RESUMO
CONTEXT: Therapy for snakebites relies on the application of antivenoms, which may be produced with different immunogenic mixtures of venom and possess different pharmaceutical characteristics. For these reasons, immunological cross-reactivity and heterologous neutralization were analyzed relative to the protein content of three antivenoms used in the Americas. METHODS: The antivenoms studied were composed of equine F(ab')2 fragments from animals immunized with Crotalinae venoms. The antivenoms were tested against venoms of seven pit viper species from Argentina, seven from Mexico, one from Costa Rica, and one from Colombia. RESULTS: Immunoblotting showed high cross-reactivity of all major protein bands with all the antivenoms tested. ELISA results also showed high cross-reactivity among the different venoms and antivenoms, and a high heterologous neutralization was observed. The results can be interpreted in different ways depending on whether the reactivity is considered in terms of the volume of antivenom used or by the amount of protein contained in this volume of antivenom. The antivenoms with high immunochemical reactivity and neutralizing capacity were those with higher protein content per vial; but when doses were adjusted by protein content, antivenoms of apparently lower neutralizing capacity and immunochemical reactivity showed at least similar potency and reactivity although volumetrically at higher doses. CONCLUSION: Protein content relative to neutralization potency of different products must be taken into account when antivenoms are compared, in addition to the volume required for therapeutic effect. These results show the importance of obtaining high-affinity and high-avidity antibodies to achieve good neutralization using low protein concentration and low-volume antivenoms.
Assuntos
Antivenenos/imunologia , Animais , Antivenenos/química , Western Blotting , Bothrops , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Venenos de Crotalídeos/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Dose Letal Mediana , Camundongos , Testes de Neutralização , Proteínas/análiseRESUMO
Endogenous production of Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is successfully exploited for photodynamic therapy (PDT) on malignant cells, following 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) administration and light irradiation. This treatment kills cancer cells by damaging organelles and impairing metabolic pathways via cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. We studied the efficiency of PpIX synthetized from ALA on ROS generation, in the Vincristine resistant (LBR-V160), Doxorubicin resistant (LBR-D160) and sensitive (LBR-) murine leukemia cell lines. Cells were incubated 4 hr with 1 mM ALA and then irradiated during different times with fluorescent light. One hour later, production of ROS was analyzed by flow cytometry using different fluorescent probes: Hydroethidine (HE) for superoxide anion, 2',7' Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) for hydrogen peroxide; mitochondrial damage was examined with 3,3' Dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6). We found that superoxide anion production in the three cell lines increased with irradiation time whereas no peroxide hydrogen was detected. Mitochondrial damage also increased in an irradiation time dependent manner, being higher in the Vincristine resistant line. Previous studies have demonstrated that apoptotic cell death increased with irradiation time, which is consistent with these results, indicating that ROS are critical in ALA-PDT efficiency to kill malignant cells.
Assuntos
Protoporfirinas/metabolismo , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Ácido Aminolevulínico/química , Ácido Aminolevulínico/farmacologia , Ácido Aminolevulínico/uso terapêutico , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Resistencia a Medicamentos Antineoplásicos , Leucemia/tratamento farmacológico , Potencial da Membrana Mitocondrial/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Fotoquimioterapia , Protoporfirinas/química , Superóxidos/metabolismo , Raios UltravioletaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of anti-CD44 IM7.8.1 antibody, HMW-HA and LMW-HA on leukocyte migration and adhesion, and the induction of proinflammatory mediators, in mouse air-pouch inflammation induced by zymosan. METHODS: Leukocytes were obtained from zymosan-air pouches after the intra-pouch injection of anti-CD44 IM7.8.1, isotype control, HMW-HA, LMW-HA or PBS. TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and iNOS mRNA were estimated in leukocytes by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) from exudates were evaluated by zymography and Western Blot. Adhesion and migration of leukocytes were evaluated in HA-coated plates and Boyden chambers respectively. RESULTS: IM7.8.1 decreased iNOS mRNA levels and the activity of both MMP-9 and MMP-2 eight h after injection into zymosan air pouch while IM7.8.1, HMW-HA and LMW-HA had no effect on IL1-beta or TNF-alpha mRNA levels. Leukocytes from air pouch adhered to and migrated in vitro against both HMW-HA and LMW-HA. LMW-HA increased the number of leukocytes in the air pouch and iNOS mRNA levels as compared to PBS injection. In contrast, HMW-HA decreased leukocyte count and reduced iNOS mRNA levels. Paradoxically, the activity of both MMP-9 and MMP-2 was increased by HMW-HA and decreased by LMW-HA. CONCLUSIONS: Both CD44 and HA can modulate leukocyte migration and induction of proinflammatory mediators in mouse zymosan air pouch inflammation. IM7.8.1 had consistent anti-inflammatory effects, reducing iNOS, MMP-9 and MMP-2. HMW-HA and LMW-HA were able to modulate both the induction of proinflammatory mediators and leukocyte count in the air pouch.
Assuntos
Receptores de Hialuronatos/biossíntese , Ácido Hialurônico/biossíntese , Metaloproteinases da Matriz/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/biossíntese , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/química , Western Blotting , Adesão Celular , Movimento Celular , Quimiotaxia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Primers do DNA/química , Heparina de Baixo Peso Molecular/metabolismo , Receptores de Hialuronatos/química , Ácido Hialurônico/química , Inflamação , Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Leucócitos/citologia , Leucócitos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/química , Óxido Nítrico Sintase/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo II , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Fatores de Tempo , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMO
Ligaria cuneifolia has been used in Argentine folk medicine and is currently employed as substitute for the European mistletoe (Viscum album) as hypotensor agent. Extracts from V. album are widely used in cancer therapy and the antineoplasic effect is attributed to their cytostatic/cytotoxic and immunomodulatory actions. When studying immunomodulatory effects of L. cuneifolia extracts (Lc extracts), they inhibited proliferation of murine mitogen-activated lymphocytes, leukaemic lymphocytes (LB) and breast tumour cells (MMT). The aim of this work was to isolate and identify lectins from Lc extracts and investigate their immunobiological actions. A galactoside lectin (L-Lc) of 57 kDa was isolated. A polyclonal antiserum obtained against Lc extract recognised both L-Lc and MLI (V. album lectin), suggesting the possibility of shared epitopes. Treatment of LB tumour cells with L-Lc (0.01 and 0.1 microg/ml) produced up to 40.0+/-6.9% inhibition of cell growth, which seems partly mediated by apoptosis (apoptosis of L-Lc treated cells 58.4+/-10.3% versus non-treated cells 38.1+/-8.8%; P<0.05), analysed by acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining. Inhibitory effect on ConA stimulated splenocyte growth was non-significant, while a mitogenic effect was observed on normal murine splenocytes and MMT cells. L-Lc in non-cytotoxic concentrations (250 ng/ml) modified mRNA expression of IL-10 but neither that of TGF-beta nor of IL-2 produced by LB cells. In addition, 43.9+/-0.5% reduction in NO production by LPS-stimulated murine macrophages was found. Finally, survival rates of LB tumour-bearing mice treated or not with Lc extract or L-Lc failed to show significant differences.
Assuntos
Adjuvantes Imunológicos/farmacologia , Galactosídeos/farmacologia , Loranthaceae , Lectinas de Plantas/farmacologia , Adjuvantes Imunológicos/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Apoptose , Argentina , Divisão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Citocinas/metabolismo , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Feminino , Galactosídeos/imunologia , Galactosídeos/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas In Vitro , Loranthaceae/química , Macrófagos Peritoneais/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Transplante de Neoplasias , Neoplasias Experimentais/mortalidade , Óxido Nítrico/biossíntese , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Lectinas de Plantas/imunologia , Lectinas de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Baço/citologia , Baço/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Tumorais CultivadasRESUMO
Five Argentine medicinal plants selected according to folk traditional or ethnomedical use, references and primary pharmacological screening; were chosen to elucidate their immunomodulating properties. Dichloromethane, methanolic and aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of Achyrocline flaccida (A. flaccida), Eupatorium arnottianum (E. arnottianum) and Eupatorioum buniifolium (E. buniifolium), leaves of Lithraea molleoides (L. molleoides) and leaves and stems of Phyllanthus sellowianus (P. sellowianus) were analyzed to disclose their effects on murine normal and tumor cell growth as well as on complement hemolytic activity. Modulation of cell growth was evaluated by tritiated thymidine incorporation while inhibition of complement activity was measured on both classical and alternative complement pathways (CP and AP respectively). The results obtained show that most of the extracts exerted inhibitory effect on tumor as well as on mitogen activated normal spleen cell growth. On tumor cells, IC50 ranged between 1-75 microg/ml for most of the extracts with the exception of dichloromethane of L. molleoides and P. sellowianus which required concentrations higher than 100 microg/ml to produce the effect. On mitogenic activated splenocytes, IC50 ranged between < 1 to 85 microg/ml with the exception of methanolic extract of E. buniifolium or P. sellowianus which were not effective on ConA or LPS stimulated splenocytes respectively. Only E. buniifolium was active on murine normal splenocytes proliferation (IC50 0.5-1.5 microg/ml). Finally, one (7%) of 15 extracts showed inhibition of complement activity on CP and 6 extracts (40%) presented moderate activity on CP. The dichloromethane extract of E. arnottianum was the most active (IC50 5 microg/ml), although remarkable effect was also obtained with dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of P. sellowianus (IC50 11.2 and 17.3 microg/ml respectively). Besides, 2 extracts (13%), dichloromethane extract of E. arnottianum and aqueous extract of P. sellowianus, showed moderate inhibition on AP.
Assuntos
Adjuvantes Imunológicos/farmacologia , Magnoliopsida , Medicina Tradicional , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Achyrocline , Anacardiaceae , Animais , Argentina , Divisão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ensaio de Atividade Hemolítica de Complemento , Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Eupatorium , Feminino , Humanos , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Phyllanthus , Coelhos , Ovinos/sangue , Células Tumorais Cultivadas/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Cancer cells may frequently develop cross-resistance to structurally dissimilar chemotherapeutic agents. However, the molecular mechanisms for sensitivity and resistance of tumor cells towards chemotherapy are still partially understood. Antineoplasic drugs have been shown to induce apoptosis in chemosensitive leukemias and solid tumors. In this work, cross-resistance among vincristine (VCR), doxorubicin (DOX) and other antineoplasic agents commonly used in the treatment of leukemia such as etoposide (VP-16), methotrexate (MTX), cyclophosphamide (CTX), dexamethasone (DEX), cytarabine (Ara-C) and L-asparaginase on vincristine resistant (LBR-V160), doxorubicin resistant (LBR-D160) and sensitive (LBR-) murine leukemic T cell lines, was determined. The effect of antineoplasic agents was assayed by tritiated thymidine incorporation. Our results showed that VCR exhibited cross-resistance with DOX, VP-16, DEX and MTX, while DOX demonstrated cross-resistance with VCR, VP-16 and MTX. Ara-C failed to present cross-resistance with any cell line. Apoptosis induced by the above drugs on the same cell lines was analyzed by acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining, DNA hypoploidy (flow cytometry) and oligonucleosomal fragmentation of nuclear DNA showing that therapeutic concentrations of these chemotherapeutic agents induced apoptosis in the LBR- cell line. Our results demonstrated that, except for DEX, none of the drugs presenting cross-resistance were able to induce cell death on LBR-V 160 or LBR-D 160 cell lines.
Assuntos
Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Resistência a Múltiplos Medicamentos , Leucemia de Células T/patologia , Células Tumorais Cultivadas/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Doxorrubicina/farmacologia , Etoposídeo/farmacologia , Metotrexato/farmacologia , Camundongos , Vincristina/farmacologiaRESUMO
Several cell lines were previously established from a spontaneous murine T-cell leukemia (LB). The aim of this study was to analyze the G- and C-banded karyotypes of the parental LB tumor cells and the derived cell lines. A sensitive cell line (LBL) from which two sublines originated, as well as Vincristine (LBR-V160) and Doxorubicin (LBR-D160) resistant cell lines, were used. Our results showed that LB cells had a pseudo-diploid karyotype with 40 acrocentric chromosomes in which trisomy of chromosome 14 was the most relevant alteration. The sensitive cell line showed this alteration in all metaphases studied; no changes in karyotypes were observed in either subline, despite their dissimilar morphology and growth patterns. In contrast, both resistant lines displayed a more heterogeneous karyotype with no common markers, except for the finding that chromosome 5 was involved in a trisomy in LBR-V160 and in a translocation with chromosome 12 in LBR-D160. Taking into account that the mdr genes are located in chromosome 5, these results suggest a possible association between such alterations and the acquisition of drug resistance.