Leprosy patients: neurotrophic factors and axonal markers in skin lesions

Neurotrofinas são fatores de crescimento com papel fundamental na fisiopatologia neural. Esses mediadores modulam funcionalmente fibras nociceptivas. Mudanças em sua expressão têm sido relacionadas à perda precoce da nocicepção na hanseníase. Este estudo investigou a expressão de NGF, BDNF e NT3 em nervos dérmicos de pacientes hansenianos. A caracterização de fibras nervosas não mielinizadas foi feita por p75NTR e marcadores axonais NF-L e PGP 9.5. Os parâmetros clínicos de dano neural foram avaliados por monofilamentos Semmes-Wenstein. Nossos achados demonstram diminuição de NGF nos pacientes dimorfos em comparação aos controles. Resultados similares foram observados para PGP 9.5 (dimorfos: p<0,001; virchowianos: p<0,05) e NF-L (virchowianos: p<0.05), sugerindo degeneração avançada das terminações nervosas na hanseníase multibacilar. Foi observada correlação positiva entre p75NTR e PGP 9.5, indicando associação entre células de Schwann e axônios em fibras nervosas não mielinizadas. Os resultados indicam que o desequilíbrio na expressão das neurotrofinas pode participar do dano neural periférico.

Follicular somatic cell factors and follicle development

Considerable attention is currently paid to oocyte-derived secreted factors that act upon cumulus and granulosa cells. Also important for follicle development are somatic cell-derived secreted factors. This is illustrated by the ability of granulosa cell-derived Kit ligand (KITL) to promote primordial follicle activation, and the loss of follicle development that accompanies KITL gene disruption. This review summarises our current understanding of somatic cell factors during both preantral and antral follicle growth, involving not only signalling from granulosa cells to the oocyte, but also signalling between granulosa and theca cells. Principal granulosa cell-derived factors include activin, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Theca cells also secrete BMPs and FGFs. The interplay between these factors is equally important for follicle growth as the activity of oocyte-derived factors.

Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Regulation of Sprouty and NR4A Genes in Bovine Ovarian Granulosa Cells

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

Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptors during development and regression of the bovine corpus luteum

There is evidence that fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are involved in the regulation of growth and regression of the corpus luteum (CL). However, the expression pattern of most FGF receptors (FGFRs) during CL lifespan is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine the pattern of expression of 'B' and 'C' splice variants of FGFRs in the bovine CL. Bovine CL were collected from an abattoir and classed as corpora hemorrhagica (Stage I), developing (Stage II), developed (Stage III) or regressed (Stage IV) CL. Expression of FGFR mRNA was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and FGFR protein was localised by immunohistochemistry. Expression of mRNA encoding the 'B' and 'C' spliced forms of FGFR1 and FGFR2 was readily detectable in the bovine CL and was accompanied by protein localisation. FGFR1C and FGFR2C mRNA expression did not vary throughout CL lifespan, whereas FGFR1B was upregulated in the developed (Stage III) CL. FGFR3B, FGFR3C and FGFR4 expression was inconsistent in the bovine CL. The present data indicate that FGFR1 and FGFR2 splice variants are the main receptors for FGF action in the bovine CL.

Expression and Function of Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 in the Ovarian Follicle in Cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Atherosclerosis morphology and pathogenesis

Atherosclerosis is a very common and important disease being the most important cause of mortality in Brazil. Indeed, in 1995, 23.3% of deaths, all ages, in our country, were the consequence of atherosclerosis. This percentage grows to 26.3% for S. Paulo and 32.7% for Rio Grande do Sul. Morphologically, there are 3 main types of lesions: fatty streaks, fibrous plaques, and complicated lesions. Fatty streaks are inocuous and occur early in life. In some persons, with age, they change into fibrous plaques that may lead to stenosis. They also may become complicated by erosion, calcification, hemorrhage and thrombosis. Atherosclerosis is initiated by endothelial functional alterations responsible for increase in permeability to macromolecules, adhesion, and migration of monocytes-macrophages and lymphocytes plus recruitment of platelets and smooth-muscle medial cells. Adhesion molecules, cytokines, growth factors, and free radicals are locally synthesized, favoring proliferation of extracellular matrix and progression of the lesion. Experimental, clinical, and epidemiological evidence point to the importance of lipids, mainly cholesterol-rich low-density lipoprotein (LDL), as one of the most important molecules involved in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis. Patients with a genetic disorder of cholesterol metabolism (familial hyperlipidemia), caused by a decrease in the availability of receptors for LDL, develop severe atherosclerosis early in life. A series of other factors, such as age, diabetes melitus, diet, hypertension, lack of exercise, elevated hemocysteinemia, immunological disorders, and coagulation instability, are related to the progression of atherosclerosis. All of them are capable of altering the endothelium or increasing the offer of LDL. All the above-mentioned factors are systemic; but atherosclerosic lesions are focal, located at preferential sites such as the emergence of colaterals, bifurcations, and curvatures of arteries, all areas in which the laminar flow is disturbed. In these areas shear stress is diminished favoring the prolongation of permanence time of lipid particles, cells, cytokines, growth factors, etc., in the vicinity of the endothelium. Moreover, the endothelium has sensors that act as transducers of mechanical forces in biological responses. Experimental data demonstrate that the number and quality of adhesion molecules, cytokines, and growth factors synthetized, as well as the local production of radicals, and pro and anticoagulation factors may change with shear stress favoring or not the local establishment and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

Effects of FSH on the expression of receptors for oocyte-secreted factors and members of the EGF-like family during in vitro maturation in cattle

FSH induces expansion of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) in cattle, which can be enhanced by oocyte-secreted factors (OSFs). In this study it was hypothesised that FSH stimulates COC expansion in part from direct stimulation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like ligands amphiregulin (AREG), epiregulin (EREG) and betacellulin (BTC), but also in part through regulation of OSFs or their receptors in cumulus cells. Bovine COCs were cultured in defined medium with graded doses of FSH. In the absence of FSH, COCs did not expand. FSH caused cumulus expansion, and increased the abundance of AREG and EREG mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but decreased BTC mRNA levels. FSH had modest stimulatory effects on the levels of mRNA encoding the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) receptor, BMPR1B, in cumulus cells, but did not alter mRNA expression of the growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) receptor, TGFBR1. More interestingly, FSH dramatically stimulated levels of mRNA encoding two receptors for fibroblast growth factors (FGF), FGFR2C and FGFR3C, in cumulus cells. FSH also stimulated mRNA expression of FGFR1B, but not of FGFR2B in cumulus cells. Based on dose-response studies, FGFR3C was the receptor most sensitive to the influence of FSH. This study demonstrates that FSH stimulates the expression of EGF-like factors in bovine cumulus cells, and provides evidence that FSH differently regulates the expression of distinct receptors for OSFs in cumulus cells. © CSIRO 2013.

Caracterização da hemodinâmica uterina de éguas durante o ciclo estral

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Correlação entre a densidade microvascular sanguínea e linfática e a proliferação celular no carcinoma epidermóide de assoalho bucal e língua

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Imunolocalização do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina (IGF-I) e do fator de crescimento epidermal (EGF) em ovários caninos e seus efeitos sobre a maturação in vitro de oócitos: avaliação nuclear

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Uso de células-tronco para o tratamento de tendinite em eqüinos

Brazil has the fourth largest horse herd in the world, this is due the recognition and appreciation that the different equestrian games are having within the country. Injuries of the tendon, especially in the digital flexor tendon, are the main cause of athletic life reduction among horses. The treatment of tendinitis in horses seeks full recovery of the damage tissue reestablishing the function previously lost, however conventional treatments have proven to be ineffective when considered the quality of the scar tissue and the rate of recurrence. Due to this, the use of adult stem cells to the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries of horses has been studied for some time. This method of treatment consists of aspiration of bone marrow or removal of subcutaneous fat tissue and implantation of these cells in the injured tissue. After obtaining the bone marrow the implantation can be performed with total bone marrow, with the mononuclear fraction of MSC or with cells cultured in vitro. From the fat tissue is used the stromal vascular fraction obtained by collagenase digestion, followed or not by cell culture. According to some studies, cell therapy with material obtained from bone marrow or adipose tissue has shown to be viable, given that these materials are abundant in repair components such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), growth factors and other components of the collagen matrix. Several studies using both types of cells have shown great potential and promising clinical results. However, knowledge of the biology and characterization of these cells remain largely unknown, and therefore is needed great care and caution when using stem cells for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in horses

Papel das espécies reativas de oxigênio na hiporreatividade de aortas à fenilefrina observada no final da prenhez de Ratas Espontaneamente Hipertensas (SHR)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biology of bone tissue: structure, function, and factors that influence bone cells

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

Malaria and Vascular Endothelium

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

Nitric oxide is responsible for oxidative skin injury and modulation of cell proliferation after 24 hours of UVB exposures

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by various mammalian cells and plays a variety of regulatory roles in normal physiology and in pathological processes. This article provides evidence regarding the participation of NO in UVB-induced skin lesions and in the modulation of skin cell proliferation following UVB skin irradiation. Hairless mice were subjected to UVB irradiation for 3 hours and the skin evaluated immediately, 6 and 24 hours postirradiation. The skin lipid peroxidation, and NO levels evaluated by chemiluminescence and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine immunolabelling increased significantly 24 hours after irradiation and decreased under the treatment with aminoguanidine (AG). On the other hand, cell proliferation markers, PCNA and VEGF showed a strong labelling index when AG was used. The data indicate that NO mediates, at least in part, the lipid peroxidation and protein nitration and also promotes the down regulation of factors involved in cell proliferation. This work shows that the NO plays an important role in the oxidative stress damage and on modulation of cell proliferation pathways in UVB irradiated skin.