Modulation of peritoneal macrophage activity by the saturation state of the fatty acid moiety of phosphatidylcholine

To determine the effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in phosphatidylcholine (PC) on macrophage activity, peritoneal lavage cells were cultured in the presence of phosphatidylcholine rich in saturated or unsaturated fatty acids (sat PC and unsat PC, respectively), both used at concentrations of 32 and 64 µM. The treatment of peritoneal macrophages with 64 µM unsat PC increased the production of hydrogen peroxide by 48.3% compared to control (148.3 ± 16.3 vs 100.0 ± 1.8%, N = 15), and both doses of unsat PC increased adhesion capacity by nearly 50%. Moreover, 64 µM unsat PC decreased neutral red uptake by lysosomes by 32.5% compared to the untreated group (67.5 ± 6.8 vs 100.0 ± 5.5%, N = 15), while both 32 and 64 µM unsat PC decreased the production of lipopolysaccharide-elicited nitric oxide by 30.4% (13.5 ± 2.6 vs 19.4 ± 2.5 µM) and 46.4% (10.4 ± 3.1 vs 19.4 ± 2.5 µM), respectively. Unsat PC did not affect anion production in non-stimulated cells or phagocytosis of unopsonized zymosan particles. A different result pattern was obtained for macrophages treated with sat PC. Phorbol 12-miristate 13-acetate-elicited superoxide production and neutral red uptake were decreased by nearly 25% by 32 and 64 µM sat PC, respectively. Sat PC did not affect nitric oxide or hydrogen peroxide production, adhesion capacity or zymosan phagocytosis. Thus, PC modifies macrophage activity, but this effect depends on cell activation state, fatty acid saturation and esterification to PC molecule and PC concentration. Taken together, these results indicate that the fatty acid moiety of PC modulates macrophage activity and, consequently, is likely to affect immune system regulation in vivo.Fundação Araucári

Critical neuropsychobiological analysis of panic attack- and anticipatory anxiety-like behaviors in rodents confronted with snakes in polygonal arenas and complex labyrinths: a comparison to the elevated plus- and T-maze behavioral tests

Objective: To compare prey and snake paradigms performed in complex environments to the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and T-maze (ETM) tests for the study of panic attack- and anticipatory anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Methods: PubMed was reviewed in search of articles focusing on the plus maze test, EPM, and ETM, as well as on defensive behaviors displayed by threatened rodents. In addition, the authors’ research with polygonal arenas and complex labyrinth (designed by the first author for confrontation between snakes and small rodents) was examined. Results: The EPM and ETM tests evoke anxiety/fear-related defensive responses that are pharmacologically validated, whereas the confrontation between rodents and snakes in polygonal arenas with or without shelters or in the complex labyrinth offers ethological conditions for studying more complex defensive behaviors and the effects of anxiolytic and panicolytic drugs. Prey vs. predator paradigms also allow discrimination between non-oriented and oriented escape behavior. Conclusions: Both EPM and ETM simple labyrinths are excellent apparatuses for the study of anxiety- and instinctive fear-related responses, respectively. The confrontation between rodents and snakes in polygonal arenas, however, offers a more ethological environment for addressing both unconditioned and conditioned fear-induced behaviors and the effects of anxiolytic and panicolytic drugs

Trigeminal sensory neuropathy and facial contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp Neuropatia trigeminal sensitiva e dermatite de contato facial por Anthurium sp

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal sensory neuropathy (TSN) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders manifesting as facial numbness. OBJECTIVE: We report the case of a patient who had TSN associated with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp. METHOD/RESULTS: A 21-year-old female patient developed left hemifacial contact dermatitis after exposure to the anthurium plant. The patient had paresthesias and pain in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Eight days after its onset the dermatitis resolved, but numbness developed in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Cranial CT scan and MRI, as well as CSF and extensive work-up exams, were normal. After one month the symptoms disappeared completely. CONCLUSION: Anthurium sp, an indoor ornamental plant that contains calcium oxalate crystals, and can causes contact dermatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report associating TSN with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp.INTRODUÇÃO: A neuropatia trigeminal sensitiva (NTS) representa um grupo heterogêneo de doenças, cuja manifestação clínica é a presença de dormência na região facial. OBJETIVO: Relatamos o caso de paciente que apresenta NTS associada com dermatite de contato (DC) devido à planta Anthurium sp. MÉTODO/RESULTADOS: Uma paciente com 21 anos desenvolveu DC na região hemi-facial esquerda, após exposição à planta Anthurium sp. Após a resolução do quadro de dermatite, a referida paciente apresentou dormência e parestesias no território do segundo e terceiro ramos do nervo trigêmeo esquerdo. Um mês após o início do quadro houve resolução completa dos sintomas. CONCLUSÃO: O Anthurium é uma planta ornamental que contém cristas de oxalato de cálcio, que podem causar DC. Para o nosso conhecimento este é o primeiro relato associando NTS e dermatite de contato devido à exposição ao Anthurium sp