The Antidepressant- and Anxiolytic-Like Effects of the Phosphodiesterase Type-5 Inhibitor Tadalafil are Associated with the Modulation of the Gut-Brain Axis During CNS Autoimmunity.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that severely affects the central nervous system (CNS). Apart from neurological symptoms, it is also characterized by neuropsychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil have been shown to possess antidepressant-like effects, but the mechanisms underpinning such effects are not fully characterized. To address this question, we used the EAE model of MS, behavioral tests, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and 16 S rRNA sequencing. Here, we showed that depressive-like behavior in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice is due to neuroinflammation, reduced synaptic plasticity, dysfunction in glutamatergic neurotransmission, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) resistance, increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and immune cell infiltration to the CNS, as well as inflammation, increased intestinal permeability, and immune cell infiltration in the distal colon. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that behavioral dysfunction in EAE mice is associated with changes in the gut microbiota, such as an increased abundance of Firmicutes and Saccharibacteria and a reduction in Proteobacteria, Parabacteroides, and Desulfovibrio. Moreover, we detected an increased abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae and a reduced abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii. Surprisingly, we showed that Tadalafil likely exerts antidepressant-like effects by targeting all aforementioned disease aspects. In conclusion, our work demonstrated that anxiety- and depressive-like behavior in EAE is associated with a plethora of neuroimmune and gut microbiota-mediated mechanisms and that Tadalafil exerts antidepressant-like effects probably by targeting these mechanisms. Harnessing the knowledge of these mechanisms of action of Tadalafil is important to pave the way for future clinical trials with depressed patients.

Semaglutide Attenuates Anxious and Depressive-Like Behaviors and Reverses the Cognitive Impairment in a Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mouse Model Via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis.

Newly conducted research suggests that metabolic disorders, like diabetes and obesity, play a significant role as risk factors for psychiatric disorders. This connection presents a potential avenue for creating novel antidepressant medications by repurposing drugs originally developed to address antidiabetic conditions. Earlier investigations have shown that GLP-1 (Glucagon-like Peptide-1) analogs exhibit neuroprotective qualities in various models of neurological diseases, encompassing conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. Moreover, GLP-1 analogs have demonstrated the capability to enhance neurogenesis, a process recognized for its significance in memory formation and the cognitive and emotional aspects of information processing. Nonetheless, whether semaglutide holds efficacy as both an antidepressant and anxiolytic agent remains uncertain. To address this, our study focused on a mouse model of depression linked to type 2 diabetes induced by a High Fat Diet (HFD). In this model, we administered semaglutide (0.05 mg/Kg intraperitoneally) on a weekly basis to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic option for depression and anxiety. Diabetic mice had higher blood glucose, lipidic profile, and insulin resistance. Moreover, mice fed HFD showed higher serum interleukin (IL)-1ß and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) associated with impaired humor and cognition. The analysis of behavioral responses revealed that the administration of semaglutide effectively mitigated depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, concurrently demonstrating an enhancement in cognitive function. Additionally, semaglutide treatment protected synaptic plasticity and reversed the hippocampal neuroinflammation induced by HFD fed, improving activation of the insulin pathway, demonstrating the protective effects of semaglutide. We also found that semaglutide treatment decreased astrogliosis and microgliosis in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus. In addition, semaglutide prevented the DM2-induced impairments of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and G-protein-coupled receptor 43 (GPR43) and simultaneously increased the NeuN + and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R+) neurons in the hippocampus. Our data also showed that semaglutide increased the serotonin (5-HT) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) and glutamatergic receptors in the hippocampus. At last, semaglutide changed the gut microbiota profile (increasing Bacterioidetes, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Blautia coccoides) and decreased leaky gut, improving the gut-brain axis. Taken together, semaglutide has the potential to act as a therapeutic tool for depression and anxiety.

Modulation of sHLA-G, PD-1, and PD-L1 Expression in Cervical Lesions Following Imiquimod Treatment and Its Association with Treatment Success.

(1) Background: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a precancerous condition linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, often necessitating surgical interventions carrying the risk of subsequent preterm births. This study explores the potential of imiquimod (IMQ), as a non-invasive alternative treatment. The focus is on understanding IMQ impact on immune checkpoint molecules, particularly PD-1, PD-L1, and sHLA-G, which play pivotal roles in shaping immune responses and cancer progression. (2) Methods: Forty-three patients diagnosed with a high-risk squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL, p16-positive) self-applied 5% IMQ encapsulated in sachets containing 250 g of cream into the vaginal cavity three times a week for 16 weeks. The impact of IMQ therapy on cervical lesion regression was assessed through immunohistochemistry (IHC), examining changes in sHLA-G, PD-L1, and PD-1 levels. The antiviral activity of IMQ was evaluated through HPV-E7 immunofluorescence. Ethical considerations were adhered to, and the research methods were based on a previously approved clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT04859361). (3) Results: IMQ treatment demonstrated efficacy, leading to lesion regression. sHLA-G levels in CIN before starting IMQ application were associated with unsuccessful treatment (p = 0.0036). IMQ did not significantly alter the expression of PD-1. We observed a decrease in PD-L1 levels in those who were successfully treated (p = 0.0509) and a reduction in HPV burden. (4) Conclusions: IMQ exhibits promise as a non-invasive treatment for CIN, emphasising its potential to modulate the immune microenvironment. Baseline sHLA-G levels emerge as potential predictors of treatment response. Understanding the nuanced dynamics of immune checkpoints sheds light on IMQ mechanism of action. Further exploration is warranted to decipher the intricate mechanisms underlying IMQ treatment in the context of cervical lesions.

Prebiotics modulate the microbiota-gut-brain axis and ameliorate anxiety and depression-like behavior in HFD-fed mice.

Previous research has demonstrated that Prebiotics can influence the composition of the gut microbiota, consequently impacting mood regulation. This study aimed to assess the effects of Prebiotics, specifically Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on neuroinflammation, depression, and anxiety-like behavior in a mouse model fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Initially, mice were divided into two groups: a control group on a standard diet (n = 15) and a group on an HFD for 18 weeks (n = 45). By the 13th week, the HFD group was further divided into experimental groups: Control (n = 15), HFD (n = 15), HFD receiving Prebiotics (n = 15), and HFD receiving Fluoxetine (n = 15). From the 13th week onward, the HFD + Prebiotics group received both the high-fat diet and a combination of FOS and GOS, while the HFD + Fluoxetine group received Fluoxetine in their drinking water. In the 18th week, all mice underwent tests to evaluate behavior, including the Tail Suspension Test (TST), Forced Swimming Test (FST), Sucrose Preference Test (SPT), and the Plus Maze Test (PMT), after which they were euthanized. Mice on the HFD exhibited increased body weight, abdominal size, blood glucose, triglyceride levels, cholesterol, insulin, HOMA index, and higher serum IL-1ß. These obese mice also displayed an increased number of microglia and astrocytes, activation of the TLR4 pathway, and elevated levels of neuroinflammatory markers like TNF-α, IL-1ß, and COX-2. Moreover, obese mice showed increased activation of the IDO pathway and decreased levels of NMDA receptors. Additionally, markers of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, such as PSD, SAP 102, CREB-p, and BDNF, were lower. Treatment with FOS and GOS reversed symptoms of depression and anxiety in mice subjected to HD. This improvement in behavior resulted from a reduction in dysbiosis with an increase in acetate-producing bacteria (B. acidifaciens and B. dorei) and intestinal permeability, leading to a decrease in chronic peripheral and central inflammation. Furthermore, the modulation of the gut-brain axis by FOS and GOS promoted elevated acetate and GPR43 levels in the brain and a reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, positively impacting signaling pathways of neuronal proliferation and survival in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Use of Antifreeze Protein from Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP) in Vitrification of In Vitro-Produced Bovine Embryos: An Ultrastructural Study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of antifreeze protein (AFP) extracted from the larva of the beetle, Tenebrio molitor (TmAFP), on vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. In vitro-produced blastocysts were divided into three experimental groups and vitrified using a cryotop. TmAFP was added to the equilibrium solution (ES) and vitrification solution (VS) at a concentration of 0 ng/mL (control), 500 ng/mL (500TmAFP), or 1000 ng/mL (1000TmAFP). Vitrification was carried out by first placing the blastocysts in ES for 2 minutes (7.5% ethylene glycol [EG] and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]). The blastocysts were then transferred to VS (15% EG and 15% DMSO) and promptly deposited on a cryotop stem and submerged in liquid nitrogen. Warming was carried out in three steps with decreasing sucrose concentrations. After warming, the blast cells were cultured for 24 hours for subsequent survival analysis and ultrastructural evaluation. There was a significant difference in the survival rate and expansion in the 500TmAFP group compared with the other groups. The ultrastructural analysis revealed intracellular lesions in all vitrified embryos; however, the embryos of the 500TmAFP and 1000TmAFP groups showed fewer cytoplasmic lesions compared with the control group. Taken together, addition of TmAFP can mitigate cellular changes that involve organelles and cellular components essential for proper functioning and improve the viability of warmed and vitrified in vitro-produced bovine embryos.

Fructooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides improve hepatic steatosis via gut microbiota-brain axis modulation.

Studies have shown that gut dysbiosis is associated with the steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction (MALSD) and its severity. This study evaluated the effects of two commercially available prebiotics fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides(GOS) on hepatic adipogenesis, inflammation, and gut microbiota in high-fat diet-induced MALSD. The results indicated that FOS and GOS effectively reduced insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, triglyceridemia, cholesterolaemia, and IL-1ß serum levels. Moreover, FOS and GOS modulated the lipogenic (SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS) and lipolytic (ATGL) signalling pathways, and reduced inflammatory markers such as p-NFκB-65, IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and nitrotyrosine. FOS and GOS also enhanced the abundance of acetate producers' bacteria Bacteroides acidifaciens and Bacteroides dorei. FOS and GOS also induced positive POMC/GPR43 neurons at the arcuate nucleus, indicating hypothalamic signalling modulation. Our results suggest that FOS and GOS attenuated MALSD by reducing the hepatic lipogenic pathways and intestinal permeability through the gut microbiota-brain axis.

Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) Improve Neuroinflammation and Cognition By Up-regulating IRS/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Diet-induced Obese Mice.

Increasing evidence has indicated that prebiotics as an alternative treatment for neuropsychiatric diseases. This study evaluated the prebiotics Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on the modulation of neuroinflammation and cognition in an experimental model of mice high-fat diet fed. Initially, mice were distributed in the following groups: (A) control standard diet (n = 15) and (B) HFD for 18 weeks (n = 30). In the 13th week, the mice were later divided into the following experimental groups: (A) Control (n = 15); (B) HFD (n = 14); and (C) HFD + Prebiotics (n = 14). From the 13th week, the HFD + Prebiotics group received a high-fat diet and a combination of FOS and GOS. In the 18th week, all animals performed the T-maze and Barnes Maze, and were later euthanized. Biochemical and molecular analyzes were performed to assess neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and intestinal inflammation. Mice fed HFD had higher blood glucose, triglyceridemia, cholesterolemia, and higher serum IL-1ß associated with impaired learning and memory. These obese mice also showed activation of microglia and astrocytes and significant immunoreactivity of neuroinflammatory and apoptosis markers, such as TNF-α, COX-2, and Caspase-3, in addition to lower expression of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity markers, such as NeuN, KI-67, CREB-p, and BDNF. FOS and GOS treatment significantly improved the biochemistry profile and decreased serum IL-1ß levels. Treatment with FOS and GOS also reduced TNF-α, COX-2, Caspase-3, Iba-1, and GFAP-positive cells in the dentate gyrus, decreasing neuroinflammation and neuronal death caused by chronic HFD consumption. In addition, FOS and GOS promoted synaptic plasticity by increasing NeuN, p-CREB, BDNF, and KI-67, restoring spatial learning ability and memory. Moreover, FOS and GOS on HFD modulated the insulin pathway, which was proved by up-regulating IRS/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, followed by a decreasing Aß plate and Tau phosphorylation. Furthermore, the prebiotic intervention reshaped the HFD-induced imbalanced gut microbiota by modulating the composition of the bacterial community, markedly increasing Bacteroidetes. In addition, prebiotics decreased intestinal inflammation and leaky gut. In conclusion, FOS and GOS significantly modulated the gut microbiota and IRS/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, decreased neuroinflammation, and promoted neuroplasticity improving spatial learning and memory. Schematic summarizing of the pathways by FOS and GOS improves memory and learning through the gut-brain axis. FOS and GOS improve the microbial profile, reducing intestinal inflammation and leaky gut in the distal colon. Specifically, the administration of FOS and GOS decreases the expression of TLR4, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MMP9 and increases the expression of occludin and IL-10. Prebiotics inhibit neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and reactive gliosis in the hippocampus but restore synaptic plasticity, neuronal proliferation, and neurogenesis.

Contribution of HLA-G and FOXP3 genes and proteins in the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia during HPV infection.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) persistence leads to the chronification of cervical inflammation, where HLA-G and Foxp3; immunomodulatory molecules, may contribute to the aggravation of the lesion and cancerization. Here, we evaluated the synergic effect of these two molecules in the worsening of the lesion in presence of HPV infection. Hundred and eighty (180) women cervical cells and biopsies were collected for (i) HLAG Sanger sequencing and gene expression, and (ii) HLA-G and Foxp3 molecule expressions by immunohistochemistry. 53 women were HPV+ against 127 women HPV-. HPV+ women were more at risk of having cytological changes (p ≤ 0.0123), histological changes (p < 0.0011), and cervical lesion (p = 0.0004). The HLA-G + 3142CC genotype predisposed women to infection (p = 0.0190), while HLA-G + 3142C and +3035 T alleles were associated with HLA-G5 transcript expression. Both sHLA-G (p = 0.030) and Foxp3 (p = 0.0002) proteins were higher in cervical lesion as well as in high-grade lesion. In addition, sHLA-G+ cells were positively correlated to Foxp3+ cells in presence of HPV infection and in cervical grade II/III injuries. In conclusion, HPV may use HLA-G and Foxp3 as a way of host immune escape contributing to the persistence of infection and inflammation, leading to the cervical lesion and the worsening of lesions.

The role of iron metabolism in the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a severe demyelinating disease mediated by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, especially pathogenic T lymphocytes that produce the pro-inflammatory cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Although the factors and molecules that drive the genesis of these cells are not completely known, some were discovered and shown to promote the development of such cells, such as dietary factors. In this regard, iron, the most abundant chemical element on Earth, has been implicated in the development of pathogenic T lymphocytes and in MS development via its effects on neurons and glia. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to revise the state-of-art regarding the role of iron metabolism in cells of key importance to MS pathophysiology, such as pathogenic CD4+ T cells and CNS resident cells. Harnessing the knowledge of iron metabolism may aid in the discovery of new molecular targets and in the development of new drugs that tackle MS and other diseases that share similar pathophysiology.

Metformin improves depressive-like behavior in experimental Parkinson's disease by inducing autophagy in the substantia nigra and hippocampus.

Parkinson's disease (PD) remains a disease of little known etiology. In addition to the motor symptoms, depression is present in about 40% of patients, contributing to the loss of quality of life. Recently, the involvement of the autophagy mechanism in the pathogenesis of depression has been studied, in addition to its involvement in PD as well. In this study, we tested the effects of metformin, an antidiabetic drug also with antidepressant effects, on depressive-like behavior in a rotenone-induced PD model and on the autophagy process. Mice 8-week-old male C57BL/6 were induced with rotenone for 20 consecutive days (2.5 mg/kg/day) and treated with metformin (200 mg/kg/day) from the 5th day of induction. All the animals were submitted to rotarod, sucrose preference and tail suspension tests. After euthanasia, the substantia nigra and hippocampus were removed for analysis by western blotting or fixed and analyzed by immunofluorescence. The results show that there was an impairment of autophagy in animals induced by rotenone both in nigral and extranigral regions as well as a depressive-like behavior. Metformin was able to inhibit depressive-like behavior and increase signaling pathway proteins, transcription factors and autophagosome-forming proteins, thus inducing autophagy in both the hippocampus and the substantia nigra. In conclusion, we show that metformin has an antidepressant effect in a rotenone-induced PD model, which may result, at least in part, from the induction of the autophagy process.

Anticancer activity of ß-Lapachone derivatives on human leukemic cell lines.

ß-lapachone is a 1,2-naphthoquinone of great therapeutic interest that induces cell death by autophagy and apoptosis in tumor cells due to oxidative stress increasing. However, its high toxicity in healthy tissues limits its clinical use, which stimulates the planning and synthesis of more selective analogs. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity of three thiosemicarbazones derived from ß-lapachone (BV2, BV3 and BV5) in leukemia cells. Cytotoxicity tests were performed on tumor cells (HL-60, K562, K562-Lucena and MOLT-4) and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Subsequently, the mode of action of compounds was accessed by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy or fluorescence microscopy. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to investigate apoptosis induction, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial depolarization. All derivatives inhibited tumor cell growth after 72 h (IC50 < 10 µM to all cell lines, including the resistant K562-Lucena) with less toxic effects in PBMC cells, being BV3 the most selective compound with selective index (SI) of 275 for HL-60; SI of 40 to K562; SI of 10 for MOLT-4 and SI of 50 to K562-Lucena compared to ß-lapachone with SI of 18 to HL-60, SI of 3.7 to K562; SI of 2.4 to MOLT-4 and SI of 0.9 to K562-Lucena. In addition, the K562 or MOLT-4 cells treated with BV3 showed characteristics of both apoptosis and autophagy cell death, mainly by autophagy. These results demonstrate the potent cytotoxic effect of thiosemicarbazones derived from ß-lapachone as promising anticancer drugs candidates, encouraging the continuity of in vivo tests.

The adenosinergic signaling in the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a highly disabling, progressive neurodegenerative disease with no curative treatment available. Although significant progress has been made in understanding how MS develops, there remain aspects of disease pathogenesis that are yet to be fully elucidated. In this regard, studies have shown that dysfunctional adenosinergic signaling plays a pivotal role, as patients with MS have altered levels adenosine (ADO), adenosine receptors and proteins involved in the generation and termination of ADO signaling, such as CD39 and adenosine deaminase (ADA). We have therefore performed a literature review regarding the involvement of the adenosinergic system in the development of MS and propose mechanisms by which the modulation of this system can support drug development and repurposing.

Microbial Metabolites in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Pathogenesis and Treatment.

Metabolites produced by the gut microbiota have been shown to play an important role in numerous inflammatory, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, microbial metabolites have been implicated in the modulation of innate and adaptive immunity, especially in the generation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which are key regulators of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Furthermore, they affect processes relevant to MS pathophysiology, such as inflammation and demyelination, which makes them attractive molecules to be explored as therapeutics in MS. In this review, we discuss the importance of these metabolites as factors contributing to disease pathogenesis and as therapeutic targets in MS. Establishing an improved understanding of these gut-microbiota derived metabolites may provide new avenues for the treatment of MS.

Tiny in size, big in impact: Extracellular vesicles as modulators of mood, anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are tiny vesicles used by cells as means of cellular communication, through which the function and state of a given cell can be changed. A body of evidence has suggested that EVs could be culprits in the development and progression of various types of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Unsurprisingly, EVs have also been implicate in mood, anxiety and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder and Autism-Spectrum Disorder (ASD), respectively. Here, we review the state-of-art regarding the roles of EVs in the aforementioned diseases and focus on the mechanisms by which they can cause and worsen disease. Harnessing the knowledge of EVs is not only important to deliver different cargos to cells in a specific manner to treat these diseases, but also to establish reliable disease biomarkers, which will aid in the early disease diagnosis and treatment, increasing the chance of successful treatment.

Hierarchical evaluation of histology and p16-labeling can improve the risk assessment on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia progression.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade cervical lesions (HSIL) are associated with the presence of high-risk HPV types, tissue expression of p16, and increased chance of malignant progression, requiring surgical intervention. To improve risk evaluation, we assessed the discriminatory power of the histological findings associated with p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to classify the low-grade cervical lesion (LSIL) and HSIL. METHODS: We collected cervical biopsies from colposcopy-visible lesions and non-affected tissue (adjacent to the lesions) of 62 Brazilian women and labeled them with anti-p16 antibodies. In addition to the observational pattern and labeling to define the latent classes (affected vs. non-affected), a computational tool was used for semi-quantitative analysis of p16 expression. The intensity of staining of the nucleus or cytoplasm was captured using the Gimp 2.10 software. ROC curves were used to determine cutoff values for p16 expression in patients classified as LSIL and HSIL by latent class statistics for each labeling stratum. RESULTS: p16 nuclear labeling showed the best sensitivity and specificity to discriminate LSIL with low p16 expression (62%) and HSIL with high p16 expression (37%). Many patients whose lesions had intermediate levels of p16 nuclear staining were subsequently stratified according to the expression of p16 in the cytoplasm, indicating that five of 21 LSIL were at risk of progression, and 13 of 41 HSIL at risk of regression. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a hierarchical analysis, with histology at the first level, followed by a labeling analysis in the nucleus and then in the cytoplasm to increase the accuracy of the HPV cervical lesion stratification.

A comparative analysis of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti subjected to diapause-inducing conditions reveals conserved and divergent aspects associated with diapause, as well as novel genes associated with its onset.

Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti are mosquito species that are distributed worldwide and transmit diverse arboviruses of medical importance, such as those causing yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. A. albopictus embryos may remain viable for long periods in the environment due to their ability to become dormant through quiescence or diapause, a feature that contributes to their dispersion and hinders control actions. Diapause incidence can vary among natural populations of A. albopictus, but metabolic and genetic parameters associated with its induction still need to be better defined. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exposure to diapause-inducing conditions on several biological parameters in different populations of A. albopictus (from tropical and temperate areas) and the diapause-refractory A. aegypti (tropical and subtropical populations). As expected, only the A. albopictus populations exhibited diapause, but with a lower incidence for the population from a tropical area. Exposure to diapause-inducing conditions, however, led to a sharp reduction in fecundity for both A. albopictus and A. aegypti tropical populations, with no effect on fertility (>90%). It also led to a prolonged period as pupae for the progeny of all induced groups, with a further delay for those from temperate climates. In all those induced groups, the lipid contents in eggs and adult females were higher than in the non-induced controls, with the highest values observed for both A. albopictus groups. Three genes were selected to have their expression profile investigated: cathepsin, idgf4, and pepck. Upon exposure to diapause-inducing conditions, all three genes were upregulated in the A. albopictus embryos from the tropical region, but only idgf4 was upregulated in the temperate climate embryos. This represents a new gene associated with diapause that can be used as a target to evaluate and prevent embryonic dormancy, a possible new vector control strategy for mosquito species from temperate areas, such as A. albopictus.

The antigen processing-associated transporter gene polymorphism: Role on gene and protein expression in HPV-infected pre-cancerous cervical lesion.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major pathogen for cervical lesions. The evasion mechanism of the immune response and persistence of HPV infection can be influenced by polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP), which may change the peptide binding affinity or the TAP expression impacting the efficiency of peptide transport in the secretory pathway, and the presentation of peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the TAP1 and TAP2 polymorphisms, TAP1, and TAP2 genes expressions, and protein levels in cervical cells presenting different degrees of pre-cancerous lesions in 296 immunocompetent women infected or not by HPV. TAP SNPs were genotyped by Sanger sequencing, and gene expression by real-time PCR. Aneuploidy was determined by DNA index using flow cytometry. TAP-1 and TAP-2 tissue expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The Asp697Gly SNP of TAP1 presented a risk for cellular aneuploidy (P=0.0244). HPV+ women had higher TAP-2 mRNA (P=0.0212) and protein (P<0.0001) levels. The TAP2D and TAP2E haplotypes were associated with the risk for aneuploidy and pre-cancerous lesions. In conclusion, nucleotide variability at the peptide binding region of peptide transporter genes, particularly of the TAP2 gene, may influence the HPV-peptide transportation from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum, increasing the susceptibility to the development of high-grade cervical lesions.

Metformin and fluoxetine improve depressive-like behavior in a murine model of Parkinsons disease through the modulation of neuroinflammation, neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.

Thereabout 30-40% of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) also have depression contributing to the loss of quality of life. Among the patients who treat depression, about 50% do not show significant improvement due to the limited efficacy of the treatment. So far, there are no effective disease-modifying treatments that can impede its progression. The current clinical approach is based on symptom management. Nonetheless, the reuse of drugs with excellent safety profiles represents an attractive alternative strategy for treating of different clinical aspects of PD. In this study, we evaluated the effects of metformin separately and associated with fluoxetine on depressive like-behavior and motor alterations in experimental Parkinson's disease. C57BL6 mice were induced with rotenone (2.5 mg/kg/day) for 20 days and treated with metformin (200 mg/kg/day) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) from the 5th day of induction. The animals were submitted to Sucrose Preference, Tail Suspension, and rotarod tests. Hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and substantia nigra were dissected for molecular and morphological analysis. Metformin and fluoxetine prevented depressive-like behavior and improved motor impairment and increased TH nigral positive cells. Metformin and fluoxetine also reduced IBA-1 and GFAP positive cells in the hippocampus. Moreover, metformin reduced the phospho-NF-kB, IL-1ß in the prefrontal cortex and iNOS levels in the hippocampus. Both metformin and fluoxetine increased neurogenesis by increasing KI67, but only the combined treatment increased neuronal survival by NeuN positive cells in the hippocampus. In addition, fluoxetine reduced cell death, decreasing caspase-3 and PARP-1 levels. Lastly, metformin potentiated the effect of fluoxetine on neuroplasticity by increasing BDNF positive cells. Metformin has antidepressant and antiparkinsonian potential due to anti-inflammatory neurogenic, and neuroplasticity-inducing effects when combined with fluoxetine.

Development of diethylcarbamazine-loaded poly(caprolactone) nanoparticles for anti-inflammatory purpose: Preparation and characterization

Abstract Diethylcarbamazine-loaded nanoparticles were previously evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. However, little is known regarding their physicochemical properties. Thus, the purpose of this study was to physiochemically characterize diethylcarbamazine-loaded poly(caprolactone) nanoparticles and evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity. All formulations were prepared using the double-emulsion method. The average particle size was in the ranged between 298 and 364 nm and the polydispersity indexes were below 0.3. The zeta potential values were marginally negative, which may be related to drug loading, as higher loading led to an increase in the modulus of the zeta potential values. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis did not reveal any chemical interactions between the chemicals used and the absence of drug in crystalline form on the nanoparticle surfaces. The in vitro drug release study revealed a concentration-dependent release from the nanoparticles into the medium. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated the biocompatibility of the blank and loaded nanoparticles. Hence, all formulations presented good physicochemical and safety properties, corroborating the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, previously reported by our group.

Increased PD-1 Level in Severe Cervical Injury Is Associated With the Rare Programmed Cell Death 1 (PDCD1) rs36084323 A Allele in a Dominant Model.

The high-risk oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) has developed mechanisms for evasion of the immune system, favoring the persistence of the infection. The chronic inflammation further contributes to the progression of tissue injury to cervical cancer. The programmed cell death protein (PD-1) after contacting with its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2) exerts an inhibitory effect on the cellular immune response, maintaining the balance between activation, tolerance, and immune cell-dependent lesion. We evaluated 295 patients exhibiting or not HPV infection, stratified according to the location (injured and adjacent non-injured areas) and severity of the lesion (benign, pre-malignant lesions). Additionally, we investigated the role of the promoter region PDCD1 -606G>A polymorphism (rs36084323) on the studied variables. PD-1 and PDCD1 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and qPCR, respectively, and the PDCD1 polymorphism was evaluated by nucleotide sequencing. Irrespective of the severity of the lesion, PD-1 levels were increased compared to adjacent uninjured areas. Additionally, in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, the presence of HPV was associated with increased (P = 0.0649), whereas in CIN III was associated with decreased (P = 0.0148) PD-1 levels, compared to the uninjured area in absence of HPV infection. The PDCD1 -606A allele was rare in our population (8.7%) and was not associated with the risk for development of HPV infection, cytological and histological features, and aneuploidy. In contrast, irrespective of the severity of the lesion, patients exhibiting the mutant PDCD1 -606A allele at single or double doses exhibited increased protein and gene expression when compared to the PDCD1 -606GG wild type genotype. Besides, the presence of HPV was associated with the decrease in PDCD1 expression and PD-1 levels in carriers of the -606 A allele presenting severe lesions, suggesting that other mediators induced during the HPV infection progression may play an additional role. This study showed that increased PD-1 levels are influenced by the -606G>A nucleotide variation, particularly in low-grade lesions, in which the A allele favors increased PDCD1 expression, contributing to HPV immune system evasion, and in the high-grade lesion, by decreasing tissue PD-1 levels.