Proinflammatory State in the Odontogenesis of Fetuses Exposed to Different Types of Fatty Acids during Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to analyze the possible changes caused by the maternal ingestion of different types of fatty acids during pregnancy in the proinflammatory state in the odontogenesis of the fetuses. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Twenty-four jaws (n = 6 per group) of Wistar rats were collected on the 20th day of intrauterine life. Mothers were separated on the first day of pregnancy into 4 groups according to diet, as described below: control group (C) - diet with soy oil as a source of fat; saturated fatty acid group (S) - diet with lard in saturated fatty acids; trans-fatty acid group (T) - diet with vegetable fat, rich in trans-saturated fatty acids; and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) group - diet with fish oil, rich in PUFAs. RESULTS: Microscopic analysis showed no alterations in tissue development of the teeth between the groups with different lipid diets (T, S, and PUFA) when compared to the control group (C); immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of JAK2, STAT3, P-STAT3, SOCS3, and IL-6 showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to the control group. However, there were changes (p < 0.05) between the T group and the PUFA group in the expression of JAK2. CONCLUSION: Thus, lipid consumption in the maternal diet remains a topic to be explored in embryonic development, despite not causing morphological changes to the tooth germ of rats.

New perspectives on natural flavonoids on COVID-19-induced lung injuries.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, spread rapidly worldwide and became a pandemic in 2020. In some patients, the virus remains in the respiratory tract, causing pneumonia, respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and sepsis, leading to death. Natural flavonoids (aglycone and glycosides) possess broad biological activities encompassing antiinflammatory, antiviral, antitumoral, antiallergic, antiplatelet, and antioxidant effects. While many studies have focused on the effects of natural flavonoids in experimental models, reports based on clinical trials are still insufficient. In this review, we highlight the effects of flavonoids in controlling pulmonary diseases, particularly the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a consequence of COVID-19, and their potential use in coronavirus-related diseases. Furthermore, we also focus on establishing a relationship between biological potential and chemical aspects of related flavonoids and discuss several possible mechanisms of action, pointing out some possible effects on COVID-19.

Galloyl-Hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP)-Glucose Isolated From Punica granatum L. Leaves Protects Against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Acute Lung Injury in BALB/c Mice.

The hydroalcoholic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of Punica granatum leaves have been known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of galloyl-hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP)-glucose isolated from pomegranate leaves on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. Male BALB/c mice were treated with different doses of galloyl-HHDP-glucose (5, 50, and 100 mg/Kg) or dexamethasone at 5 mg/Kg (per os) 6 h after intra-tracheal instillation of LPS. Vehicle-treated mice were used as controls. Twenty-four hours after LPS challenge, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung samples were collected for analyses. They were evaluated by monitoring the expression of NF-κB, JNK, and cytokine genes and proteins, as well as cell migration and lung function. All doses of galloyl-HHDP-glucose inhibited LPS-induced JNK and NF-κB activation. Likewise, the galloyl-HHDP-glucose-treated animals presented reduced expression of the TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß genes in the lungs and reduced TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-8 protein levels when compared with the vehicle-treated LPS-challenged mice. In addition, the ALI mice treated with galloyl-HHDP-glucose also presented reduced lung inflammatory cell accumulation, especially that of neutrophils, in their BALF and lungs. In addition, galloyl-HHDP-glucose treatment markedly ameliorated the LPS-induced pulmonary mechanism complications and attenuated weight loss. Overall, we showed for the first time that galloyl-HHDP-glucose protects against ALI, and may be useful for treating ALI and other inflammatory disorders.

A plant proteinase inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodeling in a mouse model of asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Proteinase inhibitors have been associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may represent a potential therapeutic treatment for asthma. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI) on pulmonary mechanical function, eosinophilic recruitment, inflammatory cytokines, remodeling and oxidative stress in an experimental model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation. METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: C (saline i.p and inhalations with saline), OVA (ovalbumin i.p and inhalations with ovalbumin); C+EC (saline i.p, inhalations with s aline and treatment with EcTI); OVA+EC (ovalbumin i.p, inhalations with ovalbumin and treatment with EcTI). On day 29, we performed the following tests: resistance (Rrs) and elastance (Ers) of the respiratory system; (b) quantify eosinophils, 8-ISO-PGF2α, collagen and elastic fiber volume fractions; (c) IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-ß, iNOS and p65-NFκB-positive cells in the airway and alveolar walls. RESULTS: In OVA+EC group, there was an attenuation of the Rrs and Ers, reduction of eosinophils, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, iNOS and p65-NFκB-positive cells compared to OVA group. The 8-ISO-PGF2α, elastic and collagen fibers volume fractions as well as the positive cells for MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TGF-ß positive cells were decreased in OVA+EC compared to the OVA group. CONCLUSION: EcTI attenuates bronchial hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, remodeling and oxidative stress activation in this experimental mouse model of asthma.

A Plant Proteinase Inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum Attenuates Pulmonary Mechanics, Inflammation and Remodeling Induced by Elastase in Mice.

Proteinase inhibitors have been associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may represent a potential therapeutic treatment for emphysema. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a plant Kunitz proteinase inhibitor, Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI), on several aspects of experimental elastase-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice. C57/Bl6 mice were intratracheally administered elastase (ELA) or saline (SAL) and were treated intraperitoneally with EcTI (ELA-EcTI, SAL-EcTI) on days 1, 14 and 21. On day 28, pulmonary mechanics, exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) and number leucocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were evaluated. Subsequently, lung immunohistochemical staining was submitted to morphometry. EcTI treatment reduced responses of the mechanical respiratory system, number of cells in the BALF, and reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-positive cells and volume proportion of isoprostane, collagen and elastic fibers in the airways and alveolar walls compared with the ELA group. EcTI treatment reduced elastase induced pulmonary inflammation, remodeling, oxidative stress and mechanical alterations, suggesting that this inhibitor may be a potential therapeutic tool for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management.

Low level laser therapy reduces acute lung inflammation without impairing lung function.

Acute lung injury is a condition characterized by exacerbate inflammatory reaction in distal airways and lung dysfunction. Here we investigate the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) by low level laser therapy (LLLT), an effective therapy used for the treatment of patients with inflammatory disorders or traumatic injuries, due to its ability to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. However, studies in internal viscera remains unclear. C57BL/6 mice were treated with intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 mg/kg) or phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Six hours after instillation, two groups were irradiated with laser at 660 nm and radiant exposure of 10 J/cm2 . Intratracheal LPS inoculation induced a marked increase in the number of inflammatory cells in perivascular and alveolar spaces. There was also an increase in the expression and secretion of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6,) and chemokine (MCP-1). The LLLT application induced a significant decrease in both inflammatory cells influx and inflammatory mediators secretion. These effects did not affect lung mechanical properties, since no change was observed in tissue resistance or elastance. In conclusion LLLT is able to reduce inflammatory reaction in lungs exposed to LPS without affecting the pulmonary function and recovery.

Rho-kinase inhibition attenuates airway responsiveness, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress activation induced by chronic inflammation.

Several studies have demonstrated the importance of Rho-kinase in the modulation of smooth muscle contraction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. However, the effects of repeated treatment with a specific inhibitor of this pathway have not been previously investigated. We evaluated the effects of repeated treatment with Y-27632, a highly selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, on airway hyperresponsiveness, oxidative stress activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, eosinophilic inflammation, and cytokine expression in an animal model of chronic airway inflammation. Guinea pigs were subjected to seven ovalbumin or saline exposures. The treatment with Y-27632 (1 mM) started at the fifth inhalation. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, the animals' pulmonary mechanics were evaluated, and exhaled nitric oxide (E(NO)) was collected. The lungs were removed, and histological analysis was performed using morphometry. Treatment with Y-27632 in sensitized animals reduced E(NO) concentrations, maximal responses of resistance, elastance of the respiratory system, eosinophil counts, collagen and elastic fiber contents, the numbers of cells positive for IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, inducible nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, transforming growth factor-ß, NF-κB, IFN-γ, and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α contents compared with the untreated group (P < 0.05). We observed positive correlations among the functional responses and inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress pathway activation markers evaluated. In conclusion, Rho-kinase pathway activation contributes to the potentiation of the hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, the extracellular matrix remodeling process, and oxidative stress activation. These results suggest that Rho-kinase inhibitors represent potential pharmacological tools for the control of asthma.