Phytoestrogen Agathisflavone Ameliorates Neuroinflammation-Induced by LPS and IL-1ß and Protects Neurons in Cocultures of Glia/Neurons.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are common aspects of most neurodegenerative diseases in the central nervous system. In this context, microglia and astrocytes are central to mediating the balance between neuroprotective and neurodestructive mechanisms. Flavonoids have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here, we have examined the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential of the flavonoid agathisflavone (FAB), which is derived from the Brazilian plant Poincianella pyramidalis, in in vitro models of neuroinflammation. Cocultures of neurons/glial cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL) or interleukin (IL)-1ß (10 ng/mL) for 24 h and treated with FAB (0.1 and 1 µM, 24 h). FAB displayed a significant neuroprotective effect, as measured by nitric oxide (NO) production, Fluoro-Jade B (FJ-B) staining, and immunocytochemistry (ICC) for the neuronal marker ß-tubulin and the cell death marker caspase-3, preserving neuronal soma and increasing neurite outgrowth. FAB significantly decreased the LPS-induced microglial proliferation, identified by ICC for Iba-1/bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and CD68 (microglia M1 profile marker). In contrast, FAB had no apparent effect on astrocytes, as determined by ICC for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Furthermore, FAB protected against the cytodestructive and proinflammatory effects of IL-1ß, a key cytokine that is released by activated microglia and astrocytes, and ICC showed that combined treatment of FAB with α and ß estrogen receptor antagonists did not affect NF-κB expression. In addition, qPCR analysis demonstrated that FAB decreased the expression of proinflammatory molecules TNF-α, IL-1ß, and connexins CCL5 and CCL2, as well as increased the expression of the regulatory molecule IL-10. Together, these findings indicate that FAB has a significant neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect in vitro, which may be considered as an adjuvant for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Screening on prenatal infections in the South and Southwest macro-regions in the State of Bahia, Brazil: detected on paper filter / Triagem pré-natal de infecções nas macrorregiões sul e sudoeste do estado da Bahia, Brasil: detectadas em papel de filtro

Abstract Objectives: to estimate the detection rate on prenatal screening pathologies on paper filter in the South and Southwest in the State of Bahia, as well as to delineate the epidemiological profile of these pregnant women, calculate and estimate the rate of adherence and the coverage of the Program. Methods: a descriptive study was carried out from August 2013 to August 2015, and the data were obtained from the Labimuno/ICS/UFBA. Results: 64,743 pregnant women were included; the mean ages were 25 years for the Southwest macro-region and 23 for the South. The results on the screening tests showed positivity of 0.13% and 0.29% for HBsAg, 0.17% and 0.22% for cytomegalovirus, 0.07% and 0.09% for HCV, 0.13% and 0.38% for HTLV, 0.04% and 0.19% for HIV, 1.2% and 2.84% for syphilis, and 0.54% and 0.73% for toxoplasmosis in the Southwest and South macro-regions, respectively. The estimates on coverage were considered satisfactory. Sickle cell anemia showed positivity of 0.02% and of 0.04% and 5% and 6.3% presented sickle cell trait in the Southwest and South macro-regions, respectively. Conclusions: the frequencies of infections in maternal-fetal health were considered low, highlighting on syphilis and the presence for sickle cell trait.

Resumo Objetivos: estimar a taxa de detecção de patologias da TPN em papel de filtro nas regiões Sul e Sudoeste do Estado da Bahia, bem como delinear o perfil epidemiológico dessas gestantes, calcular e estimar a taxa de adesão e abrangência de cobertura do Programa. Métodos: estudo descritivo, de agosto 2013 a agosto de 2015, de dados obtidos do Labimuno/ICS/UFBA. Resultados: foram incluídas 64.743 gestantes; as médias das idades foram de 25 anos para a macrorregião Sudoeste e 23 para Sul. Os resultados de exames de triagem mostraram positividade de 0,13% e 0,29% para AgHBs, 0,17% e 0,22% para citomegalovírus, 0,07% e 0,09% para VHC, 0,13% e 0,38% para HTLV, 0,04% e 0,19% para HIV, 1,2% e 2,84% para sífilis, e 0,54% e 0,73% para toxoplasmose, para a macrorregião Sudoeste e Sul, respectivamente. As estimativas de cobertura foram consideradas satisfatórias. A anemia falciforme mostrou positividade de 0,02% e de 0,04% e 5% e 6,3% apresentaram o traço falcêmico, macrorregião Sudoeste e Sul, respectivamente. Conclusões: as frequências das infecções na saúde materno-fetal foram consideradas baixas, com destaque para sífilis e para a presença do traço falcêmico.

The flavonoid rutin but not the alkaloid arborinine induces apoptosis in a B-cell hybridoma cell line.

The effects of arborinine, an alkaloid extracted from Erthela bahiensis and of rutin, a flavonoid obtained from Dimorphandra mollis (Benth.), Brazilian medicinal plants, on the viability and function of a murine B-cell hybridoma as a tumor model were investigated. The flavonoid rutin at 50 microM induced an increase in the number of apoptotic cells of one- to fivefold and reductions in cellular proliferation and monoclonal antibody production. Less but still significant necrosis was also induced by rutin under the same experimental conditions. On the other hand, the alkaloid arborinine exerted no significant effects on the studied parameters.

Cytotoxicity of catechol towards human glioblastoma cells via superoxide and reactive quinones generation

It is known that the exposure to benzene in the petroleum industry causes lympho-haematopoietic cancer among workers. However, there is little data concerning the toxicity of benzene to the central nervous system. Benzene easily penetrates the brain where it is metabolized to catechol. Since catechol autoxidizes in physiological phosphate buffer, we hypothesized that it could be toxic towards glial cells due to the generation of reactive oxygen species and quinones. In this work we studied the cytotoxic properties of catechol towards human glioblastoma cells. We found that catechol was toxic towards these cells after 72 hours and this toxicity was related to the formation of quinones. Catechol at 230µM killed 50% of cells. The catechol-induced cytotoxicity was prevented by the addition of 100U superoxide dismutase, which also inhibited the formation of quinones. These data suggest that catechol induces cytotoxicity via the extracellular generation of superoxide and quinones.

Sabe-se que a exposição de trabalhadores ao benzeno na indústria petrolífera é uma causa de câncer do sistema linfo-hematopoiético. Pouco se sabe, contudo, a respeito da toxicidade do benzeno no sistema nervoso central. O benzeno penetra facilmente no cérebro, onde é metabolizado a catecol. Como o catecol se auto-oxida em tampão fosfato no pH fisiológico, supôs-se que esse composto poderia ser tóxico para células gliais por gerar espécies reativas do oxigênio e quinonas. Nesse trabalho estudou-se a citotoxicidade do catecol para células de glioblastoma humano. O catecol foi tóxico após 72 horas e essa toxicidade relacionou-se com a formação de quinonas. O catecol a 230mM matou metade das células em cultura. A toxicidade do catecol e a produção de quinonas foram inibidas por 100U de superóxido dismutase. Esses dados sugerem que a toxicidade induzida pelo catecol deve-se à produção extracelular de superóxido e quinonas reativas.