Trypanosoma cruzi infection increases atherosclerotic lesion in ApoE-deficient mice.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is the major ligand for the transporting and removal of chylomicrons and lipoproteins by the liver. Since the creation of the ApoE-knockout mice, it is well established that ApoE deficiency results in spontaneous atherosclerosis in aged animals. Atherosclerosis is also observed in animals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan that elicits a systemic inflammatory response in mammalian hosts, culminating in damage to cardiac, neuronal, and endothelial cells. Pro-atherogenic effects related to the experimental infection with T. cruzi may be induced by inflammatory components affecting the vascular wall. Herein, we evaluated whether infection with different strains of T. cruzi worsened the atherogenic lesions observed in aged ApoE-/- mice. After four weeks of infection with Berenice-78 (Be-78) or Colombian (Col) strains of the parasite, mice presented increased CCL2 and CCL5 production and high migration of inflammatory cells to cardiac tissue. Although the infection with either strain did not affect the survival rate, only the infection with Col strain caused abundant parasite growth in blood and heart and increased aortic root lesions in ApoE-/- mice. Our findings show, for the first time that ApoE exerts a protective anti-atherosclerotic role in the aortic root of mice in the acute phase of experimental infection with the Col strain of T. cruzi. Further studies should target ApoE and nutritional interventions to modulate susceptibility to cardiovascular disabilities after T. cruzi infection, minimizing the risk of death in both experimental animals and humans.

Insights into IL-33 on inflammatory response during in vitro infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Inflammatory and regulatory cytokines play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Interleukin (IL)-33 is a member of the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines whose expression/production is upregulated following pro-inflammatory stimulation to alert the immune system in response to tissue stress or damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory profile induced in cultured J774 cells stimulated or not with IL-33 (10 ng/mL), with live parasites (1 × 106 metacyclic trypomastigote forms) and/or total antigen, TcAg (100 µg/mL) and with both, IL-33 and TcAg/T. cruzi. The cultures were evaluated at 24 h and 48 h after addition of the stimuli. For this, the supernatants were collected for the measurement of TNF, IL-17, CCL2, and IL-10 by ELISA and of nitrite by the Griess method. TNF, IL-17, and CCL2 concentrations were elevated in the presence of TcAg or live T. cruzi parasites at 24 h, and the addition of IL-33 potentiated these effects at 48 h. In addition, the T. cruzi-amastigote forms reduced in those infected J774 cells stimulated with IL-33 at 48 h. In conclusion, the IL-33 elevated the production of the TNF, IL-17, and CCL2 in cultured J774 cells stimulated with T. cruzi and/or its antigen and reduced the intracellular parasites, providing impetus to new investigations on its potential actions on the parasite-induced inflammation.

In vitro tripanocidal effect of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes (xanthenodiones) and tetraketones and improvement of cardiac parameters in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Trypanosoma cruzi infection affects millions of people worldwide, and the drugs available for its treatment have limited efficacy. 1,8-Dioxooctahydroxanthenes and tetraketones are compounds with important biological applications. The aim of this study was to assess the trypanocidal and inflammatory activities of nine 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes (1-9) and three tetraketones (10-12). METHODS AND RESULTS: By in vitro killing assay, three compounds were able to eliminate CL TdTomato expressing strain of T. cruzi, 9 (IC50=30.65µM), 10 (IC50=14.11µM), and 11 (IC50=26.43µM). However, only 9 was not toxic to Vero cells. Next, to evaluate the in vivo antitrypanosomal and immunological efficacy of 9, Swiss mice were infected with the Y and CL strains of T. cruzi and treated for 10 days with 50mg/kg of 9. This compound reduced the cardiac inflammatory infiltration in animals infected with both strains. Rank's ligand (RankL), CCL2, and interferon (IFN)-γ were measured in the cardiac tissue homogenate of the Y-strain-infected animals, and no interference of 9 was observed. However, compound 9 increased the RankL and interleukin (IL)-10 levels in CL-infected mice. No hepatic and renal toxicity was observed. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthene has antiparasitic effect and ameliorates the cardiac inflammatory parameters related to T. cruzi infection.

Promoção da aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar em Territórios da Cidadania de Minas Gerais e Espírito Santo / Promoting the purchase of family farm products for school meals in Territories of Citizenship of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Contribuir para a promoção da aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar em Territórios da Cidadania do País. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de intervenção com abordagem de articulação de redes intersetoriais presenciais, desenvolvidas a partir da atuação de equipes compostas por nutricionista, educador popular e engenheiro agrônomo ou técnico agrícola, que visitaram, por pelo menos dois momentos, todos os municípios pertencentes aos Territórios da Cidadania, visando articular redes intersetoriais presenciais capazes de desencadear processos locais de mobilização, organização e apoderamento de diferentes atores para a aquisição de produtos da agricultura familiar para a alimentação escolar nos municípios que compõem os referidos territórios. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mais expressivos foram: 14% dos municípios visitados apresentaram melhora na organização da agricultura familiar; 14% dos gestores passaram a apoiar o processo de aquisição de alimentos segundo a Lei nº 11.947/2009, e 27% dos municípios que não possuíam nutricionista contrataram o profissional. Não foram considerados satisfatórios os resultados obtidos para situação do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar. CONCLUSÃO: As ações desenvolvidas foram capazes de contribuir positivamente para o avanço da implementação da Lei Federal nº 11.947/2009 nos Territórios de Cidadania abordados.

OBJECTIVE: This study hopes to promote the acquisition of family farm products for school meals in Brazil's Territories of Citizenship. METHODS: This intervention study coordinated intersectoral networks face-to-face. The networks consisted of teams composed of a dietician, popular educator, and agronomist or agronomy technician. These teams visited all municipalities within the Citizenship Territories at least twice to coordinate the said networks, capable of promoting local mobilization processes, organization, and empowerment of different actors to acquire family farm products for school meals in the said municipalities. RESULTS: The most expressive results were: 14% of the municipalities improved the family farm organization; 14% of the managers began to support the food acquisition process according to Law nº 11.947/2009; and 27% of the municipalities without a dietician hired one. The results were not considered satisfactory by the School Food Council. CONCLUSION: The actions were capable of promoting the implementation of the Federal Law Lei Federal nº 11.947/2009 in the study Territories of Citizenship.

O Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar sob a ótica dos alunos da rede estadual de ensino de Minas Gerais, Brasil / The Brazilian School Nutrition Program from the standpoint of students attending state schools in Minas Gerais, Brazil

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o Programa de Alimentação Escolar sob a ótica dos alunos atendidos na rede estadual de ensino de Minas Gerais. Trata-se de estudo transversal, quali-quantitativo, com amostra de 1500 alunos, representativa do universo da rede estadual de ensino de Minas Gerais, utilizando questionário semiestruturado analisado por meio de frequência simples, média, desvio padrão, teste exato de Fisher, teste qui-quadrado e regressão logística (p < 0,05; IC 95%). Houve efetiva aceitação de 28,8% e efetiva adesão de 45,1% ao Programa. A aceitação foi significativamente maior entre alunos do sexo masculino e entre aqueles que apresentaram menor consumo de alimentos extrainstitucionais. A aceitação e a adesão foram significativamente maiores entre alunos do grupo etário mais velho e entre aqueles que referiram participar de atividades de Educação Alimentar e Nutricional. No total, 73,5% dos alunos sugeriram melhorias para a Alimentação Escolar. Muitos princípios e diretrizes do programa não estão sendo cumpridos. A aceitação da Alimentação Escolar mostrou-se negativamente influenciada pelo consumo de alimentos extrainstitucionais e positivamente influenciada pelas ações de Educação Alimentar e Nutricional.

The scope of this article is to analyze the Brazilian School Nutrition Program from the standpoint of students attending state schools in Minas Gerais. It is a qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study with a sample of 1500 students, representing the population of the state schools of Minas Gerais, involving the administration of a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using simple frequency, mean, standard deviation, Fisher's exact test, the chi-square test and logistic regression (p < 0.05, CI 95%). The effective acceptance of the program was 28.8% and the effective adhesion to the program was 45.1%. Program acceptance was significantly higher among males and students who consumed less extra-institutional food. Acceptance and adhesion to the program was significantly higher among the older students and those who reported participating in activities related to nutritional education. In total, 73.5% of the students suggested improvements in school food. Many of the program's norms and guidelines are not being implemented. The acceptance of school food was negatively influenced by the consumption of extra-institutional foods and positively influenced by food and nutritional education activities.