Focus on Vitamin D, Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes

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

Dietary intervention with narrow-leaved cattail rhizome flour (Typha angustifolia L.) prevents intestinal inflammation in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

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

Dietary intervention with green dwarf banana flour (Musa sp AAA) prevents intestinal inflammation in a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid model of rat colitis

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

Modulatory effects of tuberculosis vaccines on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Although BCG is the only accepted vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), its protective ability is very limited. Therefore, many new vaccines are being evaluated. Our group has been working on DNAhsp65 - a genetic construction containing the hsp65 gene from Mycobacterium leprae. In previous experimental works, we demonstrated that both DNAhsp65 alone or associated with BCG, in a prime-boost regimen, were effective to control TB. A possible deleterious effect related to autoimmunity needed to be tested because hsp65 is highly homologous to the correspondent mammalian protein. In this investigation we tested the effect of a previous immunization with DNAhsp65 alone or associated with BCG in a rat model of multiple sclerosis. Female Lewis rats were immunized with three doses of DNAhsp65 or primed with BCG followed by two DNAhsp65 boosters. The animals were, then, immunized with myelin associated with complete Freund's adjuvant to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The following parameters were evaluated: weight loss, clinical score, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and anti-myelin immune response. No deleterious effect was associated with these immunizations schedules. Immunized animals equally lost weight, the clinical scores were similar and CNS inflammation did not increase. Interestingly, both procedures determined decreased inflammation in the brain and lumbar spinal cord. This was concurrent with a modulatory effect over cytokine production by peripheral lymphoid organs. Cell cultures from spleen and lymph nodes in vitro stimulated with myelin produced less IFN-gamma and IL-10, respectively. This phenomenon was more clear in rats immunized with the genetic vaccine alone than with the prime-boost strategy. Together the results suggest that these strategies for TB prophylaxis would not accelerate or aggravate multiple sclerosis, being therefore, safe in this aspect. In addition, they indicate that these vaccination regimens have a potential anti-inflammatory activity that could be better explored in the future.

Impact of malnutrition on immunity and infection

Malnutrition may be a consequence of energy deficit or micronutrient deficiency. It is considered the most relevant risk factor for illness and death, particularly in developing countries. In this review we described the magnitude of this problem, as well as its direct effect on the immune system and how it results in higher susceptibility to infections. A special emphasis was given to experimental models used to investigate the relationship between undernutrition and immunity. Malnutrition is obviously a challenge that must be addressed to health authorities and the scientific community.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis evolution was not modified by multiple infections with Strongyloides venezuelensis

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

Exposure to Mycobacterium avium Decreases the Protective Effect of the DNA Vaccine pVAXhsp65 Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Inflammation of the Pulmonary Parenchyma

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

Inflammation and apoptosis induced by mastoparan Polybia-MPII on skeletal muscle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aerobic capacity of rats recovered from fetal malnutrition with a fructose-rich diet

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

Recovery of rat growth and lipid profiles in adult rats subjected to fetal protein malnutrition with a fructose-rich diet

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mechanisms of insulin secretion in malnutrition: modulation by amino acids in rodent models

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

Metabolic responses to acute physical exercise in young rats recovered from fetal protein malnutrition with a fructose-rich diet

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

Time-dependent expression of annexin 1 in a model of chronic granulomatous inflammation

Objective and design: To determine the expression pattern and distribution of the glucocorticoid-inducible protein annexin 1 (ANXA1) in a murine model of chronic granulomatous inflammation.Materials or subjects: TO Mouse.Treatment: Chronic granulomatous inflammation was induced by injecting into dorsal sub-cutaneous air-pouches in mice, a mixture of croton oil and Freund's complete adjuvant (CO/FCA).Methods: Western and northern analysis, corticosterone assay, and immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's pair-wise comparisons or Dunnett's multiple comparisons.Results: ANXA1 protein levels changed significantly throughout the 4-week time course, with an initial peak at day 7 and a later elevation at 28 days. ANXA1 mRNA levels peaked at days 1 and 3, with a significant decline at day 7 followed by an upward trend to day 28. Plasma corticosterone measurements taken throughout the time course revealed an increase from 14 days onward, suggesting that corticosterone does not influence ANXA1 expression during the initial stages of the model. Immunogold staining revealed that ANXA1 expression in the inflamed tissue was mainly in extravasated neutrophils, with intact protein (37 kDa) being predominantly observed on the cell membrane.Conclusions: the pattern of ANXA1 expression indicates that infiltrated neutrophils are responsible for the majority of ANXA1 present both at early and later stages of this model of granulomatous inflammation.

An immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization analysis of annexin 1 expression in rat mast cells: Modulation by inflammation and dexamethasone

The presence and localization of the anti-inflammatory protein annexin 1 (also known as lipocortin 1) in perivenular rat mast cells was investigated here. Using the rat mesenteric microvascular bed and a combination of morphologic techniques ranging from immunofluorescence to electron microscopy analyses, we detected the presence of annexin 1 in discrete intracellular sites, both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. In resting mast cells, most of the protein pool (approximately 80% of the cytosolic portion) was localized to cytoplasmic granules. In agreement with other cell types, treatment of rats with dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg, ip) increased annexin 1 expression in mast cells, inducing a remarkable appearance of dusters of protein immunoreactivity. This effect was most likely the result of de novo protein synthesis as determined by an increase in mRNA seen by in situ hybridization. Triggering an ongoing experimental inflammatory response (0.3 mg of carrageenin, ip) increased annexin 1 mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, we report for the first time the localization of annexin 1 in connective tissue mast cells, and its susceptibility not only to glucocorticoid hormone treatment, but also to an experimental acute inflammatory response.