Long-term effects of developmental exposure to di-n-butyl-phthalate (DBP) on rat prostate: Proliferative and inflammatory disorders and a possible role of androgens

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

Anti-inflammatory effects and acute toxicity of hydroethanolic extract of Jacaranda decurrens roots in adult male rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mass spectrometric characterization of two novel inflammatory peptides from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista

The social wasp P. paulista is relatively common in southeast Brazil causing many medically important stinging incidents. The seriousness of these incidents is dependent on the amount of venom inoculated by the wasps into the victims, and the characteristic envenomation symptoms are strongly dependent on the types of peptides present in the venom. In order to identify some of these naturally occurring peptides available in very low amounts, an analytical protocol was developed that uses a combination of reversed-phase and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of wasp venom for peptide purification, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight post-source decay mass spectrometry (MALDI-Tof-PSD-MS) and low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTof-MS/MS) instrument for peptide sequencing at the sub-picomole level. The distinction between Leu and Ile was achieved both by observing d-type fragment ions obtained under CID conditions and by comparison of retention times of the natural peptides and their synthetic counterparts (with different combinations of I and/or L at N- and C-terminal positions). To distinguish the isobaric residues K and Q, acetylation of peptides was followed by Q-Tof-MS analysis. The primary sequences obtained were INWLKLGKMVIDAL-NH2 (MW 1611.98Da) and IDWLKLGKMVMDVL-NH2 (MW 1658.98Da). Micro-scale bioassay protocols characterized both peptides as presenting potent hemolytic action, mast cell degranulation, and chemotaxis of poly-morphonucleated leukocyte (PMNL) cells. The primary sequences and the bioassay results suggest that these toxins constitute members of a new sub-class of mastoparan toxins, directly involved in the occurrence of inflammatory processes after wasp stinging. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extracts of Lychnophora species

Extracts from Lychnophora species are traditionally used in Brazil as anti-inflammatory, and to treat bruise, pain and rheumatism. The ethanolic extract of aerial parts of five species of Lychnophoras and one specie of Lychnophoriopsis were examined for the antinociceptive (hot-plate and writhing tests) and anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw oedema test) activity in mice, by oral and topical routes, respectively. In the hot-plate test, the Lychnophora pinaster (0.75 g/kg) and Lychnophora ericoides (1.50 g/kg) extracts significantly increased the time for licking of the paws. The species Lychnophora passerina, Lychnophoriopsis candelabrum and Lychnophora pinaster, using the dose of 0.75 g/kg, and Lychnophora ericoides and Lychnophora trichocarpha in both doses evaluated (0.75 and 1.50 g/kg) significantly reduced the number of writhes induced by acetic acid. The administration of Lychnophora pinaster and Lychnophora trichocarpha ointments, in both concentrations evaluated (5 and 10%, w/w), and Lychnophora passerina and Lychnophoriopsis candelabrum, in the concentration of 10%, significantly reduced the paw oedema measured 3 h after carrageenan administration, suggesting, for the first time, an anti-inflammatory activity upon topical administration of these species. The present work comparatively demonstrated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of some Brazilian Lychnophoras. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Beneficial Effects of Physical Training on the Cardio-Inflammatory Disorder Induced by Lung Ischemia/Reperfusion in Rats

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

Effects of phonophoresis with Arnica montana onto acute inflammatory process in rat skeletal muscles: An experimental study

This study aimed at verifying the effects of phonophoresis associated with Arnica montana on the acute phase of an inflammatory muscle lesion. Forty Wistar male rats (300 +/- 50 g), of which the Tibialis Anterior muscle was surgically lesioned, were divided into four groups (n = 10 each): control group received no treatment; the ultrasound group (US) was treated in pulsed mode with 1-MHz frequency, 0.5 W/cm(2) intensity (spatial and temporal average - SATA), duty cycle of 1: 2 (2 ms on, 4 ms off, 50%), time of application 3 min per session, one session per day, for 3 days; the phonophoresis or ultrasound plus arnica (US+A) group was treated with arnica with the same US parameters plus arnica gel; and the arnica group (A) was submitted to massage with arnica gel, also for 3 min, once a day, for 3 days. Treatment started 24 h after the surgical lesion. on the 4th day after lesion creation, animals were sacrificed and sections of the lesioned, inflamed muscle were removed for quantitative (mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell count) and qualitative histological analysis. Collected data from the 4 groups were statistically analyzed and the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results show higher mononuclear cell density in all three treated groups with no significant difference between them, but values were significantly different (p < 0.0001) when compared to control group's. As to polymorphonuclear cell density, significant differences were found between control group (p = 0.0134) and US, US+A and A groups; the arnica group presented lesser density of polymorphonuclear cells when compared (p = 0.0134) to the other groups. No significant difference was found between US and US+A groups. While the massage with arnica gel proved to be an effective anti-inflammatory on acute muscle lesion in topic use, these results point to ineffectiveness of Arnica montana phonophoresis, US having seemingly checked or minimized its anti-inflammatory effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Morphological alteration of peritoneal mast cells and macrophages in the mouse peritoneal cavity during the early phases of an allergic inflammatory reaction

We investigated the presence of mast cell granules in macrophages following an in vivo model of an allergic reaction. Injection of ovalbumin (100 mug) into the peritoneal cavity of sensitised mice produced a rapid (within 2 h) influx of neutrophils followed by a slower (after >4 h) eosinophil migration. Ovalbumin treatment induced a high incidence (similar to 50%) of mast cell degranulation compared to control phosphated-buffered saline-treated mice. The majority (similar to 90%) of peritoneal macrophages contained mast cell granules as early as 2 It post-ovalbumin, with lower values at later time-points, as determined by staining with Toluidine blue and Berberine sulphate. This was confirmed by electron microscopy which enabled us to identify the complex mast cell granule sub-structural components in macrophage phagosomes. In conclusion, we used histochemical and ultrastructural analyses to show that mast cell granules become internalised with macrophages during the early stages of an experimental allergic reaction. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Cell localization of the anti-inflammatory protein annexin 1 during experimental inflammatory response

The localization of the glucocorticoid-inducible protein annexin 1 (ANX-1) in leukocytes during the process of experimental inflammation has been studied using immunocytochemistry. ANX-1 immunoreactivity was detected in extravasated neutrophils and eosinophils as well as in resident tissue mast cells. Following injection of carrageenin, the mesenteric tissue was highly inflamed with large presence of leukocytes (predominantly neutrophils with a small percentage of eosinophils) adherent to post-capillary venules and extravasated in the perivascular tissue. ANX-1 immunoreactivity was detected in the cytosol of neutrophils and eosinophils mainly associated with granules and/or vesicles. A good degree of localization in the endosomes was observed in the neutrophils, In both cell types, some ANX-1 immunoreactivity in the nucleus and in the plasma membrane was also detected. Resident mast cells were also activated. Mast cells were positive for ANX-1, without apparent changes in protein content in relation to their activation status. Degranulated mast cells still presented ANX-1 associated with the granule matrix. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the presence of ANX-1 in leukocytes that play a central role in the host inflammatory response. These are the extravasating polymorphonuclear cells, or the resident mast cells. These data provide morphological support to the notion that endogenous and exogenous ANX-1 are able to modulate the reactivity of these cell types, and more generally, of the experimental inflammatory reaction.

Expressão dos genes que codificam as proteínas anexina-1 e galectina-1 nos pólipos rinossinusais e sua modulação pelo glicocorticoide

A fisiopatologia da polipose rinossinusal não é totalmente compreendida, apesar de várias hipóteses em relação ao seu processo inflamatório. OBJETIVOS: Estudo prospectivo da expressão dos genes das proteínas, anexina-1 e a galectina-1, que têm ação anti-inflamatória, e sua modulação pelo glicocorticoide. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Onze pacientes portadores de polipose rinossinusal tiveram biopsiados seus pólipos em dois momentos: na ausência de glicocorticoide sistêmico, e na sua presença. Nas duas amostras, foi avaliada a expressão desses genes e comparada com a expressão na mucosa nasal normal do meato médio. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que a média de expressão dos genes que codifica a anexina-1 e galectina-1 estava predominantemente aumentada, independente do uso do glicocorticoide em relação à mucosa nasal controle. Entretanto, nos pólipos sem uso de corticoide, a média de expressão do gene da anexina-1 foi significativamente maior do que nos pólipos que estavam sob uso de glicocorticoide. Com relação à galectina-1 não houve diferença significativa entre as médias de expressão antes e após o uso de glicocorticoide sistêmico. CONCLUSÃO: Os genes apresentaram um aumento da expressão na mucosa nasal polipoide, independente do uso do glicocorticoide, porém a relação destes dois genes das proteínas anti-inflamatórias com o glicocorticoide não ocorreu da mesma maneira.

Interaction of the Anti-Inflammatory Annexin A1 Protein and Tacrolimus Immunosuppressant in the Renal Function of Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

IL-1ra anti-inflammatory cytokine polymorphism is associated with risk of gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a Brazilian population, but the TNF-beta pro-inflammatory cytokine is not

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

Gene expression analysis reveals novel altered genes in nasal polyps

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

Fluoxetine Inhibits Inflammatory Response and Bone Loss in a Rat Model of Ligature-Induced Periodontitis

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