Association among inflammaging, body composition, physical activity, and physical function tests in physically active women

BackgroundInflammaging is a phenomenon that has been associated with the development and progression of sarcopenia and frailty syndrome. According to the literature, on the one side, the increase in body fat is associated with a systemic pro-inflammatory status, which consequently favors inflammaging, and on the other side, the regular practice of physical exercise can mitigate the development of this scenario. Therefore, here, we aimed to evaluate the association between inflammaging and physical factors, both body and functional, in a group of physically active older women.MethodsSeventy older women (mean age 72.66 ± 6.17 years) participated in this observational cross-sectional and were separated into the eutrophic, overweight, and obese groups. It was assessed: by bioimpedance—body fat percentage (Fat%) and total (Fat kg), skeletal muscle mass (muscle), and free fat mass both in percentage (FFM%) and total (FFMkg); by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)—the time of moderate-intensity physical activity per week; by physical tests—handgrip (HG), sit-up-stand-on-the-chair in 5 repetitions (Sit-up) and vertical squat jump test (SJ); in addition to the determination of serum cytokine concentration (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-8), and also body mass index (BMI) and calf circumference (Calf).ResultsHigher FFM% and lower body fat (both kg and %) were found in the eutrophic group than in the other groups. The eutrophic group also performed more weekly physical activity, jumped higher, and presented not only higher serum IL-6 concentration but also an increased ratio of IL-10/IL-6, IL-10/TNF-α, IL-10/IL-8 as compared to the values found in the overweight group. The obese group presented higher body fat (kg and %) and lower FFM% than the other groups and also higher serum IL-6 concentration than the overweight group. Interestingly, several significant negative and positive correlations between body composition, physical tests, and serum cytokine concentrations were found in the eutrophic and obese groups.ConclusionWhile the eutrophic older women group showed a remarkable regulation of the systemic inflammatory status with positive associations in the physical parameters assessed, the overweight and obese groups presented impairment regulations of the inflammaging, which could be related to less weekly physical activity and higher body fat

B-1 cells role in the development of murine streptozotocin-induced diabetes

O diabetes mellitus e uma sindrome clinica heterogenea, caracterizada por anormalidades endocrino-metabolicas. Estudos relacionados ao diabetes tipo 1 sempre deram enfase a participacao de celulas T no processo. Mais recentemente, estudos tem demonstrado a participacao de celulas B no desenvolvimento do diabetes e, mais especificamente, tem sido descrito o papel de celulas B-1 em modelos experimentais de diabetes murino. Autores tem demonstrado que celulas B-1 sao capazes de migrar para as ilhotas pancreaticas, favorecendo o desenvolvimento do diabetes pela producao de IgM que ligam-se a antigenos de ilhotas ou permitindo a infiltracao de celulas T autorreativas no pancreas de camundongos diabeticos. Diante deste cenario, este estudo se propoe a demonstrar, pela primeira vez, a participacao de celulas B-1 em modelo de diabetes murino induzido por STZ. Para tanto, camundongos BALB/c e BALB/c Xid (deficientes em celulas B-1) foram submetidos a inducao do diabetes pela injecao de baixas doses de STZ (streptozotocina). Para confirmar a importancia de celulas B-1 neste modelo, estas celulas foram transferidas adotivamente para camundongos Xid antes ou depois do tratamento com STZ (grupo Xid + B-1). Tambem, o sobrenadante de cultura de celulas B-1 foi utilizado como tratamento em camundongos Xid diabeticos. Nossos resultados demonstraram que camundongos Xid sao mais suscetiveis a acao da STZ, com valores glicemicos mais acentuados que os observados em camundongos BALB/c (p<0,001), que nao se tornaram diabeticos. Esses animais apresentaram maior destruicao tecidual e menor producao de insulina nas ilhotas pancreaticas. Foi demonstrado que celulas B-1 migram para as ilhotas pancreaticas e sao capazes de regular a glicemia de camundongos diabeticos. Camundongos Xid + B-1 nao desenvolveram diabetes apos a transferencia de celulas B-1 e foram encontradas celulas B-1 infiltrando o pancreas desses animais, semelhantemente ao encontrado em camundongos BALB/c. Quando foram adicionadas celulas B-1 em camundongos BALB/c e C57BL/6 tratados com STZ, a glicemia desses animais diminuiu em relacao aqueles que nao receberam celulas B-1. Confirmando a importancia de celulas B-1 na protecao contra o diabetes autoimune, camundongos Xid que receberam celulas B-1 apos o tratamento com STZ, ou seja, apos a destruicao tecidual, tambem nao desenvolveram diabetes e esse efeito foi duradouro, mantendo os animais saudaveis por um longo periodo, mesmo apos a injecao de STZ. Surpreendentemente, o tratamento com o sobrenadante de cultura de celulas B-1 diminuiu os valores glicemicos (< 250mg/dL) de camundongos Xid em poucas horas apos a injecao. Em conclusao, foi demonstrado, pela primeira vez, que celulas B-1 sao capazes de regular a glicemia de camundongos diabeticos, caracterizando uma nova funcao para essas celulas. Nossos dados sugerem que o sobrenadante de cultura de celulas B-1 e composto por um fator que, como a insulina, e capaz de regular a glicemia de camundongos diabeticos em poucas horas, amenizando os sintomas de camundongos BALB/c e C57BL/6 e protegendo camundongos Xid do desenvolvimento do diabetes autoimune.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

Fractal geometry in solids and structures

Recognizing the invasive potential of the dermatophytes and understanding the mechanisms involved in this process will help with disease diagnosis and with developing an appropriate treatment plan. in this report, we present the histopathological, microbiological and immunological features of a model of invasive dermatophytosis that is induced by subcutaneous infection of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in healthy adult Swiss mice. Using this model, we observed that the fungus rapidly spreads to the popliteal lymph nodes, spleen, liver and kidneys. Similar to the human disease, the lymph nodes were the most severely affected sites. the fungal infection evoked acute inflammation followed by a granulomatous reaction in the mice, which is similar to what is observed in patients. the mice were able to mount a Th1-polarized immune response and displayed IL-10-mediated immune regulation. We believe that the model described here will provide valuable information regarding the dermatophyte-host relationship and will yield new perspective for a better understanding of the immunological and pathological aspects of invasive dermatophytosis. (c) 2012 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

Diabetes mellitus increases the susceptibility to encephalitozoonosis in mice.

Microsporidiosis are diseases caused by opportunistic intracellular fungi in immunosuppressed individuals, as well as in transplanted patients, the elderly and children, among others. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and decreased T cell response, neutrophil function, humoral immunity failure, increasing the susceptibility to infections. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetic and/or immunosuppressed mice to encephalitozoonosis by Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Microscopically, granulomatous hepatitis, interstitial pneumonia and pielonephritis were observed in all infected groups. STZ treatment induced an immunossupressor effect in the populations of B (B-1 and B2) and CD4+ T lymphocytes. Moreover, infection decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages of DM mice. Furthermore, infection induced a significant increase of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokine serum levels in DM mice. IFN-γ, the most important cytokine for the resolution of encephalitozoonosis, increased only in infected mice. In addition to the decreased immune response, DM mice were more susceptible to encephalitozoonosis, associated with increased fungal burden, and symptoms. Additionally, cyclophosphamide immunosuppression in DM mice further increased the susceptibility to encephalitozoonosis. Thus, microsporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of comorbidities in diabetics

Spleen immune cell analysis.

<p>Evaluation of B-2 (CD23⁺CD19⁺) cells, CD4⁺ (CD19^-CD8^-CD4+), and CD8⁺ (CD19^-CD4^-CD8⁺) T lymphocytes and macrophages (CD19^-F4/80⁺CD11b⁺) in spleen Cy immunosuppressed and STZ-induced DM mice infected with <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> compared with its controls. Two ways variance analysis (ANOVA) revealed * p<0,05.</p

Peritoneal immune cell analysis.

<p>Evaluation of B-1 (CD23^-CD19⁺), B-2 (CD23⁺CD19⁺), Pre-B-1CDP (CD19⁺CD11b⁺F4/80⁺) cells, CD4⁺ (CD19^-CD8^-CD4+), CD8⁺ (CD19^-CD4^-CD8⁺) T lymphocytes and macrophages (CD19^-F4/80⁺CD11b⁺) from PerC of STZ-induced DM mice infected with <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> compared with its controls. Two ways variance analysis (ANOVA) revealed * p<0,05.</p

Morphometric analyses of hepatic lesions from <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> infected mice.

<p>Lesions´ area of the liver from animals treated or not with cyclophosphamide (Cy) and treated or not with STZ to development of Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (DM).</p

Photomicrographs of histopathological lesions in <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi Infected</i> and <i>DM-Infected</i> mice.

<p>Liver—mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate located at A) parenchyma, B) portal vein, C) under capsule and D) <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> clusters into inflammatory infiltrate. Lungs–E and F) interstitial pneumonia. Kidney–G) pyelonephritis and H) nephritis (HE).</p

IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α cytokines levels in the serum of STZ-induced DM mice infected with <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> compared with its controls mice.

<p>+ and–means presence and absence, respectively, of STZ treatment and <i>E</i>. <i>cuniculi</i> infection. Two ways variance analysis (ANOVA) revealed * p<0,05 and **** p<0,0001.</p