Echeandia novogaliciana and E. crudeniana (Anthericaceae): Two new species from western Mexico

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation-induced immunosuppression is associated with increased concentration of circulating corticosterone and impaired cellular immune responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic HPA axis activation on the cellular immune response, Th1/Th2 cytokine profile, and concentration of corticosterone. Mice were divided into two groups: a control group comprised of healthy, untreated mice that received no stress, and an HPA axis-activated group that received stress through electric shock (ES). The delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrofluorobenzene, splenocyte proliferative response to mitogens Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, Th1 and Th2 profile, and TGF-?1 production were measured in plasma and in culture supernatants. The corticosterone concentration was also measured in plasma. In the ES group, elevated plasma corticosterone concentration was associated with immunosuppression and a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, and TGF-?1. In vitro IL-2 production in response to Con A was significantly lower in the ES group than in the control group. TGF-?1 production in nonstimulated and stimulated cultures in response to either mitogen was significantly lower in the ES group than in the control group. Plasma concentrations of IFN-? and IL-10 did not differ significantly between groups. The concentrations of IFN-?, IL-4, and IL-10 in the supernatants of splenocytes stimulated with either mitogen and IL-4 production by nonstimulated cells were significantly higher in the ES group than in the control group. These results suggest that corticosterone mediates the immunosuppression induced by HPA axis activation, and induces dysregulation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile. " 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.intimp.2005.11.011",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/40836","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33645033370&partnerID=40&md5=e52295f74b5d4d359820dce4b6016a72",,,,,,"5",,"International Immunopharmacology",,"77

Dysregulation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile is associated with immunosuppression induced by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in mice

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation-induced immunosuppression is associated with increased concentration of circulating corticosterone and impaired cellular immune responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic HPA axis activation on the cellular immune response, Th1/Th2 cytokine profile, and concentration of corticosterone. Mice were divided into two groups: a control group comprised of healthy, untreated mice that received no stress, and an HPA axis-activated group that received stress through electric shock (ES). The delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to dinitrofluorobenzene, splenocyte proliferative response to mitogens Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, Th1 and Th2 profile, and TGF-β1 production were measured in plasma and in culture supernatants. The corticosterone concentration was also measured in plasma. In the ES group, elevated plasma corticosterone concentration was associated with immunosuppression and a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, and TGF-β1. In vitro IL-2 production in response to Con A was significantly lower in the ES group than in the control group. TGF-β1 production in nonstimulated and stimulated cultures in response to either mitogen was significantly lower in the ES group than in the control group. Plasma concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10 did not differ significantly between groups. The concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 in the supernatants of splenocytes stimulated with either mitogen and IL-4 production by nonstimulated cells were significantly higher in the ES group than in the control group. These results suggest that corticosterone mediates the immunosuppression induced by HPA axis activation, and induces dysregulation of the Th1/Th2 cytokine profile. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Guadalajara camptodactyly type III: A new probably autosomal dominant syndrome

High-content screening led to the identification of the N-isobutylamide guineensine from Piper nigrum as novel nanomolar inhibitor (EC50 = 290 nM) of cellular uptake of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA). Noteworthy, guineensine did not inhibit endocannabinoid degrading enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) or monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) nor interact with cannabinoid receptors or fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5), a major cytoplasmic AEA carrier. Activity-based protein profiling showed no inhibition of serine hydrolases. Guineensine also inhibited the cellular uptake of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Preliminary structure-activity relationships between natural guineensine analogs indicate the importance of the alkyl chain length interconnecting the pharmacophoric isobutylamide and benzodioxol moieties for AEA cellular uptake inhibition. Guineensine dose-dependently induced cannabimimetic effects in BALB/c mice shown by strong catalepsy, hypothermia, reduced locomotion and analgesia. The catalepsy and analgesia were blocked by the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (SR141716A). Guineensine is a novel plant natural product which specifically inhibits endocannabinoid uptake in different cell lines independent of FAAH. Its scaffold may be useful to identify yet unknown targets involved in endocannabinoid transport. " 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",,,,,,"10.1016/j.phrs.2013.12.010",,,"http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12104/41824","http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84893051949&partnerID=40&md5=a22ec4b6e3c66397180b09288da1656

Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on the nonspecific and humoral immune responses in a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation model

We evaluated the immune response of healthy control and stressed Wistar rats submitted to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation. Rats were treated with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) orally (100 mg/kg per day for 7 days). EGb 761 stimulated the digestion index of peritoneal and alveolar macrophages (PM and AM) of stressed rats. Likewise, the cellular immune response measured using the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and the humoral immune response (measured through an anti-SRBC response), were also restored in stressed rats. Thus, this G. biloba extract possesses immunostimulatory activity in addition to its broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. � 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Efecto del inhibidor de amida hidrolasa de ácidos grasos en el daño neuronal dopaminérgico inducido por MPTP

Resumen: Introducción: La enfermedad de Parkinson) es un desorden neurodegenerativo caracterizado por problemas de equilibro, rigidez muscular y lentitud para realizar movimiento, debido a la pérdida de neuronas dopaminérgicas de la sustancia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) y la reducción de los niveles de dopamina. Se sabe que el sistema endocannabinoide modula el funcionamiento de la vía nigroestriatal, a través de ligandos endógenos como anandamida (AEA), que es hidrolizado por la hidrolasa amida de ácidos grasos (FAAH). El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en aumentar los niveles de AEA, a través de la inhibición de FAAH por URB-597 y evaluar la modulación que ejerce AEA en la muerte neuronal dopaminérgica inducida por 1-metil-4-fenil-1,2,3,6-tetrahidropiridina (MPTP). Métodos: Se incluyeron 4 grupos experimentales con una n = 6, el primero fue el grupo control sin tratamiento, un grupo al cual se le administró (0,2 mg/kg) URB-597 cada 3.er día durante 30 días, un grupo tratado con MPTP (30 mg/kg) por 5 días y un grupo inyectado con URB-597 + MPTP. Tres días después de la última administración de los grupos experimentales, se llevó a cabo la aplicación de los siguientes paradigmas conductuales: prueba de la barra vertical, barra inclinada y longitud de la zancada para comparar la coordinación motriz. Posteriormente, se analizó la inmunorreactividad de las células dopaminérgicas y de microglía en SNpc y cuerpo estriado (CE). Resultados: Los resultados muestran que el grupo tratado con URB-597 previo a la administración de MPTP, presentó un mejor desempeño en la realización de las pruebas conductuales comparados con los ratones que recibieron la administración de MPTP. Los hallazgos del análisis inmunohistoquímico de las células dopaminérgicas muestran que el grupo tratado con MPTP presenta una disminución en el número de células y fibras dopaminérgicas tanto en la SNpc y CE. En los animales tratados con URB-597 previo a la administración de MPTP se observó un aumento en la inmunorreactividad de tirosina hidroxilasa en comparación al grupo tratado con MPTP. Con respecto a la inmunorreactividad de las células de microglía, el grupo tratado con MPTP presentó una mayor inmunorreactividad a Iba-1 en el CE y la SNpc comparado con el grupo tratado con URB-597 previo a la administración de MPTP. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el URB-597 genera un efecto protector, al inhibir la muerte neuronal dopaminérgica, y disminución en la inmunorreactividad microglial y una mejora en las alteraciones motoras causadas por MPTP. Abstract: Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by balance problems, muscle rigidity, and slow movement due to low dopamine levels and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The endocannabinoid system is known to modulate the nigrostriatal pathway through endogenous ligands such as anandamide (AEA), which is hydrolysed by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). The purpose of this study was to increase AEA levels using FAAH inhibitor URB597 to evaluate the modulatory effect of AEA on dopaminergic neuronal death induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Methods: Our study included 4 experimental groups (n  =  6 mice per group): a control group receiving no treatment, a group receiving URB597 (0.2 mg/kg) every 3 days for 30 days, a group treated with MPTP (30 mg/kg) for 5 days, and a group receiving URB597 and subsequently MPTP injections. Three days after the last dose, we conducted a series of behavioural tests (beam test, pole test, and stride length test) to compare motor coordination between groups. We subsequently analysed immunoreactivity of dopaminergic cells and microglia in the SNpc and striatum. Results: Mice treated with URB597 plus MPTP were found to perform better on behavioural tests than mice receiving MPTP only. According to the immunohistochemistry study, mice receiving MPTP showed fewer dopaminergic cells and fibres in the SNpc and striatum. Animals treated with URB597 plus MPTP displayed increased tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity compared to those treated with MPTP only. Regarding microglial immunoreactivity, the group receiving MPTP showed higher Iba1 immunoreactivity in the striatum and SNpc than did the group treated with URB597 plus MPTP. Conclusion: Our results show that URB597 exerts a protective effect since it inhibits dopaminergic neuronal death, decreases microglial immunoreactivity, and improves MPTP-induced motor alterations. Palabras clave: Cannabinoides, Cuerpo estriado, Enfermedad de Parkinson, Neuroprotector, Sustancia nigra, Keywords: Cannabinoids, Striatum, Parkinson's disease, Neuroprotective, Substantia nigr