Paracoccidioimycosis and white individuals: Susceptibility and biogeographic aspects in an important endemic area in Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected mycosis most commonly occurring in Latin America. The etiologic agents are thermo dimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides, and cause an important granulomatous response in affected tissues. The Botucatu Medical School, from São Paulo State University (UNESP), is a PCM study pole, located in São Paulo State Midwest region, which is classified as a hyperendemic area in the Southeast region in Brazil. This study aimed to perform a retrospective epidemiological, geographical, and clinical analysis by the information available in medical records. It was listed as socio-demographic data along with clinical characteristics from patients diagnosed and treated during a 10-year period in Botucatu, totaling 177 patients with Paracoccidioidomycosis confirmed by the histopathological test. It was observed that the main clinical presentation was the chronic type (76,3%), most commonly identified in white male individuals over the age of 29 years old, smokers, and alcoholics, providing evidences for the first time that white individuals were more affected by the disease, in comparison to non-white individuals that may be more resistant to infection. This data opens new avenues for study within ancestry, resistance and susceptibility in paracoccidioidomycosis.

Typical Lung Carcinoids with Metastasis: Potential Role of MicroRNAs in the Regulation of Adaptive Immunity Associated with Disease: a Case Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lung carcinoids are uncommon neuroendocrine tumours. Molecular features of lung carcinoids have been poorly defined. microRNAs (miRNAs) are potent gene expression regulators with important roles in cancer development and progression. However, little is known on the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of lung carcinoids. Our goals were to identify commonly deregulated miRNAs in a rare case of lung carcinoid of typical histology with metastasis, as well as map miRNA target genes in pathways potentially associated with disease development and progression. METHODS: miRNA expression profiles were assessed using the TaqMan Low Density Arrays, which is a platform including 384 miRNAs. miRNA profiles were generated in the tumor and its corresponding lymph node metastasis, compared to reference normal lung tissues. Furthermore, miRNA expression was validated in a separate, publicly available external dataset (n=19 typical lung carcinoids; 2/19 were metastatic tumors, compared to six normal lung tissues, GSE77380). Following this analysis, computational tools were applied for data interpretation. miRTarBase was used to determine miRNA-target genes, followed by ToppGene Suite analysis to identify pathways and biological functions. In addition, the expression of genes targeted by miRNAs was validated in a second, separate external dataset (n=13 tumour samples, GSE35679). GEO2R data analysis tool was used in both validation analyses (miRNAs and genes). RESULTS: We identified 15 commonly significantly downregulated miRNAs (fold change, FC≥2 and p<0.05) in the tumour and its paired metastasis, with further decreasing levels in the metastatic lesion. Downregulation of miR-126-3p and miR-146b-5p was validated in the external dataset GSE77380. In addition, SOX2 and TCF4 genes, targeted by miR-126-3p, were consistently overexpressed in a subset of six typical lung carcinoids from the external dataset GSE35679. Pathways analysis showed that miRNAs miR-126-3p and miR-146b-5p target genes with a role in the regulation of adaptive immune response. CONCLUSION: Our results contribute to the identification of miRNA expression changes in a typical lung carcinoid and its corresponding lymph node metastasis. Down-regulated levels of miR-126-3p and miR-146b-5p and target gene over-expression could play a role in the progression of this case of primary typical lung carcinoid to regional metastasis. Identified miRNAs and target genes are potential candidates for validation in a larger number of cases.

Telomere-associated genes and telomeric lncRNAs are biomarker candidates in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC).

In the past decade, research efforts were made to identify molecular biomarkers useful as therapeutic targets in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), the most frequent type of lung carcinoma. NSCLC presents different histological subtypes being the most prevalent LUSC (Lung Squamous Cell Cancer) and LUAD (Lung Adenocarcinoma), and only a subset of LUAD patients' present tumors expressing known targetable genetic alterations. Telomeres and its components, including telomerase, the enzyme that replenishes telomeres, have been considered potential cancer biomarkers due to their crucial role in cell proliferation and genome stability. Our study aims to quantify expression changes affecting telomere-associated genes and ncRNAs associated with telomere regulation and maintenance in NSCLC. We first assessed the transcriptome (RNA-Seq) data of NSCLC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and then we tested the expression of telomere-associated genes and telomeric ncRNAs (TERC, telomerase RNA component, and TERRA, telomere repeat-containing RNA) in Brazilian NCSLC patient samples by quantitative RT-PCR, using matched normal adjacent tissue samples as the control. We also estimated the mean size of terminal restriction fragments (TRF) of some Brazilian NSCLC patients using telomeric Southern blot. The TCGA analysis identified alterations in the expression profile of TERT and telomere damage repair genes, mainly in the LUSC subtype. The study of Brazilian NSCLC samples by RT-qPCR showed that LUSC and LUAD express high amounts of TERT and that although the mean TRF size of tumor samples was shorter compared to normal cells, telomeres in NSCLC are probably maintained by telomerase. Also, the expression analysis of Brazilian NSCLC samples identified statistically significant alterations in the expression of genes involved with telomere damage repair, as well as in TERC and TERRA, mainly in the LUSC subtype. We, therefore, concluded that telomere maintenance genes are significantly deregulated in NSCLC, representing potential biomarkers in the LUSC subtype.

Role of Dectin-1 receptor on cytokine production by human monocytes challenged with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Fungal recognition by Dectin-1 receptor triggers a series of cellular mechanisms involved in a protective activation of the immune system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the participation of Dectin-1 receptor in the induction of IL-8, TNF-α, IL-12, IL-10 and IL-17A secretion by human monocytes activated with different cytokines, and challenged in vitro with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (P. brasiliensis). Our results show that monocytes challenged with P. brasiliensis (Pb265) are able to produce IL-12, IL-8, IL-17, IL-10 and TNF-α. Dectin-1 receptor blockage decreased the IL-12, IL-17, IL-10 and TNF-α levels indicating the participation of such receptor in the induction of these cytokines. Only IL-8 production was not affected by the blockage. Cells activation with different cytokines showed that GM-CSF was able to induce secretion of all cytokines and the receptor blockage prior to the challenge also decreased the cytokine secretion, except IL-8. Monocytes activated with TNF-α promoted IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α production, whereas stimulation with IFN-γ promoted mainly IL-12 and TNF-α. Thus, these findings bring new and important knowledge about Dectin-1 participation in cytokines production by monocytes challenged with Pb265.

Endobronchial solitary fibrous tumor

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that appears primarily in the pleura and rarely in intrapulmonary or endobronchial topography. The authors report the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented obstructive respiratory symptoms for 4 years. The chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy showed an obstructive polypoid lesion located between the trachea and the left main bronchus associated with distal atelectasis of the left lung. A resection of the lesion was performed and, macroscopically, the mass was oval, encapsulated, and firm, measuring 2.3 × 1.7 × 1.5 cm. Histology revealed low-grade mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasm, with alternating cellularity, myxoid areas, and mature adipose tissue outbreaks, as well as blood vessels with irregular walls. The immunohistochemical study was positive for CD34, CD99, and BCL2. The diagnosis was SFT in an unusual topography. The patient's symptoms remitted after tumor excision, and no systemic problems were evident. SFTs primarily affect adults and often follow a benign course; however, their behavior is unpredictable. The presence of necrosis and mitotic activity may portend a poor prognosis. Endobronchial SFTs are rare but should be evaluated and monitored similar to SFTs at other sites, with a long-term follow-up

Myelolipoma of the posterior mediastinum in a patient with chronic dyserythropoietic anemia.

Myelolipoma (ML) is an uncommon benign mesenchymal neoplasia composed of mature adipose and hematopoietic tissues of uncertain etiology. Less than 3% of MLs occur in the mediastinal topography. The main differential diagnosis involves extramedullary hematopoiesis; therefore, pathological evaluation is essential for the definitive diagnosis. The authors report the case of a 50-year-old man diagnosed with congenital dyserythropoiesis and secondary hemosiderosis, who presented a posterior mediastinal tumor. The tumor was resected. It was macroscopically characterized by mature fat tissue with fibrous areas and soft consistency, which was yellowish at the cut surface. Histology revealed a well-defined nodule composed of adipocytes and hematopoietic tissue represented by erythroid, granulocytic, and megakaryocytic series, which was consistent with the diagnosis of ML located in the posterior mediastinum. There was no recurrence of the lesion during the 3-year follow-up. The aim of this report is to show the diagnosis of an unusual mediastinal lesion in the context of a chronic hematologic disease.

Preemptive Analgesia with Acupuncture Monitored by c-Fos Expression in Rats.

Pain behavior and awareness are characterized by heightened alertness and anxiety, which begin to disappear as soon as the curative process starts. The present study aimed to quantify c-fos expression in rat spinal cords and brains after a surgical stimulus and with preoperative or postoperative acupuncture. Animals were randomly divided into preoperative and postoperative groups and were then further divided into control, manual acupuncture (MA), or electroacupuncture (EA) groups. Expression of c-fos was quantified using immunohistochemistry. The collected data were analyzed using the t test at a 5% probability level. Presurgery and postsurgery spinal cord c-fos expressions were similar in all of the treatment groups. In the control rats, c-fos expression was higher before surgery than after surgery, contradicting the expected outcome of acupuncture and preemptive analgesia. After treatment, the expression of c-fos in the brains of the rats in the MA and the EA groups was reduced compared with that of the rats in the control group. These findings suggest that acupuncture used as preemptive analgesia in rats is a useful model for studying its application in human treatment.

Endobronchial solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that appears primarily in the pleura and rarely in intrapulmonary or endobronchial topography. The authors report the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented obstructive respiratory symptoms for 4 years. The chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy showed an obstructive polypoid lesion located between the trachea and the left main bronchus associated with distal atelectasis of the left lung. A resection of the lesion was performed and, macroscopically, the mass was oval, encapsulated, and firm, measuring 2.3 × 1.7 × 1.5 cm. Histology revealed low-grade mesenchymal spindle cell neoplasm, with alternating cellularity, myxoid areas, and mature adipose tissue outbreaks, as well as blood vessels with irregular walls. The immunohistochemical study was positive for CD34, CD99, and BCL2. The diagnosis was SFT in an unusual topography. The patient's symptoms remitted after tumor excision, and no systemic problems were evident. SFTs primarily affect adults and often follow a benign course; however, their behavior is unpredictable. The presence of necrosis and mitotic activity may portend a poor prognosis. Endobronchial SFTs are rare but should be evaluated and monitored similar to SFTs at other sites, with a long-term follow-up.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Identification in Tegumentary Lesions of Patients with Paracoccidioidomycosis and Different Patterns of NETs Generation In Vitro.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis, endemic in most Latin American countries, especially in Brazil. It is caused by the thermo-dimorphic fungus of the genus Paracoccidioides (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii). Innate immune response plays a crucial role in host defense against fungal infections, and neutrophils (PMNs) are able to combat microorganisms with three different mechanisms: phagocytosis, secretion of granular proteins, which have antimicrobial properties, and the most recent described mechanism called NETosis. This new process is characterized by the release of net-like structures called Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), which is composed of nuclear (decondensed DNA and histones) and granular material such as elastase. Several microorganisms have the ability of inducing NETs formation, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, viruses and some fungi. We proposed to identify NETs in tegumentary lesions of patients with PCM and to analyze the interaction between two strains of P. brasiliensis and human PMNs by NETs formation in vitro. In this context, the presence of NETs in vivo was evidenced in tegumentary lesions of patients with PCM by confocal spectrum analyzer. Furthermore, we showed that the high virulent P. brasiliensis strain 18 (Pb18) and the lower virulent strain Pb265 are able to induce different patterns of NETs formation in vitro. The quantification of extracellular DNA corroborates the idea of the ability of P. brasiliensis in inducing NETs release. In conclusion, our data show for the first time the identification of NETs in lesions of patients with PCM and demonstrate distinct patterns of NETs in cultures challenged with fungi in vitro. The presence of NETs components both in vivo and in vitro open new possibilities for the detailed investigation of immunity in PCM.