Atividade peroxidásica em basófilos de Phrynops geoffroanus (Testudines Chelidae)

As peroxidases, presentes nos peroxissomos e lisossomos, pertencem às oxidases e atuam como catalítico para o peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), posteriormente decomposto pela oxidação de cossubstratos, evitando danos celulares.(¹) Foi aplicada a técnica da peroxidase(2) em esfregaços sanguíneos de Phrynops geoffroanus, comparando com sangue humano, para avaliação da atividade e controle da reação. O esfregaço sanguíneo humano apresentou marcações em neutrófilos, fagócitos com muitos lisossomos e peroxissomos (Figura 1). Nos esfregaços sanguíneos de Phrynops geoffroanus, as marcações apresentaram-se nos basófilos (Figura 2), que representam de 10% a 25% dos leucócitos de quelônios e possuem grande número de granulações citoplasmáticas,(3) sugerindo a presença de grande quantidade de enzimas e organelas como lisossomos e peroxissomos, possivelmente associadas a sua participação em reações imunes. A atividade peroxidásica representa resposta do organismo a ações ambientais danosas, servindo como marcador biológico.

Uso de caldo de cana-de-açúcar para produção de levana por Zymomonas mobilis CCT4494

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in gestation and puerperium of women with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia

Problem High plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in pregnant women have been associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). This study evaluated TNF-alpha plasma levels and monocyte production in gestational hypertension (GH) and PE during gestation and at puerperium.Method of study This study included 128 women, of whom 20 were non-pregnant (NP) normotensive (NT), and 108 were pregnant: 36 NT, 27 with GH, and 45 with PE. Peripheral blood plasma was used for TNF-alpha and uric acid determination. TNF-alpha was determined in plasma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and non-stimulated monocyte supernatants by L929 bioassay.Results Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and uric acid plasma levels were higher in PE than in GH pregnancies. In both hypertensive groups, these parameters positively correlated and were significantly more elevated than in NT and NP women. TNF-alpha plasma levels and monocyte production were higher in hypertensive than in NT women during gestation, and significantly decreased at puerperium. Although decreased, TNF-alpha release in LPS-stimulated PE monocytes, was still significantly higher than in the other pregnant groups.Conclusion In vivo monocyte activation in GH and PE pregnant women was characterized by in vitro TNF-alpha production. The fact that higher circulating concentrations of TNF-alpha and uric acid were observed in PE than in GH suggests an association with disease severity.

Differential gene expression by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in host interaction conditions: Representational difference analysis identifies candidate genes associated with fungal pathogenesis

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes infection by the host inhalation of airborne propagules of the mycelia phase of the fungus. These particles reach the lungs, and disseminate to virtually all organs. Here we describe the identification of differentially expressed genes in studies of host-fungus interaction. We analyzed two cDNA populations of P. brasiliensis, one obtained from infected animals and the other an admixture of fungus and human blood thus mimicking the hematologic events of the fungal dissemination. Our analysis identified transcripts differentially expressed. Genes related to iron acquisition, melanin synthesis and cell defense were specially upregulated in the mouse model of infection. The upregulated transcripts of yeast cells during incubation with human blood were those predominantly related to cell wall remodeling/synthesis. The expression pattern of genes was independently confirmed in host conditions, revealing their potential role in the infection process. This work can facilitate functional studies of novel regulated genes that may be important for the survival and growth strategies of P. brasiliensis in humans. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) location in the ventral, lateral, dorsal and anterior lobes of rat prostate by immunohistochemistry

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) play a major role in extracellular matrix component degradation in several normal and abnormal tissue situations; they are also found in human seminal plasma. MMPs have been found in rat prostate secretions and are nearly lobe specific in expression pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TIMP-2, like other semen components, is expressed differently from different rat prostatic lobes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in both young and adult rat ventral (VP), lateral (LP), dorsal (DP), and anterior (AP) prostatic lobes and confirmed by western blotting. TIMP-2 expression was found in the epithelial cells in the following sequence: LP > AP > DP > VP, in both young and adult rats. In this study, 100% of adult LP presented histological signs of prostatitis, where TIMP-2 immunostaining was positive in normal epithelium even with intraluminal neutrophils, but was reduced or absent in the epithelium with intraepithelial leukocytes or with periductal stroma disorganization associated with mononuclear cell infiltration. However, TIMP-2 expression in LP was not induced by prostatitis, since younger rat LPs were also strongly TIMP-2 positive. The distal and intermediate VP regions were TIMP-2 negative, but the proximal regions were strongly stained. Western blotting results confirmed the high TIMP-2 expression in the LP lobe. Thus, TIMP-2 is expressed differently between the prostatic lobes and is another nearly lobe-specific protein, which plays a role in the regulation of MMP activity in seminal plasma and glandular homeostasis. TIMP-2 is also another regional ductal variation of VP. Further studies should address whether TIMP-2 expression is related to the highest incidence of rat LP prostatitis and adenocarcinoma. © 2006 International Federation for Cell Biology.

Nitrogen excretion during embryonic development of the green iguana, Iguana iguana (Reptilia; Squamata)

Development within the cleidoic egg of birds and reptiles presents the embryo with the problem of accumulation of wastes from nitrogen metabolism. Ammonia derived from protein catabolism is converted into the less toxic product urea or relatively insoluble uric acid. The pattern of nitrogen excretion of the green iguana, Iguana iguana, was determined during embryonic development using samples from allantoic fluid and from the whole homogenized egg, and in hatchlings and adults using samples of blood plasma. Urea was the major excretory product over the course of embryonic development. It was found in higher concentrations in the allantoic sac, suggesting that there is a mechanism present on the allantoic membrane enabling the concentration of urea. The newly hatched iguana still produced urea while adults produced uric acid. The time course of this shift in the type of nitrogen waste was not determined but the change is likely to be related to the water relations associated with the terrestrial habit of the adult. The green iguana produces parchment-shelled eggs that double in mass during incubation due to water absorption; the eggs also accumulate 0.02. mM of urea, representing 82% of the total measured nitrogenous residues that accumulate inside the allantois. The increase in egg mass and urea concentration became significant after 55. days of incubation then were unchanged until hatching. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Reduced in vitro immune response on titania nanotube arrays compared to titanium surface

Material surfaces that provide biomimetic cues, such as nanoscale architectures, have been shown to alter cell/biomaterial interactions. Recent studies have identified titania nanotube arrays as strong candidates for use in interfaces on implantable devices due to their ability to elicit improved cellular functionality. However, limited information exists regarding the immune response of nanotube arrays. Thus, in this study, we have investigated the short- and long-term immune cell reaction of titania nanotube arrays. Whole blood lysate (containing leukocytes, thrombocytes and trace amounts of erythrocytes), isolated from human blood, were cultured on titania nanotube arrays and biomedical grade titanium (as a control) for 2 hours and 2 and 7 days. In order to determine the in vitro immune response on titania nanotube arrays, immune cell functionality was evaluated by cellular viability, adhesion, proliferation, morphology, cytokine/chemokine expression, with and without lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and nitric oxide release. The results presented in this study indicate a decrease in short- and long-term monocyte, macrophage and neutrophil functionality on titania nanotube arrays as compared to the control substrate. This work shows a reduced stimulation of the immune response on titania nanotube arrays, identifying this specific nanoarchitecture as a potentially optimal interface for implantable biomedical devices. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Resposta imunológica de cordeiros às infecções artificiais por Haemonchus contortus e Haemonchus placei

Pós-graduação em Biologia Geral e Aplicada - IBB

Produção de levana por Bacillus subtilis e Zymomonas mobilis utilizando três meios de cultura sintéticos e um alternativo (caldo de cana-de-açucar)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito da suplementação com L-Arginina sobre a produção de mediadores inflamatórios e fatores regenerativos pelo tecido muscular esquelético decorrente de uma sessão de exercício resistido de alta intensidade

Pós-graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas - FOA

Avaliação da essencialidade da metionina e lisina em frangos de corte pelo turnover de isótopos estáveis de carbono

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação de fontes de selênio e seus efeitos no perfil metabólico e condição reprodutiva de cães

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influência de aplicações do laser érbio:YAG sobre a viabilidade microbiana, sua resistência a drogas e atividade hemolítica

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA

Dengue no Brasil: abordagem geográfica na escala nacional

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cultura de condrócitos para o uso terapêutico: reconstituição de cartilagem

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)