Inflammasome gene profile is modulated in septic patients, with a greater magnitude in non-survivors.

Inflammasome signalling induces the processing and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 which, coupled with pyroptosis, activate further the inflammatory response. In the present study we evaluated the expression of genes involved in inflammasome signalling pathways in septic patients, their interaction networks and the predicted functions modulated in survivors and non-survivors. Twenty-seven patients with sepsis secondary to community-acquired pneumonia admitted to intensive care units from three general hospitals in São Paulo were included into the study. We performed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array encompassing 35 genes related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR)-inflammasome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained at admission and after 7 days of follow-up. Eleven healthy volunteers were used as the reference group. Increased NLRC4 and NLRP3 and decreased nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD1), and NLRP1 expression was observed in septic patients compared to healthy individuals; the IL-1ß and IL-18 expression levels were also high in the patients. The gene expression changes followed the same patterns in surviving and non-surviving patients, with higher magnitudes observed in non-survivors. Functional analyses revealed, however, that activation and inhibition intensity for representing functions were different in survivors and non-survivors, as for production of reactive oxygen species, synthesis of nitric oxide and for the control of bacterial infections. Our results showed that the genes involved in the activation of the NLR-inflammasome cascades were altered substantially in septic patients, with a higher number of altered genes and a higher intensity in the disturbance of gene expression found among patients dying of sepsis.

Evaluation of Toll-like, chemokine, and integrin receptors on monocytes and neutrophils from peripheral blood of septic patients and their correlation with clinical outcomes

Recognition of pathogens is performed by specific receptors in cells of the innate immune system, which may undergo modulation during the continuum of clinical manifestations of sepsis. Monocytes and neutrophils play a key role in host defense by sensing and destroying microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of CD14 receptors on monocytes; CD66b and CXCR2 receptors on neutrophils; and TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR9, and CD11b receptors on both cell types of septic patients. Seventy-seven septic patients (SP) and 40 healthy volunteers (HV) were included in the study, and blood samples were collected on day zero (D0) and after 7 days of therapy (D7). Evaluation of the cellular receptors was carried out by flow cytometry. Expression of CD14 on monocytes and of CD11b and CXCR2 on neutrophils from SP was lower than that from HV. Conversely, expression of TLR5 on monocytes and neutrophils was higher in SP compared with HV. Expression of TLR2 on the surface of neutrophils and that of TLR5 on monocytes and neutrophils of SP was lower at D7 than at D0. In addition, SP who survived showed reduced expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on the surface of neutrophils at D7 compared to D0. Expression of CXCR2 for surviving patients was higher at follow-up compared to baseline. We conclude that expression of recognition and cell signaling receptors is differentially regulated between SP and HV depending on the receptor being evaluated.

Evaluation of Toll-like, chemokine, and integrin receptors on monocytes and neutrophils from peripheral blood of septic patients and their correlation with clinical outcomes.

Recognition of pathogens is performed by specific receptors in cells of the innate immune system, which may undergo modulation during the continuum of clinical manifestations of sepsis. Monocytes and neutrophils play a key role in host defense by sensing and destroying microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of CD14 receptors on monocytes; CD66b and CXCR2 receptors on neutrophils; and TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR9, and CD11b receptors on both cell types of septic patients. Seventy-seven septic patients (SP) and 40 healthy volunteers (HV) were included in the study, and blood samples were collected on day zero (D0) and after 7 days of therapy (D7). Evaluation of the cellular receptors was carried out by flow cytometry. Expression of CD14 on monocytes and of CD11b and CXCR2 on neutrophils from SP was lower than that from HV. Conversely, expression of TLR5 on monocytes and neutrophils was higher in SP compared with HV. Expression of TLR2 on the surface of neutrophils and that of TLR5 on monocytes and neutrophils of SP was lower at D7 than at D0. In addition, SP who survived showed reduced expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on the surface of neutrophils at D7 compared to D0. Expression of CXCR2 for surviving patients was higher at follow-up compared to baseline. We conclude that expression of recognition and cell signaling receptors is differentially regulated between SP and HV depending on the receptor being evaluated.

A p-quinol isoflavan and two new isoflavanones from Desmodium canum.

Three further minor isoflavonoid components (1-3) of the dichloromethane extract of Desmodium canum root have been isolated: two of them are complex isoflavanones with structures 1 and 2 biogenetically related to the previously isolated compounds 1a and 2a. The third is a complex isoflavan where the isoprenyl substituent and the aromatic A-ring yielded a p-quinol nucleus.