In vivo bone marrow microenvironment siRNA delivery using lipid-polymer nanoparticles for multiple myeloma therapy.

Multiple myeloma (MM), a hematologic malignancy that preferentially colonizes the bone marrow, remains incurable with a survival rate of 3 to 6 mo for those with advanced disease despite great efforts to develop effective therapies. Thus, there is an urgent clinical need for innovative and more effective MM therapeutics. Insights suggest that endothelial cells within the bone marrow microenvironment play a critical role. Specifically, cyclophilin A (CyPA), a homing factor secreted by bone marrow endothelial cells (BMECs), is critical to MM homing, progression, survival, and chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, inhibition of CyPA provides a potential strategy to simultaneously inhibit MM progression and sensitize MM to chemotherapeutics, improving therapeutic response. However, inhibiting factors from the bone marrow endothelium remains challenging due to delivery barriers. Here, we utilize both RNA interference (RNAi) and lipid-polymer nanoparticles to engineer a potential MM therapy, which targets CyPA within blood vessels of the bone marrow. We used combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput in vivo screening methods to engineer a nanoparticle platform for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery to bone marrow endothelium. We demonstrate that our strategy inhibits CyPA in BMECs, preventing MM cell extravasation in vitro. Finally, we show that siRNA-based silencing of CyPA in a murine xenograft model of MM, either alone or in combination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MM therapeutic bortezomib, reduces tumor burden and extends survival. This nanoparticle platform may provide a broadly enabling technology to deliver nucleic acid therapeutics to other malignancies that home to bone marrow.

Essential role of the CCL2-CCR2 axis in Mayaro virus-induced disease.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging arbovirus member of the Togaviridae family and Alphavirus genus. MAYV infection causes an acute febrile illness accompanied by persistent polyarthralgia and myalgia. Understanding the mechanisms involved in arthritis caused by alphaviruses is necessary to develop specific therapies. In this work, we investigated the role of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in the pathogenesis of MAYV-induced disease. For this, wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J and CCR2-/- mice were infected with MAYV subcutaneously and evaluated for disease development. MAYV infection induced an acute inflammatory disease in WT mice. The immune response profile was characterized by an increase in the production of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, TNF, and CCL2. Higher levels of CCL2 at the local and systemic levels were followed by the significant recruitment of CCR2+ macrophages and a cellular response orchestrated by these cells. CCR2-/- mice showed an increase in CXCL-1 levels, followed by a replacement of the macrophage inflammatory infiltrate by neutrophils. Additionally, the absence of the CCR2 receptor protected mice from bone loss induced by MAYV. Accordingly, the silencing of CCL2 chemokine expression in vivo and the pharmacological blockade of CCR2 promoted a partial improvement in disease. Cell culture data support the mechanism underlying the bone pathology of MAYV, in which MAYV infection promotes a pro-osteoclastogenic microenvironment mediated by CCL2, IL-6, and TNF, which induces the migration and differentiation of osteoclast precursor cells. Overall, these data contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of MAYV infection and the identification future of specific therapeutic targets in MAYV-induced disease.IMPORTANCEThis work demonstrates the role of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in MAYV-induced disease. The infection of wild-type (WT) C57BL/6J and CCR2-/- mice was associated with high levels of CCL2, an important chemoattractant involved in the recruitment of macrophages, the main precursor of osteoclasts. In the absence of the CCR2 receptor, there is a mitigation of macrophage migration to the target organs of infection and protection of these mice against bone loss induced by MAYV infection. Much evidence has shown that host immune response factors contribute significantly to the tissue damage associated with alphavirus infections. Thus, this work highlights molecular and cellular targets involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis triggered by MAYV and identifies novel therapeutic possibilities directed to the host inflammatory response unleashed by MAYV.

Tissue-resident glial cells associate with tumoral vasculature and promote cancer progression.

Cancer cells are embedded within the tissue and interact dynamically with its components during cancer progression. Understanding the contribution of cellular components within the tumor microenvironment is crucial for the success of therapeutic applications. Here, we reveal the presence of perivascular GFAP+/Plp1+ cells within the tumor microenvironment. Using in vivo inducible Cre/loxP mediated systems, we demonstrated that these cells derive from tissue-resident Schwann cells. Genetic ablation of endogenous Schwann cells slowed down tumor growth and angiogenesis. Schwann cell-specific depletion also induced a boost in the immune surveillance by increasing tumor-infiltrating anti-tumor lymphocytes, while reducing immune-suppressor cells. In humans, a retrospective in silico analysis of tumor biopsies revealed that increased expression of Schwann cell-related genes within melanoma was associated with improved survival. Collectively, our study suggests that Schwann cells regulate tumor progression, indicating that manipulation of Schwann cells may provide a valuable tool to improve cancer patients' outcomes.

House dust mite sensitization drives cross-reactive immune responses to homologous helminth proteins.

The establishment of type 2 responses driven by allergic sensitization prior to exposure to helminth parasites has demonstrated how tissue-specific responses can protect against migrating larval stages, but, as a consequence, allow for immune-mediated, parasite/allergy-associated morbidity. In this way, whether helminth cross-reacting allergen-specific antibodies are produced and play a role during the helminth infection, or exacerbate the allergic outcome awaits elucidation. Thus, the main objective of the study was to investigate whether house dust mite (HDM) sensitization triggers allergen-specific antibodies that interact with Ascaris antigens and mediate antibody-dependent deleterious effects on these parasites as well as, to assess the capacity of cross-reactive helminth proteins to trigger allergic inflammation in house dust mite presensitized mice. Here, we show that the sensitization with HDM-extract drives marked IgE and IgG1 antibody responses that cross-react with Ascaris larval antigens. Proteomic analysis of Ascaris larval antigens recognized by these HDM-specific antibodies identified Ascaris tropomyosin and enolase as the 2 major HDM homologues based on high sequence and structural similarity. Moreover, the helminth tropomyosin could drive Type-2 associated pulmonary inflammation similar to HDM following HDM tropomyosin sensitization. The HDM-triggered IgE cross-reactive antibodies were found to be functional as they mediated immediate hypersensitivity responses in skin testing. Finally, we demonstrated that HDM sensitization in either B cells or FcγRIII alpha-chain deficient mice indicated that the allergen driven cell-mediated larval killing is not antibody-dependent. Taken together, our data suggest that aeroallergen sensitization drives helminth reactive antibodies through molecular and structural similarity between HDM and Ascaris antigens suggesting that cross-reactive immune responses help drive allergic inflammation.

Eosinophils mediate SIgA production triggered by TLR2 and TLR4 to control Ascaris suum infection in mice.

Human ascariasis is the most prevalent but neglected tropical disease in the world, affecting approximately 450 million people. The initial phase of Ascaris infection is marked by larval migration from the host's organs, causing mechanical injuries followed by an intense local inflammatory response, which is characterized mainly by neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration, especially in the lungs. During the pulmonary phase, the lesions induced by larval migration and excessive immune responses contribute to tissue remodeling marked by fibrosis and lung dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the relationship between SIgA levels and eosinophils. We found that TLR2 and TLR4 signaling induces eosinophils and promotes SIgA production during Ascaris suum infection. Therefore, control of parasite burden during the pulmonary phase of ascariasis involves eosinophil influx and subsequent promotion of SIgA levels. In addition, we also demonstrate that eosinophils also participate in the process of tissue remodeling after lung injury caused by larval migration, contributing to pulmonary fibrosis and dysfunction in re-infected mice. In conclusion, we postulate that eosinophils play a central role in mediating host innate and humoral immune responses by controlling parasite burden, tissue inflammation, and remodeling during Ascaris suum infection. Furthermore, we suggest that the use of probiotics can induce eosinophilia and SIgA production and contribute to controlling parasite burden and morbidity of helminthic diseases with pulmonary cycles.

Artificial-intelligence-based decision support tools for the differential diagnosis of colitis.

BACKGROUND: Whereas Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools have recently been introduced in the field of gastroenterology, application in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is in its infancies. We established AI-based algorithms to distinguish IBD from infectious and ischemic colitis using endoscopic images and clinical data. METHODS: First, we trained and tested a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using 1796 real-world images from 494 patients, presenting with three diseases (IBD [n = 212], ischemic colitis [n = 157], and infectious colitis [n = 125]). Moreover, we evaluated a Gradient Boosted Decision Trees (GBDT) algorithm using five clinical parameters as well as a hybrid approach (CNN + GBDT). Patients and images were randomly split into two completely independent datasets. The proposed approaches were benchmarked against each other and three expert endoscopists on the test set. RESULTS: For the image-based CNN, the GBDT algorithm and the hybrid approach global accuracies were .709, .792, and .766, respectively. Positive predictive values were .602, .702, and .657. Global areas under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and precision recall (PR) curves were .727/.585, .888/.823, and .838/.733, respectively. Global accuracy did not differ between CNN and endoscopists (.721), but the clinical parameter-based GBDT algorithm outperformed CNN and expert image classification. CONCLUSIONS: Decision support systems exclusively based on endoscopic image analysis for the differential diagnosis of colitis, representing a complex clinical challenge, seem not yet to be ready for primetime and more diverse image datasets may be necessary to improve performance in future development. The clinical value of the proposed clinical parameters algorithm should be evaluated in prospective cohorts.

A suitable model to investigate acute neurological consequences of coronavirus infection.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The present study aimed to investigate the neurochemical and behavioral effects of the acute consequences after coronavirus infection through a murine model. MATERIAL: Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally (i.n) with the murine coronavirus 3 (MHV-3). METHODS: Mice underwent behavioral tests. Euthanasia was performed on the fifth day after infection (5 dpi), and the brain tissue was subjected to plaque assays for viral titration, ELISA, histopathological, immunohistochemical and synaptosome analysis. RESULTS: Increased viral titers and mild histological changes, including signs of neuronal degeneration, were observed in the cerebral cortex of infected mice. Importantly, MHV-3 infection induced an increase in cortical levels of glutamate and calcium, which is indicative of excitotoxicity, as well as increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ) and reduced levels of neuroprotective mediators (BDNF and CX3CL1) in the mice brain. Finally, behavioral analysis showed impaired motor, anhedonia-like and anxiety-like behaviors in animals infected with MHV-3. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the data presented emulate many aspects of the acute neurological outcomes seen in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, this model may provide a preclinical platform to study acute neurological sequelae induced by coronavirus infection and test possible therapies.

A Biosafety Level 2 Mouse Model for Studying Betacoronavirus-Induced Acute Lung Damage and Systemic Manifestations.

The emergence of life-threatening zoonotic diseases caused by betacoronaviruses, including the ongoing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, has highlighted the need for developing preclinical models mirroring respiratory and systemic pathophysiological manifestations seen in infected humans. Here, we showed that C57BL/6J wild-type mice intranasally inoculated with the murine betacoronavirus murine hepatitis coronavirus 3 (MHV-3) develop a robust inflammatory response leading to acute lung injuries, including alveolar edema, hemorrhage, and fibrin thrombi. Although such histopathological changes seemed to resolve as the infection advanced, they efficiently impaired respiratory function, as the infected mice displayed restricted lung distention and increased respiratory frequency and ventilation. Following respiratory manifestation, the MHV-3 infection became systemic, and a high virus burden could be detected in multiple organs along with morphological changes. The systemic manifestation of MHV-3 infection was also marked by a sharp drop in the number of circulating platelets and lymphocytes, besides the augmented concentration of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-12, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), thereby mirroring some clinical features observed in moderate and severe cases of COVID-19. Importantly, both respiratory and systemic changes triggered by MHV-3 infection were greatly prevented by blocking TNF signaling, either via genetic or pharmacologic approaches. In line with this, TNF blockage also diminished the infection-mediated release of proinflammatory cytokines and virus replication of human epithelial lung cells infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Collectively, results show that MHV-3 respiratory infection leads to a large range of clinical manifestations in mice and may constitute an attractive, lower-cost, biosafety level 2 (BSL2) in vivo platform for evaluating the respiratory and multiorgan involvement of betacoronavirus infections. IMPORTANCE Mouse models have long been used as valuable in vivo platforms to investigate the pathogenesis of viral infections and effective countermeasures. The natural resistance of mice to the novel betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has launched a race toward the characterization of SARS-CoV-2 infection in other animals (e.g., hamsters, cats, ferrets, bats, and monkeys), as well as adaptation of the mouse model, by modifying either the host or the virus. In the present study, we utilized a natural pathogen of mice, MHV, as a prototype to model betacoronavirus-induced acute lung injure and multiorgan involvement under biosafety level 2 conditions. We showed that C57BL/6J mice intranasally inoculated with MHV-3 develops severe disease, which includes acute lung damage and respiratory distress that precede systemic inflammation and death. Accordingly, the proposed animal model may provide a useful tool for studies regarding betacoronavirus respiratory infection and related diseases.

Deep learning-based detection of eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: For eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a substantial diagnostic delay is still a clinically relevant phenomenon. Deep learning-based algorithms have demonstrated potential in medical image analysis. Here we establish a convolutional neuronal network (CNN)-based approach that can distinguish the appearance of EoE from normal findings and candida esophagitis. METHODS: We trained and tested a CNN using 484 real-world endoscopic images from 134 subjects consisting of three classes (normal, EoE, and candidiasis). Images were split into two completely independent datasets. The proposed approach was evaluated against three trainee endoscopists using the test set. Model-explainability was enhanced by deep Taylor decomposition. RESULTS: Global accuracy (0.915 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.880-0.940]), sensitivity (0.871 [95 %CI 0.819-0.910]), and specificity (0.936 [95 %CI 0.910-0.955]) were significantly higher than for the endoscopists on the test set. Global area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.966 [95 %CI 0.954-0.975]. Results were highly reproducible. Explainability analysis found that the algorithm identified the characteristic signs also used by endoscopists. CONCLUSIONS: Complex endoscopic classification tasks including more than two classes can be solved by CNN-based algorithms. Therefore, our algorithm may assist clinicians in making the diagnosis of EoE.

Nitric oxide contributes to liver inflammation and parasitic burden control in Ascaris suum infection.

BACKGROUND: Human ascariasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide. The immune response during human ascariasis is characterized by Th2 polarization and a mixed Th2/Th17 response during the pathogenesis of experimental larval ascariasis. Cytokines and other pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), are involved in helminthic infections. However, the role of NO in ascariasis remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: Given the importance of NO in inflammation, we aimed to determine the immunological and histopathological alterations in the livers of C57BL/6 iNOS-/- mice during A. suum infection. METHODS: In this study, parasitic load was evaluated in the livers of wild type C57BL/6 and C57BL/6 iNOS-/- mice infected with A. suum. Histopathological and morphometric analyses and analysis of serum cytokines via Cytometric Bead Array were performed, and the activity of eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase of neutrophils in the tissues were determined. RESULTS: The results showed that NO is important for controlling parasitic load during infection by A. suum. C57BL/6iNOS-/- mice showed reduced inflammatory processes and less tissue damage during liver larval migration of A. suum, which is associated with a reduction in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that NO is a crucial inflammatory molecule during Ascaris sp. infection and controls the establishment of the parasite and the development of the host immune response in the liver.

Strategies adopted by undergraduate teaching assistants in physiology and biophysics education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected almost all aspects of our lives, including the education sector and the way of teaching and learning. In March 2020, health authorities in Brazil imposed social isolation and the interruption of on-site activities in schools and universities. In this context, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), one of the largest universities in Brazil and Latin America, developed an emergency remote learning (ERL) plan that allowed the return of classes in an online format and supported students to obtain access to equipment and internet network. Within this new perspective, the Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA) program of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics (DFIB) explored strategies to minimize the impact of the absence of face-to-face classes. Using different available tools in online platforms and social media such as Microsoft Teams, YouTube animated video classes, and Instagram, the UTA program assisted >500 undergraduate students and strongly supported professors during ERL. In just over a year, our video classes on YouTube Channel reached ∼40,000 views. Most of the students reported that their questions were fully and quickly solved by the UTA program. Collectively, our results indicate that the strategies implemented by the UTA program helped the undergraduate students and professors to adapt to a remote learning format.

Two-Photon Imaging for Non-Invasive Corneal Examination.

Two-photon imaging (TPI) microscopy, namely, two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and second-harmonic generation (SHG) modalities, has emerged in the past years as a powerful tool for the examination of biological tissues. These modalities rely on different contrast mechanisms and are often used simultaneously to provide complementary information on morphology, metabolism, and structural properties of the imaged tissue. The cornea, being a transparent tissue, rich in collagen and with several cellular layers, is well-suited to be imaged by TPI microscopy. In this review, we discuss the physical principles behind TPI as well as its instrumentation. We also provide an overview of the current advances in TPI instrumentation and image analysis. We describe how TPI can be leveraged to retrieve unique information on the cornea and to complement the information provided by current clinical devices. The present state of corneal TPI is outlined. Finally, we discuss the obstacles that must be overcome and offer perspectives and outlooks to make clinical TPI of the human cornea a reality.

A historical and systematic overview of Ascaris vaccine development.

Ascariasis is the most prevalent helminth infection in the world and leads to significant, life-long morbidity, particularly in young children. Current efforts to control and eradicate ascariasis in endemic regions have been met with significant challenges including high-rates of re-infection and potential development of anthelminthic drug resistance. Vaccines against ascariasis are a key tool that could break the transmission cycle and lead to disease eradication globally. Evolution of the Ascaris vaccine pipeline has progressed, however no vaccine product has been brought to human clinical trials to date. Advancement in recombinant protein technology may provide the first step in generating an Ascaris vaccine as well as a pan-helminthic vaccine ready for human trials. However, several roadblocks remain and investment in new technologies will be important to develop a successful human Ascaris vaccine that is critically needed to prevent significant morbidity in Ascaris-endemic regions around the world.

Immunological underpinnings of Ascaris infection, reinfection and co-infection and their associated co-morbidities.

Human ascariasis is the most common and prevalent neglected tropical disease and is estimated that ~819 million people are infected around the globe, accounting for 0.861 million years of disability-adjusted life years in 2017. Even with the existence of highly effective drugs, the constant presence of infective parasite eggs in the environment contribute to a high reinfection rate after treatment. Due to its high prevalence and broad geographic distribution Ascaris infection is associated with a variety of co-morbidities and co-infections. Here, we provide data from both experimental models and humans studies that illustrate how complex is the interaction of Ascaris with the host immune system, especially, in the context of reinfections, co-infections and associated co-morbidities.

Allergic Sensitization Underlies Hyperreactive Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cell Responses in Coincident Filarial Infection.

Among the various hypotheses put forward to explain the modulatory influence of helminth infection on allergic effector responses in humans, the IL-10-induced suppression of Th2-associated responses has been the leading candidate. To explore this helminth/allergy interaction more fully, parasite- and allergen-specific CD4(+) T cell responses in 12 subjects with filarial infections, and coincident allergic sensitization (filarial [Fil](+)allergy [A](+)) were compared with the responses to three appropriate control groups (Fil(-)A(-) [n = 13], Fil(-)A(+) [n = 12], Fil(+)A(-) [n = 11]). The most important findings revealed that Fil(+)A(+) had marked (p < 0.0001 for all cytokines) increases in parasite Ag-driven Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), Th9 (IL-9), and the regulatory (IL-10) cytokines when compared with Fil(+)A(-) Moreover, using multiparameter flow cytometry, filarial parasite Ag induced a marked increase in not only the frequency of CD4(+) T cells producing IL-4, IL-5, IL-2, and TNF-α in Fil(+)A(+) when compared with Fil(+)A(-) patients, but also in the frequencies of polyfunctional Th2-like (CD4(+)IL-4(+)IL-5(+) and CD4(+)IL-2(+)IL-4(+)IL-5(+)TNF-α(+)) cells. The Th2-associated responses seen in the Fil(+)A(+) group were correlated with serum IgE levels (p < 0.01, r = 0.5165 for IL-4; p < 0.001, r = 0.5544 for IL-5; and p < 0.001, r = 0.4901 for IL-13) and levels of circulating eosinophils (p < 0.0116, r = 0.5656) and their degranulation/activation products (major basic protein [p < 0.001, r = 0.7353] and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin [p < 0.01, r = 0.7059]). CD4(+) responses to allergen were not different (to a large extent) among the groups. Taken together, our data suggest that allergic sensitization coincident with filarial infection drives parasite Ag-specific T cell hyperresponsiveness, which is characterized largely by an augmented Th2-dominated immune response.

Corneal Nerve Migration Rate in a Healthy Control Population.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to establish an age-dependent normative range and factors affecting the migration rate of the corneal subbasal nerve plexus in a healthy control population. METHODS: Corneal nerve migration rate was measured in 60 healthy participants grouped by age: A, aged 20 to 39 years (n = 20); B, 40 to 59 years (n = 20); and C, 60 to 79 years (n = 20). Laser-scanning corneal confocal microscopy was performed on the right eye of all participants at baseline and again after 3 weeks. Fully automated software was used to montage the frames. Distinctive nerve landmarks were manually reidentified between the two montages, and a software program was developed to measure the migration of these landmark points to determine corneal nerve migration rate in micrometers per week (µm/wk). RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of all participants in the study was 47.5 ± 15.5 years; 62% of participants were male. The average corneal nerve migration rates of groups A, B, and C were 42.0 ± 14.0, 42.3 ± 15.5, and 42.0 ± 10.8 µm/wk, respectively (P = .99). There was no difference in corneal nerve migration rate between male (41.1 ± 13.5 µm/wk) and female (43.7 ± 13.2 µm/wk) participants (P = .47). There was no significant correlation between age (P = .97), smoking (P = .46), alcohol use (P = .61), and body mass index (P = .49, respectively) with corneal nerve migration rate. However, exercise frequency correlated significantly (P = .04) with corneal nerve migration rate. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal nerve migration rate varies in healthy individuals and is not affected by age, sex, or body mass index but is related to physical activity.

Dynamic remodeling of arteriolar collaterals after acute occlusion in chick chorioallantoic membrane.

OBJECTIVE: After arteriolar occlusion, collaterals enlarge and initially elevated WSS normalizes. While most previous studies focused on endpoints of such adaptive changes in larger collaterals, the present investigation aimed to continuously determine the relation between WSS and diameter in microvascular collaterals during adaptive reactions. METHODS: In Hamburger-Hamilton stage 40 CAMs, junction points between arteriolar segments were identified and the third upstream segment on one side was occluded. Intravital microscopy recordings were taken for 24 hours post-occlusion. Segment diameter and blood velocity were measured: WSS and capillary density were calculated. RESULTS: After occlusion, vascular diameters exhibited an immediate decrease, then increased with a time constant of 2.5 ± 0.8 hours and reached a plateau of up to 60% above baseline after about 7 hours. Vascular tone showed no significant change. WSS exhibited an immediate increase post-occlusion and linearly returned to baseline after about 12 hours. Local WSS change and diameter change rate showed similar patterns during the initial but not the later phase of post-occlusive adaptation. CONCLUSIONS: CAM collaterals undergo fast structural remodeling within 24 hours post-occlusion. This remodeling might be driven by local WSS and by other regulators within the vascular network.

Regulatory monocytes in helminth infections: insights from the modulation during human hookworm infection.

BACKGROUND: While the macrophage polarization is well characterized in helminth infections, the natural heterogeneity of monocytes with multiple cell phenotypes might influence the outcome of neglected diseases, such hookworm infection. Here, we report the profile of monocytes in human hookworm infections as a model to study the regulatory subpopulation of monocytes in helminth infections. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 19 Necator americanus-infected individuals and 13 healthy individuals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and immunophenotyping was conducted by flow cytometry. The expressions of genes encoding human nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin 4 (IL-4), arginase-1 (Arg-1) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase were quantified by qPCR. Plasma levels of IL-4 were determined by sandwich ELISA. Unpaired t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests were used depending on the data distribution. RESULTS: Hookworm infected individuals (HWI) showed a significant increase in the number of monocytes/mm3 (555.2 ± 191.0) compared to that of the non-infected (NI) individuals (120.4 ± 44.7) (p < 0.0001). While the frequencies of CD14+IL-10+ and CD14+IL-12+ cells were significantly reduced in the HWI compared to NI group (p = 0.0289 and p < 0.0001, respectively), the ratio between IL-10/IL-12 producing monocytes was significantly elevated in HWI (p = 0.0004), indicating the potential regulatory activity of these cells. Measurement of IL-4 levels and gene expression of IL-4 and Arg-1 (highly expressed in alternatively activated macrophages) revealed no significant differences between the NI and HWI groups. Interestingly, individuals from the HWI group had higher expression of the iNOS gene (associated with a regulatory profile) (20.27 ± 2.97) compared to the NI group (11.28 ± 1.18, p = 0.0409). Finally, individuals from the HWI group had a significantly higher frequency of CD206+CD23+IL-10+ (7.57 ± 1.96) cells compared to individuals from the NI group (0.35 ± 0.09) (p < 0.001), suggesting that activated monocytes are a potential source of regulatory cytokines during hookworm infection. CONCLUSIONS: Natural hookworm infection induces a high frequency of circulating monocytes that present a regulatory profile and promote the downmodulation of the proinflammatory response, which may contribute to prolonged survival of the parasite in the host.

Immunoregulatory mechanisms in Chagas disease: modulation of apoptosis in T-cell mediated immune responses.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Chagas disease presents different clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic (namely indeterminate) to severe cardiac and/or digestive. Previous results have shown that the immune response plays an important role, although no all mechanisms are understood. Immunoregulatory mechanisms such as apoptosis are important for the control of Chagas disease, possibly affecting the morbidity in chronic clinical forms. Apoptosis has been suggested to be an important mechanism of cellular response during T. cruzi infection. We aimed to further understand the putative role of apoptosis in Chagas disease and its relation to the clinical forms of the disease. METHODS: Apoptosis of lymphocytes, under antigenic stimuli (soluble T. cruzi antigens - TcAg) where compared to that of non-stimulated cells. Apoptosis was evaluated using the expression of annexin and caspase 3(+) by T cells and the percentage of cells positive evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition activation and T cell markers were used for the identification of TCD4(+) and TCD8(+) subpopulations. The presence of intracellular and plasma cytokines were also evaluated. Analysis of the activation status of the peripheral blood cells showed that patients with Chagas disease presented higher levels of activation determined by the expression of activation markers, after TcAg stimulation. PCR array were used to evaluate the contribution of this mechanism in specific cell populations from patients with different clinical forms of human Chagas disease. RESULTS: Our results showed a reduced proliferative response associated a high expression of T CD4(+)CD62L(-) cells in CARD patients when compared with IND group and NI individuals. We also observed that both groups of patients presented a significant increase of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets in undergoing apoptosis after in vitro stimulation with T. cruzi antigens. In CARD patients, both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells expressing TNF-α were highly susceptible to undergo apoptosis after in vitro stimulation. Interestingly, the in vitro TcAg stimulation increased considerably the expression of cell death TNF/TNFR superfamily and Caspase family receptors genes in CARD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that apoptosis may be an important mechanism for the control of morbidity in T. cruzi infection by modulating the expression of apoptosis genes, the cytokine environment and/or killing of effector cells.

Behavior and identification of ephemeral sand dunes at the backshore zone using video images.

The backshore zone is transitional environment strongly affected by ocean, air and sand movements. On dissipative beaches, the formation of ephemeral dunes over the backshore zone plays significant contribution in the beach morphodynamics and sediment budget. The aim of this work is to describe a novel method to identify ephemeral dunes in the backshore region and to discuss their morphodynamic behavior. The beach morphology is identified using Argus video imagery, which reveals the behavior of morphologies at Cassino Beach, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Daily images from 2005 to 2007, topographic profiles, meteorological data, and sedimentological parameters were used to determine the frequency and pervasiveness of these features on the backshore. Results indicated that coastline orientation relative to the dominant NE and E winds and the dissipative morphological beach state favored aeolian sand transport towards the backshore. Prevailing NE winds increase sand transportation to the backshore, resulting in the formation of barchans, transverse, and barchanoid-linguiod dunes. Precipitation inhibits aeolian transport and ephemeral dune formation and maintains the existing morphologies during strong SE and SW winds, provided the storm surge is not too high.