony-forming unity/10 µl of S. aureus American Type Culture Collection 6538 in wild-type (WT) mice induced IL-33 and sST2 production with a profile resembling the observation in the synovial fluid of septic arthritis patients. Data using WT, and ST2 deficient (-/-) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-/- mice showed that ST2 deficiency shifts the immune balance toward a type 1 immune response that contributes to eliminating the infection due to enhanced microbicide effect via NO production by neutrophils and macrophages. In fact, the treatment of ST2-/- bone marrow-derived macrophage cells with anti-IFN-γ abrogates the beneficial phenotype in the absence of ST2, which confirms that ST2 deficiency leads to IFN-γ expression and boosts the bacterial killing activity of macrophages against S. aureus. In agreement, WT cells achieved similar immune response to ST2 deficiency by IFN-γ treatment. The present results unveil a previously unrecognized beneficial effect of ST2 deficiency in S. aureus-induced septic arthritis.
Assuntos
Artrite Infecciosa/imunologia , Artrite Infecciosa/microbiologia , Proteína 1 Semelhante a Receptor de Interleucina-1/genética , Infecções Estafilocócicas/imunologia , Líquido Sinovial/imunologia , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/imunologia , Interleucina-33/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Osteoartrite do Joelho/imunologia , Staphylococcus aureusRESUMO
Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and is an important cause of severe inflammatory heart disease. However, the mechanisms driving Chagas disease cardiomyopathy have not been completely elucidated. Here, we show that the canonical PI3Kγ pathway is upregulated in both human chagasic hearts and hearts of acutely infected mice. PI3Kγ-deficient mice and mutant mice carrying catalytically inactive PI3Kγ are more susceptible to T. cruzi infection. The canonical PI3Kγ signaling in myeloid cells is essential to restrict T. cruzi heart parasitism and ultimately to avoid myocarditis, heart damage, and death of mice. Furthermore, high PIK3CG expression correlates with low parasitism in human Chagas' hearts. In conclusion, these results indicate an essential role of the canonical PI3Kγ signaling pathway in the control of T. cruzi infection, providing further insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of chagasic heart disease.
Assuntos
Cardiomiopatia Chagásica/imunologia , Classe Ib de Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinase/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/imunologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/imunologia , Adulto , Animais , Biópsia , Linhagem Celular , Cardiomiopatia Chagásica/parasitologia , Cardiomiopatia Chagásica/patologia , Classe Ib de Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinase/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Coração/parasitologia , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Células Mieloides/imunologia , Células Mieloides/metabolismo , Miocárdio/imunologia , Miocárdio/patologia , Inibidores de Fosfoinositídeo-3 Quinase , Quinoxalinas/farmacologia , Tiazolidinedionas/farmacologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/patogenicidade , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
Here we describe a rare case of a benign tumor in the lacrimal gland of a healthy 4-year-old girl. Mild proptosis was the only abnormality observed on clinical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the right orbit revealed an oval, solid, well-circumscribed, homogeneous mass extending from the lacrimal gland and measuring 2.5 × 2.3 × 1.7 cm without any evidence of invasion into adjacent bones. The lesion was surgically excised and histological analyses defined the diagnosis of oncocytoma of the lacrimal gland. Although rare, oncocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of lacrimal gland tumors.
Assuntos
Adenoma Oxífilo/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Oculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças do Aparelho Lacrimal/diagnóstico por imagem , Adenoma Oxífilo/patologia , Pré-Escolar , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Eosinófilos/patologia , Neoplasias Oculares/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Doenças do Aparelho Lacrimal/patologia , Imageamento por Ressonância MagnéticaRESUMO
Septic arthritis is a severe and rapidly debilitating disease associated with severe joint pain, inflammation and oxidative stress. Nitroxyl (HNO) has become a nitrogen oxide of significant interest due to its pharmacological endpoints that are potentially favorable for treating varied diseases. However, whether HNO also serves as a treatment to septic arthritis is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the HNO donor, Angeli's salt (AS), in the outcome of chronic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-induced septic arthritis in mice. Daily treatment with AS inhibited mechanical hyperalgesia and inflammation (edema, leukocyte migration, cytokines release and NF-κB activation, and oxidative stress) resulting in reduced disease severity (clinical course, histopathological changes, proteoglycan levels in the joints, and osteoclastogenesis). In addition, AS decreased the number of S. aureus colony forming unities in synovial tissue, enhanced the bactericidal effect of macrophages and inhibited the worsening of systemic inflammatory response (leukocyte counts in the lung and systemic proinflammatory cytokine concentration). Our results suggest for the first time the therapeutic potential of AS in a model of septic arthritis by mechanisms involving microbicidal effects, anti-inflammatory actions and reduction of disease severity.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Artrite Infecciosa/tratamento farmacológico , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Pulmão/imunologia , Nitritos/uso terapêutico , Infecções Estafilocócicas/tratamento farmacológico , Staphylococcus aureus/imunologia , Animais , Hiperalgesia , Pulmão/efeitos dos fármacos , Pulmão/microbiologia , Masculino , Camundongos , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Óxidos de Nitrogênio/metabolismo , Estresse Oxidativo , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
ABSTRACT Here we describe a rare case of a benign tumor in the lacrimal gland of a healthy 4-year-old girl. Mild proptosis was the only abnormality observed on clinical examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the right orbit revealed an oval, solid, well-circumscribed, homogeneous mass extending from the lacrimal gland and measuring 2.5 × 2.3 × 1.7 cm without any evidence of invasion into adjacent bones. The lesion was surgically excised and histological analyses defined the diagnosis of oncocytoma of the lacrimal gland. Although rare, oncocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of lacrimal gland tumors.
Resumo Nós descrevemos um raro caso de tumor benigno na glândula lacrimal em uma criança sadia de 4 anos de idade. Clinicamente, a paciente apresentava apenas uma discreta proptose. A ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) de órbita direita revelou a presença de uma massa oval, sólida, bem-circunscrita, homogênea, se extendendo a partir da glândula lacrimal, medindo 2,5 cm x 2,3 cm x 1,7 cm, sem nenhum sinal evidente de invasão a estrutura óssea adjacente. A lesão foi cirurgicamente removida e analizada histopatologicamente, sendo estabelecido o diagnóstico de oncocitoma de glândula lacrimal. Apesar de raro, o oncocitoma deve ser incluído no diagnóstico diferencial de qualquer tumor originado da glândula lacrimal.
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Pré-Escolar , Adenoma Oxífilo/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Oculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças do Aparelho Lacrimal/diagnóstico por imagem , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Adenoma Oxífilo/patologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Eosinófilos/patologia , Neoplasias Oculares/patologia , Doenças do Aparelho Lacrimal/patologiaRESUMO
Organ dysfunction is a major concern in sepsis pathophysiology and contributes to its high mortality rate. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been implicated in endothelial damage and take part in the pathogenesis of organ dysfunction in several conditions. NETs also have an important role in counteracting invading microorganisms during infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate systemic NETs formation, their participation in host bacterial clearance and their contribution to organ dysfunction in sepsis. C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to endotoxic shock or a polymicrobial sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The involvement of cf-DNA/NETs in the physiopathology of sepsis was evaluated through NETs degradation by rhDNase. This treatment was also associated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment (ertapenem) in mice after CLP. CLP or endotoxin administration induced a significant increase in the serum concentrations of NETs. The increase in CLP-induced NETs was sustained over a period of 3 to 24 h after surgery in mice and was not inhibited by the antibiotic treatment. Systemic rhDNase treatment reduced serum NETs and increased the bacterial load in non-antibiotic-treated septic mice. rhDNase plus antibiotics attenuated sepsis-induced organ damage and improved the survival rate. The correlation between the presence of NETs in peripheral blood and organ dysfunction was evaluated in 31 septic patients. Higher cf-DNA concentrations were detected in septic patients in comparison with healthy controls, and levels were correlated with sepsis severity and organ dysfunction. In conclusion, cf-DNA/NETs are formed during sepsis and are associated with sepsis severity. In the experimental setting, the degradation of NETs by rhDNase attenuates organ damage only when combined with antibiotics, confirming that NETs take part in sepsis pathogenesis. Altogether, our results suggest that NETs are important for host bacterial control and are relevant actors in the pathogenesis of sepsis.
Assuntos
Armadilhas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Insuficiência de Múltiplos Órgãos/complicações , Choque Séptico/patologia , Animais , Carga Bacteriana/efeitos dos fármacos , DNA/genética , DNA/metabolismo , Humanos , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Choque Séptico/induzido quimicamente , Choque Séptico/genética , Choque Séptico/microbiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by neutrophil articular infiltration, joint pain and the progressive destruction of cartilage and bone. IL-22 is a key effector molecule that plays a critical role in autoimmune diseases. However, the function of IL-22 in the pathogenesis of RA remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the role of IL-22 in the early phase of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in mice. METHODS: AIA was induced in C57BL/6, IL-22(-/-), ASC(-/-) and IL-1R1(-/-) immunized mice challenged intra-articularly with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA). Expression of IL-22 in synovial membranes was determined by RT-PCR. Articular hypernociception was evaluated using an electronic von Frey. Neutrophil recruitment and histopathological analyses were assessed in inflamed knee joint. Joint levels of inflammatory mediators and mBSA-specific IgG concentration in the serum were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The IL-22 mRNA expression and protein levels in synovial tissue were increased during the onset of AIA. In addition, pharmacological inhibition (anti-IL-22 antibody) and genetic deficiency (IL-22(-/-) mice) reduced articular pain and neutrophil migration in arthritic mice. Consistent with these findings, recombinant IL-22 joint administration promoted articular inflammation per se in WT mice, restoring joint nociception and neutrophil infiltration in IL-22(-/-) mice. Moreover, IL-22-deficient mice showed reduced synovitis (inflammatory cell influx) and lower joint IL-1ß levels, whereas the production of IL-17, MCP-1/CCL2, and KC/CXCL1 and the humoral immune response were similar, compared with WT mice. Corroborating these results, the exogenous administration of IL-22 into the joints induced IL-1ß production in WT mice and reestablished IL-1ß production in IL-22(-/-) mice challenged with mBSA. Additionally, IL-1R1(-/-) mice showed attenuated inflammatory features induced by mBSA or IL-22 challenge. Articular nociception and neutrophil migration induced by IL-22 were also reduced in ASC(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that IL-22 plays a pro-inflammatory/pathogenic role in the onset of AIA through an ASC-dependent stimulation of IL-1ß production.
Assuntos
Artrite Experimental/imunologia , Interleucina-1beta/imunologia , Interleucinas/imunologia , Articulação do Joelho/imunologia , Animais , Antígenos/imunologia , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/genética , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/imunologia , Proteínas Reguladoras de Apoptose/metabolismo , Artralgia/genética , Artralgia/imunologia , Artralgia/metabolismo , Artrite Experimental/genética , Artrite Experimental/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Sinalização CARD , Movimento Celular/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Expressão Gênica/imunologia , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Interleucinas/biossíntese , Interleucinas/genética , Articulação do Joelho/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Neutrófilos/citologia , Neutrófilos/imunologia , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Membrana Sinovial/imunologia , Membrana Sinovial/metabolismo , Sinovite/genética , Sinovite/imunologia , Sinovite/metabolismo , Zimosan/imunologia , Interleucina 22RESUMO
Baculoviruses are highly specific and only capable of replication in arthropod hosts. The Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is the most studied baculovirus at the molecular level and the Anticarsia gemnatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is the most used viral insecticide worldwide. AcMNPV have also been shown to stimulate the mammalian immune response acting as an adjuvant. In order to evaluate the effects of AgMNPV in modulating macrophage and lymphocyte activation, we have stimulated these cells in vitro and inoculated BALB/c mice intranasally with the two viral phenotypes (PIBs and BVs) and compared with the response induced by the same phenotypes of AcMNPV. Our results showed that baculoviruses are able to modulate mammalian immune response; in vitro they increase phagocytosis, NO2 production and Th1 cells response. In vivo, AgMNPV BVs or PIBs do not induce an inflammatory reaction in normal lung but during a fungal lung infection they can change the type of adaptive response developed. Considering our data, AgMNPV can be considered more useful as a vaccine vector or immune adjuvant than AcMNPV.