Revisiting the metallothionein genes polymorphisms and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a Brazilian population / Revisando los polimorfismos de los genes de metalotioneína y el riesgo de carcinoma oral de células escamosas en una población brasileña

Background: Metallothioneins (MTs) gene polymorphisms have been associated with the ability of free radicalscavenging and detoxification of heavy metals leading to cancer development. Our aim was to revisit, in a Brazil-ian population, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MT gene family previously associated with oralsquamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Material and Methods: A case-control investigation with 28 OSCC patients and 45 controls was conducted, usingconventional risk factors (tobacco use and alcohol consumption) as covariates. SNPs genotyping for rs8052334(MT1B), rs964372 (MT1B), and rs1610216 (MT2A) was performed by PCR-RFLP, and SNPs for rs11076161(MT1A) were analyzed by TaqMan assay.Results: The only SNP associated with increased risk for OSCC was the MT-1A AA genotype (OR = 4.7; p = 0.01).We have also evidenced for the first time a significant linkage disequilibrium between the SNPs of MT-2A andMT-1A in this population with the highest frequency (30%) of the unfavorable haplotype G/A/C/T (rs1610216 /rs11076161 / rs964372 / rs8052334) of MT gene polymorphisms (OR = 6.2; p = 0.04). Interestingly, after removingthe effects of conventional risk factors, we have uncovered the significance of the AA genotype of the rs11076161with increased odds of 19-fold higher towards OSCC development.Conclusions: This is the first demonstration that a significant linkage disequilibrium among gene polymor-phisms of the MT family may affect susceptibility to oral cancer, which is conditioned by the G/A/C/T haplotype(rs1610216/rs11076161/rs964372/ rs8052334) and the MT-1A gene polymorphism has a potential clinical utility forthe OSCC risk assessment.(AU)

Balanced Th1/Th2 immune response induced by MSP1a functional motif coupled to multiwalled carbon nanotubes as anti-anaplasmosis vaccine in murine model.

Anaplasmosis is one of the most prevalent tick-borne diseases of cattle caused by Anaplasma marginale. MSP1a surface protein has been shown to be involved in eliciting immunity to infected cattle. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been increasingly highlighted due to their needle like structure, which contain multiple attachment sites for biomolecules and may interact with or cross biological membranes, increasing antigen availability to immune system. Here, we have successfully designed a nanocomplex of a synthetic peptide noncovalently attached to multiwalled CNT (MWCNT). Peptide comprising the core motif of the MSP1a was efficiently adsorb onto the nanoparticle surface. The MWCNT-Am1 nanocomplex exhibited high stability and good dispersibility and in vivo immunization showed high levels of IgG1 and IgG2a, followed by increased expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This is a proof-of-concept of a nanovaccine that was able to generate a strong immune response compared to the common antigen-adjuvant vaccine without the nanoparticles.

Assessment of carcinogenic potential of soft drinks of cola, diet cola, orange and lemon, produced in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais state, Brazil / Avaliação do potencial carcinogênico de refrigerantes à base de cola, diet cola, laranja e limão, produzidos no município de Uberlândia, estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Soft drinks are industrialized unfermented beverages, free of alcohol, carbonated, rich in artificial flavors and sugar. The intense consumption of such beverages can be related to not inheritable diseases such as caries, allergy, cellulite and stretch marks, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of different concentrations of soft drinks produced in the Uberlândia city, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by means of Epithelial Tumor Detection Test using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. Third stage larvae descendants of crosses between D. melanogaster virgin females wts/TM3, sb¹ and males mwh/mwh were treated with different concentrations (0.83, 1.66 or 3.33 mL/g) of cola, diet cola, orange or lemon soft drinks. The total epithelial tumor rate observed in flies treated with 3.33 mL/g of cola and orange soft drinks was higher than the negative control. The diet cola and lemon caused no significant increase in the overall frequency of epithelial tumors in D. melanogaster. In conclusion, in these experimental conditions, the cola and orange base soft drinks demonstrated carcinogenic potential in somatic cells of D. melanogaster in the concentration of 3.33 mL/g.

Refrigerantes são bebidas industrializadas não fermentadas, livre de álcool, carbonatadas, ricas em aromas artificiais e açúcar. O consumo intenso dessas bebidas pode estar relacionada à doenças não herdáveis como, cáries, quadros alérgicos, formação de celulite e estrias cutâneas, alterações gastrointestinais, diabetes e câncer. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o potencial carcinogênico de diferentes concentrações de refrigerantes produzidos no município de Uberlândia, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi realizado o Teste de Detecção de Tumor Epitelial em Drosophila melanogaster. Larvas de terceiro estágio descendentes do cruzamento entre fêmeas virgens wts/TM3, sb¹ e machos mwh/mwh de D. melanogaster foram tratadas com diferentes concentrações (0,83; 1,66 ou 3,33 mL/g) de refrigerantes à base de cola, diet cola, laranja e limão. Os resultados mostraram aumento na frequência de tumor epitelial em moscas tratadas 3,33 mL/g de refrigerantes à base de cola e de laranja, quando comparados ao controle negativo. Os refrigerantes diet cola e limão não provocaram aumento na frequência de tumor epitelial em D. melanogaster. Em conclusão, nessas condições experimentais, os refrigerantes à base de cola e laranja mostraram potencial carcinogênico em células somáticas de D. melanogaster na concentração de 3,33 mL/g.