Avaliação da atividade imunomoduladora de extratos de peles e glândulas parotóides de anuros do semi-árido brasileiro

The skin of amphibians has been characterized by the presence of several chemical products with diverse biological activities. These compounds participate as defense mechanisms against pathogens and harmful substances to which amphibians are exposed in their natural habitats. This work aimed to investigate the pharmacological activity of skin and gland extracts prepared from species of anures native or endemic from Brazilian semi-arid region with emphasis on immunomodulatory activity. Aqueous extracts were prepared by homogenization of skins of seven anure species (Hypsiboas crepitans, Hyspsiboas albopunctatus, Bokermannohyla oxente, Leptodactylus ocellatus, Chaunus rubescens, Ceratophrys joazeirensis e Chaunus jimi) and of glands of two species (Chaunus rubescens and Chaunus jimi). To evaluate the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by the extracts, we used J774 cells stimulated with IFN-g and LPS and measured the nitrite concentration using the Griess method 24 hour later. For lymphoproliferation assays, BALB/c mice spleen cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A in the presence or absence of extracts being the proliferative response determined by 3H-thymidine uptake quantification. Of the nine extracts analyzed, five had inhibitory activity superior to 50% in lymphoproliferation assay (skin extract of C. rubescens, B. oxente, Chaunus. jimi, L. ocellatus and gland extract of C. rubescens) and only one extract inhibited NO production (Chaunus rubescens). The results demonstrate that anure species from the Brazilian semi-arid are a potential source of molecules with immunomodulatory activity. Studies aiming to isolate and characterize the active molecule in the skin of C. rubescens are being carried out.A pele dos anfíbios possui uma variedade de produtos químicos com diversas atividades biológicas. Esses compostos participam dos mecanismos de defesa contra patógenos e substâncias estranhas aos quais os anfíbios são expostos em seu habitat. Esse trabalho teve o objetivo de investigar a atividade farmacológica de extratos de peles e glândulas de anuros do semi-árido brasileiro visando à identificação de substâncias com atividade imunomoduladora. Extratos aquosos foram preparados a partir de homogeneização das peles de sete espécies de anuros Hypsiboas crepitans, Hypsiboas albopunctatus, Bokermannohyla oxente, Leptodactylus ocellatus, Chaunus rubescens, Ceratophrys joazeirensis e Chaunus jimi) e das glândulas de duas espécies de anuros (Chaunus rubescens e Chaunus jimi). Para avaliar a inibição da produção de óxido nítrico (NO) pelos extratos, foram utilizadas células da linhagem J774 estimuladas com IFN-g e LPS, medindo-se a concentração de nitrito após 24 horas pelo método de Griess. Nos ensaios de linfoproliferação, esplenócitos de camundongos BALB/c foram estimulados com concanavalina A na presença ou ausência dos extratos, determinando-se a proliferação por meio da avaliação da incorporação de 3H-timidina. Dos nove extratos analisados, cinco apresentaram atividade inibitória superior a 50% no ensaio de linfoproliferação (extrato de pele de C. rubescens, B. oxente, C. jimi, L. ocellatus e de glândula de C. rubescens) e apenas um extrato inibiu a produção de NO (C. rubescens). Os resultados demonstram que os anuros do semi-árido são fontes potenciais de moléculas imunossupressoras. Outros estudos estão sendo realizados com o objetivo de isolar e caracterizar as moléculas ativas na pele de C. rubescens

Spontaneous cytokine production in children according to biological characteristics and environmental exposures.

BACKGROUND: Environmental factors are likely to have profound effects on the development of host immune responses, with serious implications for infectious diseases and inflammatory disorders such as asthma. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of environmental exposures on the cytokine profile of children. METHODS: The study involved measurement of T helper (Th) 1 (interferon-gamma), 2 [interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13], and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 in unstimulated peripheral blood leukocytes from 1,376 children 4-11 years of age living in a poor urban area of the tropics. We also assessed the impact of environmental exposures in addition to biological characteristics recorded at the time of blood collection and earlier in childhood (0-3 years before blood collection). RESULTS: The proportion of children producing IL-10 was greater among those without access to drinking water [p < 0.05, chi-square test, odds ratio (OR) = 1.67]. The proportion of children producing IL-5 and IL-10 (OR = 10.76) was significantly greater in households that had never had a sewage system (p < 0.05, trend test). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence for the profound effects of environmental exposures in early life as well as immune homeostasis in later childhood. Decreased hygiene (lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation) in the first 3 years of life is associated with higher spontaneous IL-10 production up to 8 years later in life

Protective effects of mito-TEMPO against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in mice

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic that is widely used for the treatment of many human tumors. However, the development of cardiotoxicity has limited its use. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible efficacy of mito-TEMPO (mito-T) as a protective agent against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in mice. C57BL/6 mice were treated twice with mito-T at low (5 mg/kg body weight) or high (20 mg/kg body weight) dose and once with DOX (24 mg/kg body weight) or saline (0.1 mL/20 g body weight) by means of intraperitoneal injections. The levels of malondialdehyde (MLDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, and serum levels of creatine kinase were evaluated 48 h after the injection of DOX. DOX induced lipid peroxidation in heart mitochondria (p < 0.001), and DOX-treated mice receiving mito-T at low dose had levels of MLDA significantly lower than the mice that received only DOX (p < 0.01). Furthermore, administration of mito-T alone did not cause any significant changes from control values. Additionally, DOX-treated mice treated with mito-T at high dose showed decrease in serum levels of total CK compared to mice treated with DOX alone (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that mito-T protects mice against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia-FAPESB, State Government of Bahia, BrazilFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, BrazilConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq, Ministry of Science and Technology, BrazilFundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Goncallo Moniz Res Ctr, Rua Waldemar Falcao 121, BR-40296710 Salvador, BA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Imunol Celular & Bioquim Fungos & Protozoario, Sao Paulo, BrazilUCL, London, EnglandUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Imunol Celular & Bioquim Fungos & Protozoario, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Toxocara Seropositivity, Atopy and Wheezing in Children Living in Poor Neighbourhoods in Urban Latin American

Background Toxocara canis and T. cati are parasites of dogs and cats, respectively, that infect humans and cause human toxocariasis. Infection may cause asthma-like symptoms but is often asymptomatic and is associated with a marked eosinophilia. Previous epidemiological studies indicate that T. canis infection may be associated with the development of atopy and asthma. Objectives To investigate possible associations between Toxocara spp. seropositivity and atopy and childhood wheezing in a population of children living in non-affluent areas of a large Latin American city. Methods The study was conducted in the city of Salvador, Brazil. Data on wheezing symptoms were collected by questionnaire, and atopy was measured by the presence of aeroallergen-specific IgE (sIgE). Skin prick test (SPT), total IgE and peripheral eosinophilia were measured. Toxocara seropositivity was determined by the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies, and intestinal helminth infections were determined by stool microscopy. Findings Children aged 4 to 11 years were studied, of whom 47% were seropositive for anti-Toxocara IgG; eosinophilia >4% occurred in 74.2% and >10% in 25.4%; 59.6% had elevated levels of total IgE; 36.8% had sIgE≥0.70 kU/L and 30.4% had SPT for at least one aeroallergen; 22.4% had current wheezing symptoms. Anti-Toxocara IgG was positively associated with elevated eosinophils counts, total IgE and the presence of specific IgE to aeroallergens but was inversely associated with skin prick test reactivity. Conclusion The prevalence of Toxocara seropositivity was high in the studied population of children living in conditions of poverty in urban Brazil. Toxocara infection, although associated with total IgE, sIgE and eosinophilia, may prevent the development of skin hypersensitivity to aeroallergens, possibly through increased polyclonal IgE and the induction of a modified Th2 immune reaction

Journal of Immunological Methods

Texto completo: acesso restrito. p. 199–205A semi-quantitative ELISA for complement-fixing, IgG-containing immune complexes (IC) is described. The assay is based on the insolubilization of IC by polyethyleneglycol, their capture by solid-phase anti-C3 antibodies, reaction with peroxidase-labeled anti-IgG antibodies and incubation with a chromogenic peroxidase substrate. It was markedly improved by the use of a single-step procedure which simultaneously washed and precipitated the insolubilized immune complexes. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were lower than 8.6 and 14.7%, respectively. As expected, higher levels of circulating immune complexes, in relation to healthy individuals, were found in patients with American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with prevalences comparable to those described in the literature. The ELISA can be quickly assembled from reagents and plasticware widely available commercially, detects immune complexes fulfilling three different criteria and is more sensitive than a previously published method based on the same principles (detection limit for complement-sensitized aggregated IgG of 2 μg ml−1 as compared with a detection limit above 16 μg ml−1)

Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase lacks trans-sialidase activity.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-10T12:26:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes de Carvalho LC Trypanosoma rangeli....pdf: 612529 bytes, checksum: 4537b1144a56b929bdf5857fddf0ac24 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-10T12:27:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes de Carvalho LC Trypanosoma rangeli....pdf: 612529 bytes, checksum: 4537b1144a56b929bdf5857fddf0ac24 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-10T12:37:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes de Carvalho LC Trypanosoma rangeli....pdf: 612529 bytes, checksum: 4537b1144a56b929bdf5857fddf0ac24 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1993New York University Medical Center. Michael Heidelberger Division of Immunology. Department of Pathology and Kaplan Cancer Center. New York, NY / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilNew York University Medical Center. Michael Heidelberger Division of Immunology. Department of Pathology and Kaplan Cancer Center. New York, NYNew York University Medical Center. Michael Heidelberger Division of Immunology. Department of Pathology and Kaplan Cancer Center. New York, NYExtracts and tissue culture supernatants of axenic forms of T. rangeli were assayed for the presence of sialidase and trans-sialidase activities. Using sialyl(alpha 2-3)lactose, sialyl(alpha 2-6)lactose, poly(alpha 2-8)N-acetylneuraminic acid, fetuin and 4-methylumbelliferyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid as sialic acid donors, and lactose as a sialic acid acceptor, no trans-sialidase activity was detected. Nevertheless, T. rangeli lysates and culture supernatants contain a sialidase that hydrolyzes sialyl(alpha 2-3)lactose, and much less efficiently sialyl(alpha 2-6)lactose, but not poly(alpha 2-8)N-acetylneuraminic acid. T. cruzi trans-sialidase hydrolyzed only sialyl(alpha 2-3)lactose under the same conditions. The T. rangeli and the T. cruzi enzymes differ antigenically and in their pH optimum for hydrolase activity

Circulating trans-sialidase activity and trans-sialidase-inhibiting antibodies in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-09T16:46:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alcantara N NM Circulating....pdf: 764426 bytes, checksum: 5944d5474da91486002043b53a0614d4 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-09T16:46:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Alcantara N NM Circulating....pdf: 764426 bytes, checksum: 5944d5474da91486002043b53a0614d4 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-09T16:56:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alcantara N NM Circulating....pdf: 764426 bytes, checksum: 5944d5474da91486002043b53a0614d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1995Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laborat6rio de Imunologia Molecular e Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Púbica. Salvador, BA, BrasilParasite-derived trans-sialidase (TS) activity was demonstrated in the serum and blood of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice. Serum TS activity levels correlated well with parasitemia in BALB/c and Swiss mice during the initial stages of the infection. However, in later stages the TS activity levels decreased despite increasing parasitemia. This coincided with the appearance of circulating TS antibodies. On the other hand, there was always a good correlation between TS activity and parasitemia in athymic nude mice. Sera from mice with high parasitemia and low TS activity inhibited TS activity in vitro. The inhibition was also observed with purified serum IgG, and it was absorbed by staphylococcal protein A, indicating that it was caused by anti-TS IgG antibodies. These antibodies inhibited the enzymatic activity of insolubilized TS, indicating that they act by interfering with the catalytic site rather than by aggregating the enzyme. The presence of inhibitory antibodies, however, did not prevent the progression of parasitemia in BALB/c mice

A Question of nature: some antigens are bound to be allergens

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-12T18:04:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes-de-Carvalho LC A question of....pdf: 389690 bytes, checksum: 45862e60d32032b6300f36fe0d8cf7f9 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-09-12T18:04:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes-de-Carvalho LC A question of....pdf: 389690 bytes, checksum: 45862e60d32032b6300f36fe0d8cf7f9 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-09-12T18:16:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes-de-Carvalho LC A question of....pdf: 389690 bytes, checksum: 45862e60d32032b6300f36fe0d8cf7f9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Social Changes. Asthma and Allergy in Latin America – SCAALA. Program. Salvador, BA, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Faculty of Medicine of Petropolis. FMP-FASE. Petrópolis, RJ, Brasil

Restriction in the repertoire of detectable autoantibodies in polyclonal B cell activations and the mimicry of autoantigens by idiotopes

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2012-12-18T21:21:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes de Carvalho, L.C. et al. Restriction in the repertoire....pdf: 299447 bytes, checksum: ebac18f0f4667d6d4a2944748ed9b90a (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2012-12-18T21:21:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pontes de Carvalho, L.C. et al. Restriction in the repertoire....pdf: 299447 bytes, checksum: ebac18f0f4667d6d4a2944748ed9b90a (MD5) Previous issue date: 1987Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Despite the existence of erythrocyte-autoreactive B cells in normal animals, erythrocyte-autoantibodies could not be detected during polyclonal B-cell activation (PBA) both in patients with visceral leishmaniasis and in bacterial lipopolysacharide (LPS) - injected mice. The failure to detect these autoantibodies in mice with PBA di not seem to be due to suppressor-cell activity, since (1) transfer of spleen cells from LPS-treated mice to naive recipients did not affect the erythrocyte-autoantibody response elicited by subsequent injections of rat erythrocytes and (2) low doses of X-radiation did no lead to erythrocyte-autoantibody detection in LPS-treated mice. The possibility that the detection of erytrocyte-autoantibodies could be affected by autoantibodies with idiotopes mimicring erythrocyte epitopes, the synthesis of which would also be triggerred in PBA, is discussed. Indirect evidence for the existence in normal animal of an expanded lymphocyte population with DNP-binding. Ia-mimicring antigen receptors is presente

An investigation of the clonality of human autoimmune thyroglobulin antibodies and their light chains

Pontes-de-Carvalho, Lain Carlos “Documento produzido em parceria ou por autor vinculado à Fiocruz, mas não consta à informação no documento”.Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2017-09-04T13:33:12Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5) Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5)Rejected by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]), reason: artigo duplicado on 2017-09-04T13:34:05Z (GMT)Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2017-09-04T13:34:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5) Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2017-09-04T13:48:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5) Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-04T13:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5) Nye L. An investigation on the clonlity.....pdf: 1794582 bytes, checksum: 2b68c756a56da7622f0ff8d6c8d1fcfc (MD5) Previous issue date: 1981Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico.Middlesex Hospital Medical School. Department of Immunology. London, USAMiddlesex Hospital Medical School. Department of Immunology. London, USAMiddlesex Hospital Medical School. Department of Immunology. London, USAThyroglobulin antibodies in the sera from 31 patients with a variety of disorders were studied by isoelectric focusing. Only one gave a spectrotype indicative of a monoclonal response, the other 30 giving spectrotypes characteristic of polyclonal responses. There was evidence of clonal dominance in some of the sera and each gave a different spectrotype. Light chains were prepared from five thyroglobulin antibodies purified by affinity chromatography. There was no restriction in the spectrotypes when compared with light chains prepared from normal immunoglobulin