Toll receptors type-2 and CR3 expression of canine monocytes and its correlation with immunohistochemistry and xenodiagnosis in visceral leishmaniasis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate TLR2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes from dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum to determine whether it correlates with CD11b/CD18 (CR3) expression, and to evaluate the potential of dogs as sources of infection using phlebotomine xenodiagnosis. Forty eight dogs were serologically diagnosed with L. infantum infection by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Parasitological exams from bone-marrow aspirates were positive by PCR analysis. All dogs were clinical defined as symptomatic. Ear skin tissue samples were obtained for immunohistochemistry (IHQ) analysis. The potential of these dogs as a source of infection using phlebotomine xenodiagnosis (XENO) was evaluated. Flow cytometry was carried out on peripheral blood mononuclear cells using superficial receptors including CD14, CD11b, TLR2 and MHCII. IHQ ear skin tissue parasite load and XENO where done where we found a strict correlation (r = 0.5373). Dogs with higher expression of MFI of CD11b inside CD14 monocytes were represented by dogs without parasite ear tissue load that were unable to infect phlebotomines (IHQ⁻/XENO⁻). Dogs with lower expression of MFI of CD11b inside CD14 monocytes were represented by dogs with parasite ear tissue load and able to infect phlebotomines (IHQ⁺/XENO⁺) (p = 0,0032). Comparable results were obtained for MFI of MHCII (p = 0.0054). In addition, considering the population frequency of CD11b⁺TLR2⁺ and CD11b⁺MHCII⁺, higher values were obtained from dogs with IHQ⁻/XENO⁻ than dogs with IHQ⁺/XENO⁺ (p = 0.01; p = 0.0048, respectively). These data, together with the TLR2 and NO assays results (CD11b⁺TLR2⁺ and NO with higher values for dogs with IHQ⁻/XENO⁻ than dogs with IHQ⁺/XENO⁺, led to the conclusion that IHQ⁻/XENO⁻ dogs are more resistant or could modulate the cellular immune response essential for Leishmania tissue clearance

Synthesis of 16 New Hybrids from Tetrahydropyrans Derivatives and Morita˗Baylis˗Hillman Adducts: In Vitro Screening against Leishmania donovani

Leishmaniases are a group of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by protozoan parasites from >20 Leishmania species. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala‐aza, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis, usually fatal in the absence of treatment in 95% of cases. The Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman adducts (MBHAs) are being explored as drug candidates against several diseases, one of them being leishmaniasis. We present here the design, synthesis and in vitro screening against Leishmania donovani of sixteen new molecular hybrids from analgesic/antiinflammatory tetrahydropyrans derivatives and Morita˗Baylis˗Hillman adducts. First, acrylates were synthesized from analgesic/anti‐inflammatory tetrahydropyrans using acrylic acid under TsOH as a catalyst (70–75% yields). After the 16 new MBHAs were prepared in moderate to good yields (60–95%) promoted by microwave irradiation or low temperature (0 °C) in protic and aprotic medium. The hybrids were evaluated in vitro on the promastigote stage of Leishmania donovani by determining their inhibitory concentrations 50% (IC50), 50% hemolysis concentration (HC50), selectivity index (HC50/IC50,), and comparing to Amphotericin B, chosen as the anti‐leishmanial reference drug. The hybrid which presents the bromine atom in its chemical structure presents high leishmanicide activity and the high selectivity index in red blood cells (SIrb > 180.19), compared with the highly‐toxic reference drug (SIrb = 33.05), indicating that the bromine hybrid is a promising compound for further biological studies

Identification of monocytes subpopulation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in naturally infected dogs with <i>Leishmania (L.) infantum.</i>

<p>Panel A has depicted the gate of monocytes based on SSC <i>versus</i> CD14/FL3 expression dot plot (SSC^intermediateCD14^hight+) subpopulation; Panel B, geometric mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CD11b <i>versus</i> cells number (previous subpopulation selection). Panel C (representative dotplot) showing gates that were set, based on negative controls (cell and isotype)</p

Quantitative study by Real Time PCR (RT-PCR) of the skin tissue parasite load.

<p>Dogs naturally infected with <i>Leishmania (L.) chagasi</i> of double positive XENO⁺/IHQ⁺ (n = 17) <i>versus</i> double negative XENO-/IHQ- (n = 16) groups were analyzed. The load was carried out using RT-PCR with primers specific for a simple-copy gene of DNA polymerase of <i>Leishmania chagasi.</i> Xeno⁺/IHQ⁺ (mean =  5.440.292,60), Xeno⁻/IHQ⁻ (mean =  1.495,217). Significant differences, at a level of 5% of probability, between cohorts were identified by the lower case letter (a) through Mann-Whitney Test.</p