The influence of protein malnutrition on the production of GM-CSF and M-CSF by macrophages

It is well established that protein malnutrition (PM) impairs immune defenses and increases susceptibility to infection. Macrophages are cells that play a central role in innate immunity, constituting one of the first barriers against infections. Macrophages produce several soluble factors, including cytokines and growth factors, important to the immune response. Among those growth factors, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). GM-CSF and M-CSF are important to monocyte and macrophage development and stimulation of the immune response process. Knowing the importance of GM-CSF and M-CSF, we sought to investigate the influence of PM on macrophage production of these growth factors. Two-month-old male BALB/c mice were subjected to PM with a low-protein diet (2%) and compared to a control diet (12%) mouse group. Nutritional status, hemogram and the number of peritoneal cells were evaluated. Additionally, peritoneal macrophages were cultured and the production of GM-CSF and M-CSF and mRNA expression were evaluated. To determine if PM altered macrophage production of GM-CSF and M-CSF, they were stimulated with TNF-α. The PM animals had anemia, leukopenia and a reduced number of peritoneal cells. The production of M-CSF was not different between groups; however, cells from PM animals, stimulated with or without TNF-α, presented reduced capability to produce GM-CSF. These data imply that PM interferes with the production of GM-CSF, and consequently would affect the production and maturation of hematopoietic cells and the immune response

Short-term high-fat diet affects macrophages inflammatory response, early signs of a long-term problem

Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Most studies observe the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD) in 10–12 weeks. This work investigated the effects induced by a HFD administered for 6 weeks on the nutritional status of mice and some aspects of the inflammatory response in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Male Swiss Webster mice, 2–3 months of age, were fed a control diet or HFD for 6 weeks. After this period, the mice were euthanized, and peritoneal macrophages were collected for immunoassays and assessment of biochemical parameters. A HFD was associated with increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, and serum resistin levels. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated adipocyte cultures of animals subjected to a HFD showed increased production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, peritoneal macrophages of the HFD group showed no changes in the levels of these cytokines. LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from HFD-treated animals showed a reduction in mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as a decrease in expression of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB). In conclusion, HFD treatment for 6 weeks induces similar signs to metabolic syndrome and decreases the capacity of peritoneal macrophages to develop an appropriate inflammatory response to a bacterial component

Bioprospecting of probiotics with antimicrobial activities against Salmonella Heidelberg and that produce B-complex vitamins as potential supplements in poultry nutrition

The demand for animal protein for human consumption has been risen exponentially. Modern animal production practices are associated with the regular use of antibiotics, potentially increasing the emerging multi-resistant bacteria, which may have a negative impact on public health. In poultry production, substances capable of maximizing the animals’ performance and displaying an antimicrobial activity against pathogens are very well desirable features. Probiotic can be an efcient solution for such a task. In the present work, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from chicken cecum and screened for their antagonistic efect towards many pathogens. Their capacity of producing the B-complex vitamins folate and ribofavin were also evaluated. From 314 isolates, three (C43, C175 and C195) produced Bacteriocin-Like Inhibitory Substances (BLIS) against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition zones of 18.9, 21.5, 19.5mm, respectively) and also inhibited the growth of Salmonella Heidelberg. The isolate C43 was identifed as Enterococcus faecium, while C173 and C195 were both identifed as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. Moreover, the isolates L. lactis subsp. lactis strains C173 and C195 demonstrated high potential to be used as probiotic in poultry feed, in addition to their advantage of producing folate (58.0 and 595.5ng/ mL, respectively) and ribofavin (223.3 and 175.0ng/mL, respectively).Fil: da Silva Sabo, Sabrina. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Mendes, Maria Anita. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: da Silva Araújo, Elias. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bicudo de Almeida Muradian, Ligia. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Makiyama, Edson Naoto. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Leblanc, Jean Guy Joseph. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Borelli, Primavera. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Fock, Ricardo Ambrósio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Knöbl, Terezinha. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Pinheiro de Souza Oliveira, Ricardo. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos para camundongos das linhagens C57BL/6, Swiss Webster e BALB/c

The use of animals in scientific research has contributed significantly to the development of science, promoting various advances in understanding the metabolic machinery and the discovery of treatments and preventive measures applied to human and veterinary medicine. The development and use of alternative methods is encouraged; however, in some situations, the use of animals in accordance with ethical policies is still required. Established hematological and clinical chemistry reference values in laboratory animals are essential to evaluate functional changes; however, there are few data in the literature on these values, being fundamentally a comparative basis. The aim of this investigation was the establishment of hematological and clinical chemistry reference values in common strains/stocks of mice used in animal experimentation. Blood profile (hemogram, reticulocytes and myelogram) and clinical chemistry serum determination of total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus were evaluated using C57BL/6, BALB/c and Swiss Webster mice, male, 2-3 months old. The results standardize reference intervals in animals reared in Laboratory Animal Facility, reflecting the expected condition in rodents subjected to scientific research.O uso de animais na pesquisa científica tem contribuído significativamente para o desenvolvimento da ciência, promovendo vários avanços na compreensão da maquinaria metabólica, bem como a descoberta de tratamentos e medidas preventivas aplicadas à medicina humana e veterinária. O desenvolvimento e utilização de métodos alternativos é encorajado, no entanto, em algumas situações, ainda é necessária a utilização de animais em conformidade com termos éticos. Estabelecer valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos para animais de laboratório é essencial para avaliar alterações funcionais, no entanto, existem poucos dados na literatura sobre estes valores, sendo fundamentalmente uma base comparativa. O presente trabalho foi delineado para estabelecer valores de referência hematológicos e bioquímicos em linhagens camundongos utilizados em pesquisa científica. Foram avaliados o perfil sanguíneo (hemograma, reticulócitos e mielograma) e a determinação bioquímica sérica de proteínas totais, albumina, glicose, colesterol, triglicerídeos, cálcio e fósforo. Foram utilizados camundongos C57BL/6, BALB/c e Swiss Webster, do sexo masculino, 2-3 meses de idade. Os resultados padronizam intervalos de referência em camundongos criados em Biotério, refletindo a condição esperada nesses animais submetidos à investigação científica

Immune spleen cells attenuate the inflammatory profile of the mesenteric perivascular adipose tissue in obese mice

The perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) differs from other fat depots and exerts a paracrine action on the vasculature. The spleen has an important role in the immune response, and it was observed to have either a protective role or a contribution to obesity-related diseases. However, the relation between spleen and PVAT is elusive in obesity. We investigated the role of spleen in the inflammatory profile of the mesenteric PVAT (mPVAT) from mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Male C57Bl/6 mice were sham-operated or splenectomized (SPX) and fed a HFD for 16 weeks. mPVAT morphology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, infiltrated immune cells were evaluated by flow cytometry, inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by ELISA and the splenic cell chemotaxis mediated by mPVAT was evaluated using a transwell assay. In SPX mice, HFD induced adipocyte hypertrophy and increased immune cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine levels in mPVAT. However, none of these effects were observed in mPVAT from sham-operated mice. Spleen from HFD fed mice presented reduced total leukocytes and increased inflammatory markers when compared to the spleen from control mice. Chemotaxis of spleen cells mediated by mPVAT of HFD fed mice was reduced in relation to standard diet fed mice. The spleen protects mPVAT against the effects of 16-week HFD. This information was missing, and it is important because PVAT is different from other fat depots and data cannot be extrapolated from any type of adipose tissue to PVAT

A Review of the Action of Magnesium on Several Processes Involved in the Modulation of Hematopoiesis

Magnesium (Mg2+) is an essential mineral for the functioning and maintenance of the body. Disturbances in Mg2+ intracellular homeostasis result in cell-membrane modification, an increase in oxidative stress, alteration in the proliferation mechanism, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mg2+ deficiency often results in inflammation, with activation of inflammatory pathways and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by immune cells. Immune cells and others that make up the blood system are from hematopoietic tissue in the bone marrow. The hematopoietic tissue is a tissue with high indices of renovation, and Mg2+ has a pivotal role in the cell replication process, as well as DNA and RNA synthesis. However, the impact of the intra- and extracellular disturbance of Mg2+ homeostasis on the hematopoietic tissue is little explored. This review deals specifically with the physiological requirements of Mg2+ on hematopoiesis, showing various studies related to the physiological requirements and the effects of deficiency or excess of this mineral on the hematopoiesis regulation, as well as on the specific process of erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and thrombopoiesis. The literature selected includes studies in vitro, in animal models, and in humans, giving details about the impact that alterations of Mg2+ homeostasis can have on hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic tissue