IL-27 regulates IL-4-induced chemokine production in human bronchial epithelial cells.

IL-4 coordinates the Th2-type immune response in inflammatory diseases such as asthma. IL-27 can inhibit the development of both Th2 and Th1 cells. However, IL-27 can also drive naïve T cells to differentiate toward the Th1 phenotype. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-27 on the activation of IL-4-induced human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Compared to controls, both IL-4 and IL-27 (25-100 ng/mL) increased the concentrations of CCL2 and IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner. However, compared to cells stimulated individually with IL-4 or IL-27, treatment with a combination of both cytokines reduced CCL2 and IL-8 concentrations in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IL-4 increased the activation of p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, STAT6 and NF-κB, while IL-27 increased the activation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 but not STAT6 and NF-κB. Compared to IL-4-stimulated cells, cells treated with both IL-27 and IL-4 displayed decreased activation of STAT6 and NF-κB but not ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-27 plays a pro-inflammatory role when administered alone but downregulates bronchial epithelial cell activation when combined with IL-4. Therefore, IL-27 may be an interesting target for the treatment of Th2 inflammatory diseases.

The anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects of aspirin-triggered RvD1 (AT-RvD1) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with severe asthma.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease that is characterized by a predominance of eosinophils and/or neutrophils in the airways. In the resolution of inflammation, lipid mediators such as resolvin D1 (RvD1) and its epimer aspirin-triggered RvD1 (AT-RvD1) are produced and demonstrate anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects. In experimental models such as airway allergic inflammation induced by ovalbumin in mice, RvD1 and AT-RvD1 alleviate some of the most important phenotypes of asthma. Here, we demonstrated the effects of AT-RvD1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals and patients with severe asthma stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DM). AT-RvD1 (100nM) reduced the concentration of TNF-α in PBMCs from healthy individuals and patients with severe asthma stimulated with LPS or DM. In addition, AT-RvD1 lowered the production of IL-10 only in PBMCs from patients with severe asthma stimulated with LPS. These effects were associated in part with decreasing NF-κB activation. Moreover, AT-RvD1 significantly increased phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by monocytes from patients with severe asthma. In conclusion, AT-RvD1 demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects in PBMCs from patients with severe asthma and could become in the future an alternative treatment for asthma.

Effects of aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Chagas' heart disease.

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). In some patients with Chagas disease, symptoms progress to chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. Endogenously, inflammation is resolved in the presence of lipid mediators such as aspirin-triggered RvD1 (AT-RvD1) which has anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time, the effects of AT-RvD1 on T. cruzi antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with Chagas heart disease. The levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-13 increased in PBMCs from cardiac-form Chagas patients in stage B1 (patients with fewer heart abnormalities) stimulated with T. cruzi antigen compared to those in non-stimulated PBMCs. AT-RvD1 reduced the IFN-γ concentrations in PBMCs from patients with Chagas disease stimulated with T. cruzi antigen compared to stimulated with T. cruzi antigen cells. AT-RvD1 treatment resulted in no observable changes in TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-13 levels. AT-RvD1 significantly decreased the percentage of necrotic cells and caused a significant reduction in the proliferation rate of T. cruzi antigen-stimulated PBMCs from patients with Chagas disease. These findings demonstrate that AT-RvD1 modulates the immune response in Chagas disease patients and might have potential to be used as an alternative approach for slowing the development of further heart damage.

Variação espacial e sazonal de microrganismos associados ao cultivo do Zungaro jahu (Ihering, 1898), na Estação Ambiental de Volta Grande no Estado de Minas Gerais / Spatial and seazonal variations of microorganisms associated with cultivation Zungaro jahu (Ihering,1898), at Estação Ambiental de Volta Grande in the State of Minas Gerais

Objetivo - Identificar a variação espacial e a sazonal de microrganismos associados ao cultivo semi-intensivo do Zungaro jahu. Métodos - As amostras de água foram coletadas ao longo de um eixo longitudinal em uma piscicultura, no município de Conceição das Alagoas/MG e semeadas em diferentes meios de cultura. Os microrganismos foram isolados e identificados. Resultados - Foram identificados10 gêneros de bactérias. Para os cinco pontos de coleta analisados, obteve-se uma diversidade de 11 espécies de bactérias Gram-negativas e 3 espécies de bactérias Gram-positivas. Conclusão - A análise de variação sazonal apontou para uma redução das categorias taxonômicas em julho, o que pode estar relacionado às baixas temperaturas observadas neste período. A análise da variação espacial mostrou que o tanque que recebe a água de toda a piscicultura apresenta maior diversidade microbiana provavelmente decorrente da adição de matéria orgânica utilizada como insumo.

Objective - To identify the spatial and seasonal variation of microorganisms associated with Zungaro jahu cultivation semi-intensive. Methods - Water samples were collected along a longitudinal axis in a fish farming Conceição das Alagoas county, Minas Gerais-Brazil, and seeded in different culture medium. Results - Ten bacteria genus were isolated and identified 11 of microorganisms and 3 species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively was obtained in the five collected points analyzed. The seasonal variation analysis indicated a reduction of taxonomic categories in July, must be directly associated with the low temperatures. Conclusion - The analysis showed that space variation of the tank which receives water from the whole farm-fish has a higher microbial diversity; probably due to the addition of organic matter used in fish feed.

Quercetin: a flavonoid with the potential to treat asthma

Allergic asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilic inflammation and hypersecretion of mucus. Current therapies include β2-agonists, cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonists and corticosteroids. Although these drugs demonstrate beneficial effects, their adverse side effects limit their long-term use. Thus, the development of new compounds with similar therapeutic activities and reduced side effects is both desirable and necessary. Natural compounds are used in some current therapies, as plant-derived metabolites can relieve disease symptoms in the same manner as allopathic medicines. Quercetin is a flavonoid that is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables and has been shown to exert multiple biological effects in experimental models, including the reduction of major symptoms of asthma: bronchial hyperactivity, mucus production and airway inflammation. In this review, we discuss results from the literature that illustrate the potential of quercetin to treat asthma and its exacerbations.

A asma alérgica é uma doença inflamatória complexa caracterizada por hiperresponsividade das vias aéreas, inflamação eosinofílica e hipersecreção de muco. As terapias atuais incluem β2-agonistas, antagonistas do receptor 1 de cisteinil leucotrienos e corticosteróides. Embora estes fármacos demonstrem efeitos benéficos, seus efeitos adversos limitam seus usos a longo prazo. Assim, o desenvolvimento de novos compostos com atividades terapêuticas similares e reduzido efeitos adversos é tanto desejável quanto necessário. Compostos naturais podem ser utilizados nas terapias atuais, uma vez que metabólitos derivados de plantas são capazes de aliviar os sintomas de forma comparável aos medicamentos alopáticos. A quercetina é um flavonóide que ocorre naturalmente em muitas frutas e vegetais e tem mostrado vários efeitos biológicos, principalmente em modelos experimentais, incluindo a redução dos principais fenótipos da asma: hiperreatividade brônquica, produção de muco e inflamação das vias aéreas. Nesta revisão, nós discutimos os resultados da literatura que revelam o potencial da quercetina para tratar a asma e suas exacerbações.

Formigas como vetores mecânicos de microorganismos no Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro / Ants as mechanical vectors of microorganisms in the School Hospital of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro

Estudou-se patógenos associados às formigas encontradas no Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba/MG. Três espécies de formiga foram identificadas: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole sp e Paratrechina longicornis. Os principais microorganismos encontrados foram Staphylococcus sp, bacilo Gram-positivo, Pseudomonas sp e Micrococcus sp. Os resultados das coletas foram analisados, segundo o número de colônias e os diferentes microrganismos isolados, aplicando teste t de Student. A análise estatística revelou diferença significativa apenas para Staphylococcus sp com p = 0,005. É possível que formigas e agentes patogênicos tenham associações mutualísticas, e que a análise dessa relação possa levar a novas estratégias de controle, com ênfase não apenas nos insetos, mas especialmente em qual agente está associada essa espécie de inseto.

The pathogens associated with ants at the teaching hospital of the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro, in Uberaba, MG, were studied. Three species of ants were identified: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole sp and Paratrechina longicornis. The principal microorganisms found were Staphylococcus sp, Gram-positive bacilli, Pseudomonas sp and Micrococcus sp. The results from the collections were analyzed according to the number of colonies and the different microorganisms isolated, using Student's t test. The statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference only with regard to Staphylococcus sp. (p =0.005). It is possible that ants and pathogenic agents have mutualistic associations, and that analysis of such relationships may lead to new pest control strategies, with an emphasis not only on the insects but also especially on which agent is associated with these insect species.

[Ants as mechanical vectors of microorganisms in the School Hospital of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro]. / Formigas como vetores mecânicos de microorganismos no Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro.

The pathogens associated with ants at the teaching hospital of the Federal University of the Triângulo Mineiro, in Uberaba, MG, were studied. Three species of ants were identified: Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole sp and Paratrechina longicornis. The principal microorganisms found were Staphylococcus sp, Gram-positive bacilli, Pseudomonas sp and Micrococcus sp. The results from the collections were analyzed according to the number of colonies and the different microorganisms isolated, using Student's t test. The statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference only with regard to Staphylococcus sp. (p=0.005). It is possible that ants and pathogenic agents have mutualistic associations, and that analysis of such relationships may lead to new pest control strategies, with an emphasis not only on the insects but also especially on which agent is associated with these insect species.