Immunovirological parameters and cytokines in HIV infection

Enquanto modernas terapias antirretrovirais (TARV) têm resultado em menores índices de morbidade e mortalidade e na melhora visível dos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais em infectados pelo HIV, sabe-se que seu uso em longo prazo contribui com aparecimento dos vários eventos não associados à aids como doenças cardiovasculares, cânceres e osteoporose, comorbidades as quais têm sido propostas como algumas das mais importantes que privam a maioria dos infectados pelo vírus a apresentarem prognóstico ainda melhor. Isso ocorre porque, mesmo com diminuição da inflamação e ativação imune após intervenção medicamentosa ao paciente, tais parâmetros continuam maiores que os apresentados por indivíduos saudáveis e o desequilíbrio dos perfis de citocinas também persiste. Por isso, avaliações de outros biomarcadores na prática clínica são necessárias para complementar os exames já realizados rotineiramente e permitir o monitoramento mais eficaz dos portadores do HIV. Esta revisão tem o intuito de investigar o papel das citocinas como potenciais marcadores, relacionando estudos sobre o comportamento de várias delas em diversas fases da infecção por HIV, na presença ou não de TARV.

Genetic polymorphisms associated with steroids metabolism and insulin action in polycystic ovary syndrome

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

Effect of melatonin on the oxidative metabolism of colostrum phagocytes of diabetic women

Aim: the aim of this study was verified the ability of melatonin hormone to modulate the oxidative metabolism of colostral phagocytes from diabetic mothers. Methods: based on 100g-OGTT and glucose profile analysis subjects were allocated into two groups: Non-diabetic (ND-10) and Diabetic (DM-8). Cells were separated by a Ficoll-Paque gradient and the oxidative metabolism was available thought superoxide release by colostrum phagocytes using the cytochrome C method. Results: melatonin hormone increased superoxide release by colostrum phagocytes of ND and decreased these release in colostrum phagocytes of DM mothers. Conclusion: the results suggest that the melatonin hormone can modulate the oxidative metabolism of phagocytes and an existence of relationship between control of glucose metabolism and melatonin action in colostrum phagocytes.

In Vivo Effects of Bothrops jararaca Venom on Metabolic Profile and on Muscle Protein Metabolism in Rats

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

Enhanced natural killer activity and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice selected for high acute inflammatory response (AIRmax)

Strains of mice with maximal and minimal acute inflammatory responsiveness (AIRmax and AIRmin, respectively) were developed through selective breeding based on their high- or low-acute inflammatory responsiveness. Previous reports have shown that AIRmax mice are more resistant to the development of a variety of tumours than AIRmin mice, including spontaneous metastasis of murine melanoma. Natural killer activity is involved in immunosurveillance against tumour development, so we analysed the number and activity of natural killer cells (CD49b(+)), T-lymphocyte subsets and in vitro cytokine production by spleen cells of normal AIRmax and AIRmin mice. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry showed that AIRmax mice had a higher relative number of CD49b(+) cells than AIRmin mice, as well as cytolytic activity against Yac.1 target cells. The number of CD3(+) CD8(+) cells was also higher in AIRmax mice. These findings were associated with the ability of spleen cells from AIRmax mice in vitro to produce higher levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-12p40 and interferon-gamma but not the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10. Taken together, our data suggest that the selective breeding to achieve the AIRmax and AIRmin strains was able to polarize the genes associated with cytotoxic activity, which can be responsible for the antitumour resistance observed in AIRmax mice.

Microbiological characteristics and inflammatory cytokines associated with preterm labor

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

Bone metabolism biomarkers, body weight, and bone age in healthy Brazilian male adolescents

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

Evaluation of cytokines concentration and percentage of survival of rabies virus-infected mice submitted to anti-rabies Vero-cell propagated vaccine and P-acnes

Previously, survival of rabies infection was shown to correlate with low IL-6 serum concentration in mice subjected to post-exposure treatment with the Fuenzalida Palacios rabies vaccine in conjunction with the immunomodulator Propionibacterium acnes, previously Corynebacterium parvum. Considering the substitution of the Fuenzalida Palacios rabies vaccine by the Vero cell raised anti-rabies vaccine in almost all countries, the objective of this work was to evaluate the survival and cytokine serum concentration of rabies virus-infected mice treated with P. acnes in conjunction with or the anti-rabies-VERO vaccine. For this, Swiss mice were experimentally infected with street rabies virus and subjected to vaccine and/or P. acnes following infection. Animals were killed at different times and serum was collected to evaluate cytokines. The greatest survival was observed in animals given one or two does of P. acnes in the absence of vaccination. Animals given anti-rabies VERO vaccine alone or with three doses of P. acnes had the second highest survival rate. The group that had the highest percentage of mortality also had the highest IL-6 concentration on the 10th day, a time correlating with clinical symptoms of the animals. The results reinforce the inefficacy of anti-rabies vaccine in only one dose as a post-exposure treatment irrespective of the type of vaccine used, the immunomodulation activity of P. acnes in rabies post-exposure treatment and suggest a role for IL-6 in rabies virus pathogenesis. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of chromium supplementation on energy metabolism in horses used in policing activity

O presente trabalho avaliou a influência da suplementação com cromo em algumas variáveis sanguíneas em 11 equinos machos, adultos, usados em atividade de policiamento. Cada animal recebeu 11mg de cromo/400kg de peso corpóreo, via oral, durante 30 dias. Nos dias 0 (antes) e 30 (após), os animais foram avaliados e amostras de sangue foram obtidas antes e após o exercício. Glicose e lactato plasmáticos e cortisol e insulina séricas foram determinados. No dia 0, as concentrações de glicose plasmática foram 68,4±5,6mg/dL e 78,7±6,5mg/dL; de lactato plasmático, 6,2±0,6mg/dL e 13,1±7,6mg/dL; de cortisol sérico, 48,5±7,9ng/mL e 42,6±19,7ng/mL; e de insulina sérica, 3,0±6,4µUI/m L e 1,9±1,7µUI/mL, respectivamente, antes e após o exercício. No dia 30, as concentrações de glicose plasmática foram 73,3±5,7mg/dL e 78,4±6,7mg/dL; de lactato plasmático, 7,3±0,9mg/dL e 7,6±1,2mg/dL; de cortisol sérico, 62,9±21,8ng/mL e 40,3±17,0ng/mL; e de insulina sérica, 1,4±1,3µUI/mL e 1,7±1,4µUI/mL, respectivamente, antes e após o exercício. Como efeito do exercício, foi demonstrado redução na concentração sérica de insulina e aumento no lactato e glicose plasmáticas. A suplementação com cromo resulto u em redução dos valores de lactato após a atividade física, possivelmente indicando que o cromo contribuiu para a melhor utilização da glicose plasmática e melhor adaptação ao exercício físico realizado.

Oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils in sheep treated with sodium monensin and experimentally submitted to ruminal acidosis.

Ruminal acidosis is due to excessive ingestion of carbohydrates of rapid fermentation without previous adaptation of the microorganisms, causing severe metabolic disturbances to the animals. The objective of the present study was to assess the neutrophilic oxidative metabolism in sheep treated with sodium monensin in experimentally induced ruminal lactic acidosis. A total of 18 male sheep, half-bred (ideal x Merino), fistulated in the rumen, were used; nine of them received 33 mg/kg of the ionophore diet per day, for 30 days; the others were controls. The acidosis was induced by supplying 15g of sucrose/kg of body weight. The clinical evaluation and the rumen and blood samples were obtained before (0h) and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post-induction. In both groups, all the animals presented clinical manifestations of ruminal lactic acidosis 6 hours after the induction. From this period on, a significant pH decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the ruminal fluid, which reached levels below 5. There were relevant differences (P<0.05) between the groups 12 hours after the induction, when the sheep treated with monensin had higher values than those of the control group. During this period, the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils remained inhibited, and the reestablishment of this function only occurred in the sheep which received monensin. Blood pH, plasmatic glucose and the ionizable calcium suffered alterations within its levels. The seric cortisol concentration rose significantly (P<0.05) in both groups, although differences (P<0.05) between them were found at the end of the observation period. The treatment with monensin did not influence the oxidative metabolism of the neutrophils inhibited by the lactic acidosis; however, a faster recovery of this metabolism was verified in the animals treated with the ionophore.

Effect of fluoride intake on carbohydrate metabolism, glucose tolerance, and insulin signaling

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

Effects of intrapulpal temperature change induced by visible light units on the metabolism of odontoblast-like cells

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

Influence of the activation mode of a self-etch resin-based luting cement upon the metabolism of odontoblast-like cells

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

The Potential of p38 MAPK Inhibitors to Modulate Periodontal Infections

Periodontal disease initiation and progression occurs as a consequence of the host immune inflammatory response to oral pathogens. The innate and acquired immune systems are critical for the proper immune response. LPS, an outer membrane constituent of periodontal pathogenic bacteria, stimulates the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta TNF alpha IL-6 and RANKL either directly or indirectly. In LPS-stimulated cells, the induction of cytokine expression requires activation of several signaling pathways including the p38 MAPK pathway. This review will discuss the significance of the p38 MAPK pathway in periodontal disease progression and the potential therapeutic consequences of pharmacological antagonism of this pathway in the treatment of periodontal diseases.