RESUMO
The thymus is the anatomical site where T cells undergo a complex process of differentiation, proliferation, selection, and elimination of autorreactive cells which involves molecular signals in different intrathymic environment. However, the immunological functions of the thymus can be compromised upon exposure to different infections, affecting thymocyte populations. In this work, we investigated the impact of malaria parasites on the thymus by using C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Plasmodium yoelii 17XL; these lethal infection models represent the most severe complications, cerebral malaria, and anemia respectively. Data showed a reduction in the thymic weight and cellularity involving different T cell maturation stages, mainly CD4-CD8- and CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, as well as an increased presence of apoptotic cells, leading to significant thymic cortex reduction. Thymus atrophy showed no association with elevated serum cytokines levels, although increased glucocorticoid levels did. The severity of thymic damage in both models reached the same extend although it occurs at different stages of infection, showing that thymic atrophy does not depend on parasitemia level but on the specific host-parasite interaction.
Assuntos
Malária , Plasmodium yoelii , Animais , Camundongos , Plasmodium berghei , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Atrofia , ParasitemiaRESUMO
Murine leprosy is a systemic infectious disease of mice caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) in which the central nervous system (CNS) is not infected; nevertheless, diseased animals show measurable cognitive alterations. For this reason, in this study, we explored the neurobehavioral changes in mice chronically infected with MLM. BALB/c mice were infected with MLM, and 120 days later, the alterations in mice were evaluated based on immunologic, histologic, endocrine, neurochemical, and behavioral traits. We found increases in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with high bacillary loads. We also found increase in the serum levels of corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the adrenal gland, suggesting neuroendocrine deregulation. Mice exhibited depression-like behavior in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests and anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The neurobehavioral alterations of mice were correlated with the histologic damage in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as with a blood-brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus. These results reveal an interrelated response of the neuroimmune--endocrinological axis in unresolved chronic infections that result in neurocognitive deterioration.
Assuntos
Ansiolíticos , Mycobacterium lepraemurium , Animais , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Corticosterona , Depressão , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB CRESUMO
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a neurological complication derived from the Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans. The mechanisms involved in the disease progression are still not fully understood, but both the sequestration of infected red blood cells (iRBC) and leukocytes and an exacerbated host inflammatory immune response are significant factors. In this study, we investigated the effect of Monocyte Locomotion Inhibitory Factor (MLIF), an anti-inflammatory peptide, in a well-characterized murine model of CM. Our data showed that the administration of MLIF increased the survival and avoided the neurological signs of CM in Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infected C57BL/6 mice. MLIF administration down-regulated systemic inflammatory mediators such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL2, and CCL2, as well as the in situ expression of TNF-α in the brain. In the same way, MLIF reduced the expression of CD31, CD36, CD54, and CD106 in the cerebral endothelium of infected animals and prevented the sequestration of iRBC and leucocytes in the brain microvasculature. Furthermore, MLIF inhibited the activation of astrocytes and microglia and preserved the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the administration of MLIF increased survival and conferred neuroprotection by decreasing neuroinflammation in murine CM.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/administração & dosagem , Malária Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/administração & dosagem , Oligopeptídeos/administração & dosagem , Animais , Astrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Astrócitos/imunologia , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/imunologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Regulação para Baixo/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Baixo/imunologia , Feminino , Humanos , Mediadores da Inflamação/antagonistas & inibidores , Mediadores da Inflamação/metabolismo , Malária Cerebral/imunologia , Malária Cerebral/parasitologia , Malária Cerebral/patologia , Camundongos , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microglia/imunologia , Plasmodium berghei/imunologiaRESUMO
AIMS: Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), choline and betaine serum levels have been associated with metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). These associations could be mediated by insulin resistance. However, the relationships among these metabolites, insulin resistance and NAFLD have not been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, it has recently been suggested that TMAO could play a role in NAFLD by altering bile acid metabolism. We examined the association between circulating TMAO, choline and betaine levels and NAFLD in obese subjects. METHODS: Serum TMAO, choline, betaine and bile acid levels were measured in 357 Mexican obese patients with different grades of NAFLD as determined by liver histology. Associations of NAFLD with TMAO, choline and betaine levels were tested. Moreover, association of TMAO levels with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was tested separately in patients with and without T2D. RESULTS: TMAO and choline levels were significantly associated with NAFLD histologic features and NASH risk. While increased serum TMAO levels were significantly associated with NASH in patients with T2D, in non-T2D subjects this association lost significance after adjusting for sex, BMI and HOMA2-IR. Moreover, circulating secondary bile acids were associated both with increased TMAO levels and NASH. CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients, circulating TMAO levels were associated with NASH mainly in the presence of T2D. Functional studies are required to evaluate the role of insulin resistance and T2D in this association, both highly prevalent in NASH patients.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Metilaminas/sangue , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica , Adulto , Betaína/sangue , Ácidos e Sais Biliares/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Biópsia , Colina/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Resistência à Insulina , Fígado/patologia , Masculino , Americanos Mexicanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/complicações , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/epidemiologia , Obesidade/complicações , Obesidade/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Lineage 2 (East Asian), which includes the Beijing genotype, is one of the most prevalent lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) throughout the world. The Beijing family is associated to hypervirulence and drug-resistant tuberculosis. The study of this genotype's circulation in Latin America is crucial for achieving total control of TB, the goal established by the World Health Organization, for the American sub-continent, before 2035. In this sense, the present work presents an overview of the status of the Beijing genotype for this region, with a bibliographical review, and data analysis of MIRU-VNTRs for available Beijing isolates. Certain countries present a prevalent trend of <5%, suggesting low transmissibility for the region, with the exception of Cuba (17.2%), Perú (16%) and Colombia (5%). Minimum Spanning Tree analysis, obtained from MIRU-VNTR data, shows distribution of specific clonal complex strains in each country. From this data, in most countries, we found that molecular epidemiology has not been a tool used for the control of TB, suggesting that the Beijing genotype may be underestimated in Latin America. It is recommended that countries with the highest incidence of the Beijing genotype use effective control strategies and increased care, as a requirement for public health systems.
Assuntos
Genótipo , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genética , Tuberculose/epidemiologia , Tuberculose/microbiologia , Região do Caribe/epidemiologia , Humanos , América Latina/epidemiologia , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/classificaçãoRESUMO
Tuberculosis (TB) has been declared the first cause of death by an infectious agent. Annually, 10.4 million people suffer active TB. Most infected individuals live in low-income countries, where social and economic conditions enhance the dissemination and progression of the disease. These countries have a high percentage of smokers. Thousands of studies have linked cigarette smoke (CS) with increased risk of many diseases, such as cancer and lung diseases. Numerous in vitro studies have been conducted to evaluate the general and specific toxic effects of CS in lung immune function. Smoke exposure increases the risk of TB development three-fold. However, until now, only few animal studies have been performed to analyze the association between smoke and TB. In the present work, we review in vitro and in vivo studies whose aim was to analyze the molecular basis of TB susceptibility caused by exposure to CS.
Assuntos
Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco/efeitos adversos , Tuberculose/etiologia , Animais , Fumar Cigarros/efeitos adversos , HumanosRESUMO
Airway inflammation is the most common hallmark of allergic asthma. Chemokine receptors involved in leukocyte recruitment are closely related to the pathology in asthma. CCR9 has been described as a homeostatic and inflammatory chemokine receptor, but its role and that of its ligand CCL25 during lung inflammation remain unknown. To investigate the role of CCR9 as a modulator of airway inflammation, we established an OVA-induced allergic inflammation model in CCR9-deficient mice. Here, we report the expression of CCR9 and CCL25 as early as 6 hours post-OVA challenge in eosinophils and T-lymphocytes. Moreover, in challenged CCR9-deficient mice, cell recruitment was impaired at peribronchial and perivenular levels. OVA-administration in CCR9-deficient mice leads to a less inflammatory cell recruitment, which modifies the expression of IL-10, CCL11, and CCL25 at 24 hours after OVA challenge. In contrast, the secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 was not affected in CCR9-deficient mice compared to WT mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that CCR9 and CCL25 expressions are induced in the early stages of airway inflammation and they have an important role modulating eosinophils and lymphocytes recruitment at the first stages of inflammatory process, suggesting that they might be a potential target to regulate inflammation in asthma.
Assuntos
Quimiocinas CC/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Hipersensibilidade/metabolismo , Inflamação/metabolismo , Receptores CCR/metabolismo , Animais , Líquido da Lavagem Broncoalveolar , Separação Celular , Citocinas/metabolismo , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Eosinófilos/citologia , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Imunoglobulina E/sangue , Leucócitos/citologia , Pulmão/fisiopatologia , Linfócitos/citologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Linfócitos T/citologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main risk factor for the development of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. In H. pylori-infected individuals, the clinical result is dependent on various factors, among which are bacterial components, the immune response, and environmental influence. AIMS: To compare IFN-γ expression with the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotypes in patients with chronic gastritis and patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Ninety-five patients diagnosed with chronic gastritis and 20 with gastric cancer were included in the study. Three gastric biopsies were taken; one was used for the molecular detection and genotyping of H. pylori; another was fixed in absolute alcohol and histologic sections were made for determining IFN-γ expression through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No differences were found in the cells that expressed IFN-γ between the patients with chronic gastritis (median percentage of positive cells: 82.6% in patients without H. pylori and 82% in infected persons) and those with gastric cancer (70.5% in H. pylori-negative patients and 78.5% in infected persons). IFN-γ expression was 69% in chronic gastritis patients infected with H. pylori vacAs2m2/cagAâ» it was 86.5% in patients infected with H. pylori vacAs1m2/cagAâ», 86.5% in vacAs1m1/cagAâ», and 82% in vacAs1m1/cagAâº. Similar data were found in the patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ expression varied depending on the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotype, but not in accordance with the presence of chronic gastritis or gastric cancer.
Assuntos
Gastrite/metabolismo , Gastrite/microbiologia , Helicobacter pylori/genética , Interferon gama/biossíntese , Neoplasias Gástricas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Gástricas/microbiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Doença Crônica , Feminino , Genes Bacterianos/genética , Variação Genética , Genótipo , Infecções por Helicobacter/microbiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Microparticles have been used as promising carriers for in vivo vaccine delivery. However, the processes for immobilizing peptides or proteins on microparticles usually require the use of undesirable compounds and complex protocols. In this work, we propose a new immobilization and delivery system with raw starch microparticles and a starch binding domain (SBD) tag fusion protein. The heat shock protein alpha crystallin from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used as model. The immunogenicity of the system was investigated in BALB/c mice inoculated with purified Acr-SBDtag protein (pAcr-SBDtag) and starch immobilized Acr-SBDtag protein (µAcr-SBDtag) by oral and intranasal routes. We demonstrated mucosal immunization with the µAcr-SBDtag protein induced systemic antibodies that were predominantly immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a). An analysis of the cytokines from spleen cells and lung homogenates revealed that loaded microparticles induced the secretion of interferon-γ (INF-γ), suggesting an adjuvant effect from the immobilization. The immune responses induced by immobilized protein were primarily affected by the route of administration. These results demonstrate that the system exhibits the necessary characteristics to improve antigen release and presentation to antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the mucosae. Because no extra adjuvants were used, we posit that the system may be suitable for delivery and presentation to the field of subunit vaccine development.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Bactérias/administração & dosagem , Antígenos de Bactérias/química , Antígenos/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Bactérias/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Portadores de Fármacos/química , Microesferas , Amido/química , Administração Intranasal , Administração Oral , Animais , Antígenos/imunologia , Antígenos/metabolismo , Portadores de Fármacos/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Imunidade nas Mucosas/imunologia , Interferon gama/biossíntese , Interferon gama/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Tamanho da Partícula , Amido/administração & dosagem , Vacinação , Vacinas de Subunidades Antigênicas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas de Subunidades Antigênicas/imunologiaRESUMO
Glutamate-induced excitotoxicity involves a state of acute oxidative stress, which is a crucial event during neuronal degeneration and is part of the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we evaluated the ability of sulforaphane (SULF), a natural dietary isothiocyanate, to induce the activation of transcription factor Nrf2 (a master regulator of redox state in the cell) in a model of striatal degeneration in rats infused with quinolinic acid (QUIN). Male Wistar rats received SULF (5mg/kg, i.p.) 24h and 5min before the intrastriatal infusion of QUIN. SULF increased the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels 4h after QUIN infusion, which was associated with its ability to increase the activity of glutathione reductase (GR), an antioxidant enzyme capable to regenerate GSH levels at 24h. Moreover, SULF treatment increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, while no changes were observed in γ-glutamyl cysteine ligase (GCL) activity. SULF treatment also prevented QUIN-induced oxidative stress (measured by oxidized proteins levels), the histological damage and the circling behavior. These results suggest that the protective effect of SULF could be related to its ability to preserve GSH levels and increase GPx and GR activities.