TLR2- and 4-independent immunomodulatory effect of high molecular weight components from Ascaris suum

Components of high molecular-weight (PI) obtained from Ascaris suum extract down-regulate the Th1/Th2-related immune responses induced by ovalbumin (OVA)-immunization in mice. Furthermore, the PI down-modulates the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to activate T lymphocytes by an IL-10-mediated mechanism. Here, we evaluated the role of toll like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and 4) in the modulatory effect of PI on OVA-specific immune response and the PI interference on DC full activation. An inhibition of OVA-specific cellular and humoral responses were observed in wild type (WT) or in deficient in TLR2 (TLR2(-/-)) or 4 (TLR4(-/-)) mice immunized with OVA plus PI when compared with OVA-immunized mice. Low expression of class II MHC, CD40, CD80 and CD86 molecules was observed in lymph node (LN) cells from WT, TLR2(-/-) or TLR4(-/-) mice immunized with OVA plus PI compared with OVA-primed cells. We also verified that PI was able to modulate the activation of DCs derived from bone marrow of WT, TLR2(-/-) or TLR4(-/-) mice induced in vitro by agonists of TLRs, as observed by a decreased expression of class II MHC and costimulatory molecules and by low secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Its effect was accompanied by IL-10 synthesis. In this sense, the modulatory effect of PI on specific-immune response and DC activation is independent of TLR2 or TLR4.FAPESP, 2007/56883-7FAPESP, 2010/10393-1CAPESFAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), 2008/04201-2FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), 2011/23735-0CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Cytotoxicity of cashew flavonoids towards malignant cell lines

The leaves of the Cashew plant (Anacardium occidentale L.) are used by the folk medicine in South America and West Africa. This plant is rich in flavonoids, which are polyphenolic compounds widespread in plants, and that have diverse physiological effects. In a sub-acute toxicity assay it was found that an ethanolic extract of Cashew leaves elicited lymphopenia in rats. The extract was also found to be cytotoxic and to induce apoptosis in Jurkat (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) cells. The crude ethanolic extract was fractionated and resolved by HPLC. One of the four fractions obtained led to the isolation of the biflavonoid agasthisflavone. [H-3]-thymidine incorporation assays and flow cytometry analysis showed that the isolated compound displayed a high anti-proliferative effect in Jurkat cells with an IC50 of 2.4 mu g/ml (4.45 mu M). The effect of agathisflavone on the acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60, Burkitt lymphoma Raji cells and Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cells was also tested. The two latter ones were only mildly affected by agathisflavone. It is also shown that agathisflavone induces apoptosis in Jurkat cells and it this proposed that this is the likely mechanism of agathisflavone specific cytotoxicity. (C) 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.Bryan Gunns Leukaemia Appeal (UK)Bryan Gunn's Leukaemia Appeal (UK

N-Acetylcysteine reduced ischemia and reperfusion damage associated with steatohepatitis in mice

This research was funded by CAPES—PROAP, 2017, Post graduate Program in Surgical Clinics; PQ10/2012—National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) grant number: 308995/2012-0.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Surgery. Laboratory of Surgial Physiopathology. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Emergency Medicine. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Surgery. Laboratory of Surgial Physiopathology. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Surgery. Laboratory of Surgial Physiopathology. São Paulo, SP, Brazil / Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital de Clinicas. Instituto Central. Department of Surgery. General and Trauma Surgery Division. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Farmacologia. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas. Departamento de Farmacologia. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrônica. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Surgery. Laboratory of Surgial Physiopathology. São Paulo, SP, Brazil / Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital de Clinicas. Instituto Central. Department of Surgery. General and Trauma Surgery Division. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Department of Surgery. Laboratory of Surgial Physiopathology. São Paulo, SP, Brazil / Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Hospital de Clinicas. Instituto Central. Department of Surgery. General and Trauma Surgery Division. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a pharmacological alternative with great potential for reducing the deleterious effects of surgical procedures on patients with steatohepatitis. We evaluated the effect of NAC on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in C57BL/6J mice, 8 weeks-old, weighing 25–30 g, with steatohepatitis induced by a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Groups: MCD group (steatohepatitis), MCD-I/R group (steatohepatitis plus 30 min of 70% liver ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion), MCD-I/R+NAC group (same as MCD-I/R group plus 150 mg/kg NAC 15 min before ischemia), and control group (normal AIN-93M diet). Liver enzymes and histopathology; nitrite and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) levels; pro-inflammatory cytokines; antioxidants enzymes; Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2) expression; and apoptosis were evaluated. In the group treated with NAC, reductions in inflammatory infiltration; AST (aspartate aminotransferase), nitrite, and TBARS levels; GPx (gutathione peroxidase) activity; cytokines synthesis; and number of apoptotic cells were observed while the GR (glutathione reductase) activity was increased. No differences were observed in Nfr2 expression or in SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), and GST (glutathione S-transferase) activities. Thus, it may be concluded that NAC exerts beneficial effects on mice livers with steatohepatitis submitted to I/R by reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cell death