Modulation of macrophage mannose receptor affects the uptake of virulent and avirulent Leishmania donovani promastigotes

The effect of oxidants and the anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone on the attachment and internalization of virulent and avirulent Leishmania donovani promastigotes by the macrophage mannosyl fucosyl receptor was examined. Oxidants and dexamethasone are known to down- and upregulate the expression of the mannose receptor. Macrophages, when treated with 500 μM H2O2 at 37 C for 30 min, stimulate about 45% inhibition in uptake of an avirulent strain (UR6), and 30 and 25% inhibition for virulent strains AG-83 and GE-I, respectively. Treatment of macrophages with dexamethasone for 20 hr resulted in a stimulation in uptake of the parasite. When UR6 was used, a 3-fold increase in uptake was observed compared with the controls. Parasite uptake was also inhibited by the H2O2-generating system, glucose/glucose oxidase; inhibition was blocked by catalase. Treatment of macrophages either with H2O2 or dexamethasone did not affect the binding of the advanced glycosylation end product-bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA), the ligand for AGE receptor of macrophages. Similarly, indirect evidence also shows that both types 1 and 3 complement receptors (CR1, CR3) are not affected by these treatments, indicating that, besides the mannosyl fucosyl receptor, other receptors are minimally altered in the identified condition. These results suggest that the up- and downregulation of the mannose receptor of macrophages may play a role in affecting L. donovani infection

AN ASSESSMENT OF PLEUROPULMONARY POST-TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN EAST INDIA

Objectives: Quality of life of a patient may be impaired seriously in the aftermath of pleuropulmonary tuberculosis (TB) even after being cured or taking adequate treatment. Proper evaluation of post-TB sequelae is of extreme clinical importance. The study objective was to assess demographic, clinical, radiological, and spirometric pattern of pleuropulmonary post-TB patients in a teaching hospital. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in a teaching hospital in India over a period of 14 months. A total of 300 patients of more than 12 years of age from both genders were included in the study. Detailed history, clinical, radiological, microbiological, and spirometric evaluation were being carried out. Results: It was a male predominant study with male: female ratio of 2.29:1 and mean age of patient was 52.97 ± 0.51 (mean±standard error of mean) years. History of pleural and pulmonary TB was present in 11% and 89% of cases, respectively. Cough was present in all patients. Shortness of breath (86.33%) and hemoptysis (58.33%) were among other common presenting symptoms. In majority of cases, pulmonary involvement was unilateral (57%). Pleural fibrosis/thickening was seen in 11% of cases, lung parenchymal fibrosis 38.67%, bronchiectasis in 12.67%, and aspergilloma found in 7% of cases. Bacteriological positivity was detected in 14.33% of cases. Spirometric evaluation revealed restrictive pattern (50.20%) in most of the cases followed by obstructive pattern in 38.13% of cases. Conclusion: Respiratory symptoms, radiological, and spirometric abnormalities can present among pleuropulmonary post-TB patients as a sequelae. It may be considered as an important cause of chronic lung disease, particularly in high TB burden countries

Modulation of morphology and efficacy of new CB1 receptor antagonist using simple and benign polymeric additives

1014-1021The compound 1, [(1H-[1]benzoxepino[5,4-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide, 8-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-N- 1-piperidinyl], a known CB1 modulator has been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and single Crystal X-ray study. The single crystal study of 1 displays a number of halogen bonds leading to 1-D network along with other weak noncovalent interactions. The CB1 modulator 1 inherently possesses extremely low solubility in water, which makes its application as drug difficult, and this may be attributed to multiple halogen bonds present in the crystal structure. A series of polymer additives, which are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), have been explored to investigate whether they can modulate the halogen bond present in 1 through formation of various non-bonded interactions. Surprisingly, these polymers are found to change crystal morphology, crystal packing while retaining efficacy and bioavailability. The polymer molecular weight is found to play a significant role in crystal morphology modification especially in case of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The formation of new polymorphic forms of 1 and modification of halogen bond has been established using powder X-ray diffraction and IR study, respectively, in case of PEG 4000, PVPK-30, PVA polymers and compound 1 adducts

Modulation of morphology and efficacy of new CB1 receptor antagonist using simple and benign polymeric additives

The compound 1, [(1H-[1]benzoxepino[5,4-c]pyrazole-3-carboxamide, 8-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-N-1-piperidinyl], a known CB1 modulator has been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and single Crystal X-ray study. The single crystal study of 1 displays a number of halogen bonds leading to 1-D network along with other weak non-covalent interactions. The CB1 modulator 1 inherently possesses extremely low solubility in water, which makes its application as drug difficult, and this may be attributed to multiple halogen bonds present in the crystal structure. A series of polymer additives, which are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS), have been explored to investigate whether they can modulate the halogen bond present in 1 through formation of various non-bonded interactions. Surprisingly, these polymers are found to change crystal morphology, crystal packing while retaining efficacy and bioavailability. The polymer molecular weight is found to play a significant role in crystal morphology modification especially in case of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The formation of new polymorphic forms of 1 and modification of halogen bond has been established using powder X-ray diffraction and IR study, respectively, in case of PEG 4000, PVPK-30, PVA polymers and compound 1 adducts.

Macrophage Mannosyl Fucosyl Receptor: Its Role in Invasion of Virulent and Avirulent L. Donovani Promastigotes

The interaction of leishmania parasites with macrophages is known to be receptor mediated. Previous study from this laboratory (J. Parasitol. 82:632, 1996) showed the significant involvement of LPG and gp63 receptors in the recognition of virulent strains onto the macrophages. The role of carbohydrate receptors—the other major receptors besides LPG and gp63 receptors, in the recognition of both virulent (strains AG83 and GE1) and avirulent (strain UR6) leishmania onto the host macrophages has been the major focus of the present investigation. Various neoglycoproteins were used as efficient ligands to preblock the carbohydrate receptors on the macrophage surface. Similarly, various sugar specific lectins were used to preblock the corresponding carbohydrate ligands on the parasite surface. When these preblocked macrophages or parasites were used to study their mode of recognition, it was obvious from the findings that avirulent leishmania promastigotes possibly use the mannosyl fucosyl receptors (MFR) more avidly for their initial attachment and subsequent internalization into the macrophages whereas the virulent leishmania exhibits limited use of this receptor. When a macrophage-like cell line (J774), lacking in MFR, was purposely selected to test the previous findings, as expected, the attachment of avirulent promastigotes (UR6) onto the cell line was found to be negligible when compared to the peritoneal macrophages. Thus, it appears that avirulent leishmania promastigotes probably utilize MFR significantly for their initial recognition and subsequent internalization by macrophages

Leishmania phagolysosome: drug trafficking and protein sorting across the compartment

Survival or destruction of intramacrophage pathogen Leishmania depends in part on modulation of their host cell phagosome, capabilities of the infected macrophages to present parasite antigen to the host's immune system. Macrophages house these parasites as amastigotes in the acidic phagolysosomal compartment. Leishmania phagolysosome is the potential site for processing and presentation of its antigen as well as being the target site for chemotherapy in leishmaniasis. It is thought that the parasites are killed from macrophage activation by lymphokines secreted from either helper T1 cells or CD8<SUP>+</SUP> T cells. Characterization of both the host and parasite molecules in the compartment in the context of biogenesis of Leishmania-phagolysosome and processing of the parasite antigen by this compartment are discussed. Trafficking of different drugs and new agents through this compartment and their role in chemotherapy and necessity of developing new drug carrier are also stressed

fMLP Receptor Stimulated Activation of Macrophage: Its Effect on Killing of Intracellular Leishmania donovani

The fMLP receptor of peritoneal macrophages stimulated by fMLP grafted liposomes as ligand, was analysed and compared with respective controls for its ability to promote killing of intracellular Leishmania parasites. fMLP grafted liposomes show greater efficacy in killing intracellular L. donoûani (MHOM�IN�1983�AG83) parasites in a time dependent manner than free fMLP. fMLP grafted liposomes also release more active oxygen intermediates and reactive nitrogen intermediates (O−2 , H2O2 , NO) than free fMLP. The key enzymes PKC and PTK for the respiratory burst and nitric oxide generation were found to be important in this fMLP receptor mediated signaling process as the enzyme specific inhibitors viz. staurosporine, genistein and AG126 suppressed the leishmanicidal effect of fMLP grafted liposomes. The above findings suggest that the fMLP receptor of macrophages activates PKC and PTK mediated signalling that is responsible for the intracellular parasite killing

Ligation of Fc receptor of Macrophages Stimulates Protein Kinase C and Anti-Leishmanial Activity

Fc receptors are known to express on the surface of mature monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes. In this study a ligand e.g. liposomal IgG (human IgG coupled to PE-liposome via carbodimide reaction) was developed to ligate the Fc receptor of macrophages. When liposomal IgG was incubated with macrophages at 37°C for 5 min, it induced the macrophage activation which suppress the parasite burden approximatley to an extent of 60%, 50% and 45%, when macrophages were infected with UR6, AG83 and GE1 strains of L-donovani respectively. Superior efficacy of liposomal IgG were achieved compared to the treatment with free IgG and free liposomes. The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) has been found to be higher in the Fc receptor targeted macrophage membrane fraction, suggesting its translocation from the cytosol. Staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC) has been found to protect the parasite inside the macrophage indicating the role of PKC in the signaling process. The liposomal IgG treatment has been found to induce the generation of significant amount of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide which helped to suppress the parasite burden. Further when liposomal IgG were incubated with IFN-g primed, LPS activated macrophages, a significant amount of NO release was also noticed, indicating its role in parasite killing. The above results suggest that Fc receptor mediated activation by liposomal IgG may be used as an alternative approach to kill parasites intracellularly

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation: An uncommon disease with common presentation

A 45-year-old male presented with massive hemoptysis, clubbing in all limbs, disproportionate hypoxia and persistent ill-defined shadow in left lower zone in chest radiograph since his childhood. The patient received empirical anti-tuberculosis treatment and the chest X-ray finding was misinterpreted as tuberculoma. Subsequently, CT pulmonary angiography proved it to be a case of a simple type solitary pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with a saccular aneurysm in left lower lobe