Abstract Doxorubicin (Dox) is a medication used in the treatment of cancerous tumors and hematologic malignancies with potentially serious side effects, including the risk of cardiotoxicity. Flavonoids are plant metabolites with antioxidant properties and can be extracted from Camellia sinensis (CS). The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible cardioprotective effect of CS against injuries induced by Dox in rats. A total of 32 animals were distributed into four groups: (1) control - intraperitoneal injection (I.P.) of 0.5 mL saline weekly and 1.0 mL water by gavage daily; (2) CS - 0.5 mL saline I.P. weekly and 200 mg/kg CS by gavage daily; (3) Dox - 5.0 mg/kg Dox I.P. weekly and 1.0 mL water by gavage daily; and (4) Dox+CS -5.0 mg/kg Dox I.P. weekly and 200 mg/kg CS by gavage daily. Clinical examinations, blood profiles, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and histological analyses of hearts were performed over 25 days. The animals in the Dox group showed changes in body weight and in erythrogram, leukogram, electrocardiography, and echocardiography readings. However, animals from the dox+CS group had significantly less change in body weight, improved cardiac function, and showed more preserved cardiac tissue. This study demonstrated that CS prevents dox-induced cardiotoxicity, despite enhancing the cytotoxic effect on blood cells.

RESUMO: O objetivo do presente trabalho foi verificar o efeito in vitro da triiodotironina (T3) na diferenciação condrogênica de células tronco mesenquimais do tecido adiposo (CTM-TA) de ratas, durante vários períodos e em várias doses. CTM-TA foram coletadas de ratas Wistar e cultivadas em meio condrogênico com ou sem a presença de T3. Constitui-se cinco grupos: 1) CTM-TA sem T3; e 2,3,4,5) CTM-TA com T3 (0,01; 1; 100 e 1000 nM, respectivamente). Após sete, 14 e 21 dias, foram avaliados morfologia celular, formação de matriz condrogênica e expressão de Sox9, agrecano, colágeno II e colágeno X. Para as análises foi utilizado o teste de Student Newman Keuls. CTM-TA expressaram CD54, CD73 e CD90 antes da diferenciação condrogênica. O tratamento hormonal não alterou a formação de matriz condrogênica e a expressão de Sox9 aos 14 e 21 dias e expressão dos colágenos II e X em nenhum dos períodos avaliados. No entanto, as doses de 0,01; 1 e 1000 nM T3 diminuíram a expressão de Sox9 aos 7 dias. Conclui-se que a diferenciação condrogênica de CTM-TA de ratas não é influenciada pela T3.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro action of triiodothyronine (T3) on the chondrogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) of female rats, with different time periods and doses. ASCs were extracted from female Wistar rats and were cultured in chondrogenic medium with and without the presence of T3. Five groups were established: 1) ASCs without T3; and 2,3,4,5) ASCs with 0.01, 1, 100 and 1,000 nM T3, respectively). After 7, 14 and 21 days, cell morphology, chondrogenic matrix formation, and expression of Sox9, aggrecan, collagen II, and collagen X were evaluated. The Student-Newman-Keuls test was used. ASCs showed CD54, CD73, and CD90 before chondrogenic differentiation. The hormone treatment did not alter chondrogenic matrix formation, Sox9 expression at 14 or 21 days, or expression of collagen II or collagen X at any time. However, the 0.01, 1, and 1000 nM T3 doses decreased Sox9 expression at 7 days. In conclusion, chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs of female rats is not influenced by T3.

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia das células-tronco mesenquimais (CTMs), isoladas ou associadas à dapsona (DAP), no tratamento de feridas dermonecróticas causadas pelo veneno de Loxosceles laeta. Vinte e cinco coelhos machos foram distribuídos em cinco grupos. O controle negativo recebeu água ultrapura (C-), enquanto todos os outros grupos foram injetados com 20 μg de veneno de L. laeta. Após 4 horas, cada grupo recebeu um dos seguintes tratamentos: PBS (C+), DAP, CTMs e DAP + CTMs. Os animais foram avaliados diariamente durante 12 dias, e feitos registros fotográficos para análise da ferida e no 12º dia, foram eutanasiados e, retiradas amostras de pele para análise histológica. Observou-se que a DAP apresentou o melhor percentual de contração da ferida no terceiro dia. Nos tratamentos com CTMs, observou-se uma contração negativa da ferida tanto para as CTMs isoladas, bem como a associação CTMs + DAP em relação ao PBS, possivelmente, pelo aumento da infamação inicial após a aplicação de células-tronco. Isso é devido ao fato de que as CTMs secretam um amplo espectro de moléculas bioativas como citocinas e fatores de crescimento que favorecem a regeneração. Histologicamente, observou-se que os animais de C+ apresentaram extensas áreas de necrose, úlceras, infiltrado neutrofílico, além de mineralização. Houve aumento de deposição de colágeno no tratamento CTMs + DAP, no entanto, a vascularização permaneceu inalterada. Este é o primeiro relato usando CTMs e CTMs + DAP como tratamento para loxoscelismo cutâneo e mais estudos são necessários para determinar seu uso como terapia alternativa para lesões demonecróticas causadas pela aranha Loxosceles.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), alone or associated with dapsone (DAP), in treating dermonecrotic wounds caused by Loxosceles laeta venom. Twenty-five male rabbits were distributed into five groups. Negative control received ultrapure water (C-), whilst all other groups were injected with 20 μg of L. laeta venom. After 4 hours, each group received one of the following treatments: PBS (C+), DAP, MSC, and DAP+MSC. Animals were evaluated daily and photographic records made for analysis of wound area. Twelve days after, animals were euthanized and skin samples removed for histological analysis. We observed that DAP showed the best percentage of wound contraction at day 3. In the treatments using MSCs, a negative value of wound contraction was observed for the isolated MSCs, as well as a lower contraction value for the association of the MSC + DAP when compared to PBS, probably, by the increase in initial infammation after the application of stem cells, due to the fact that MSCs secrete a broad spectrum of bioactive molecules such as cytokines and growth factors that favor regeneration. Histologically, it was observed that animals of C+ showed extensive areas of necrosis, ulcers, neutrophilic infiltrate, and mineralization. Collagen deposition showed increase in MSC+DAP treatment, however vascularization remained unchanged. This is the first report using MSC and MSC+DAP as a treatment for cutaneous loxoscelism and more studies are needed to determine its use as an alternative therapy for dermonecrotic lesions caused by Loxosceles spider.

ABSTRACT: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) have been showing a considerable potential for regenerative medicine. Pulps were collected from lower incisors (n=2) through direct access of the tooth pulp chamber. The isolated cells were cultured in alfa-MEM 10% FBS, in standard culture conditions. At the third passage, DPSC were characterized by flow cytometry (MHCI, CD54, CD73, CD90, CD45, CD11 and CD34); RT-PCR for Nanog gene; and their differentiation capacity in osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic cell lines. Isolated cells exhibited adhesion capacity to plastic; fusiform morphology, and 80% confluence reached in approximately 3 days. These cells have also revealed positive expression for CD54, CD73 and CD90 markers; and negative expression for CD11, CD34 and CD45. Nanog expression was detected by RT-PCR, expected for a mesenchymal stem cell profile. DPSC chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed by positive staining in Alcian Blue; lipidic droplets stained with oil red confirmed their capacity to differentiate in adipogenic fate; while mineralized beads, stained with alizarin red, confirmed their differentiation in osteogenic phenotype. These results indicate the viability of the isolation and expansion of rat DPSC following this method, and osteogenic differentiation potential opens new perspectives for in vivo studies and the use of these cells in cellular therapies and tissue bioengineering, aiming bone repair.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a triiodotironina (T3) aumenta a diferenciação osteogênica das células-tronco mesenquimais do tecido adiposo (CTM-TA) de ratas adultas ovariectomizadas e com osteoporose e compará-lo ao de ratas adultas e jovens sem osteoporose. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: CTM-TA foram cultivadas em meio osteogênico e distribuídas em sete grupos: 1) CTM-TA de ratas jovens sem osteoporose; 2) CTM-TA de ratas adultas sem osteoporose; 3) CTM-TA de ratas adultas com osteoporose e 4, 5, 6 e 7) CTM-TA de ratas adultas com osteoporose tratadas com T3 (0,01 nM, 1 nM, 100 nM e 1.000 nM). AVALIARAM-SE: atividade da fosfatase alcalina, conversão do dimetiltiazol (MTT), porcentagem de nódulos de mineralização, celularidade e quantificação de transcriptos gênicos para colágeno I, osteocalcina, osteopontina e Bmp-2. RESULTADOS: Independente da dose, T3 reduziu a conversão do MTT, a atividade da fosfatase, a porcentagem de células e a expressão de colágeno I em pelo menos uma das doses e dos períodos estudados (p < 0,05). Mas o tratamento com T3 não alterou o número de nódulos de mineralização e a expressão de osteopontina e Bmp-2 em culturas de CTM-TA de ratas adultas com osteoporose (p > 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: T3 apresenta efeitos negativos sobre alguns fatores envolvidos na diferenciação osteogênica de CTM-TA, sem, no entanto, reduzir a formação de nódulos de mineralização e a expressão de proteínas ósseas.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if triiodothyronine (T3) increases osteogenic differentiation adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) from ovariectomized adult rats with osteoporosis compared with young rats and adult rats without osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ASCs were cultured in osteogenic medium and distributed into seven groups: 1) ASCs of young rats without osteoporosis; 2) ASCs of adult rats without osteoporosis; 3) ASCs of adult rats with osteoporosis and 4, 5, 6 and 7) ASCs of adult rats with osteoporosis treated with T3 (0.01 nM, 1 nM, 100 nM and 1,000 nM). We analyzed alkaline phosphatase activity, dimethylthiazol (MTT) conversion, percentage of mineralized nodules, cellularity and quantification of gene transcripts for collagen I, osteocalcin, osteopontin and Bmp-2. RESULTS: Regardless of the dose, T3 reduced the MTT conversion, alkaline phosphatase activity, percentage of cells and the expression of collagen I in at least one of the doses and periods studied (p < 0.05). But, the treatment with T3 does not modify the number of mineralized nodules and the expression of osteopontin and Bmp-2 in culture of ASCs from adult rats with osteoporosis (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: T3 has a negative effect on some factors involved in osteogenic differentiation of ASCs from adult rats with osteoporosis, without; however, reduce the formation of mineralized nodules and the expression of bone proteins.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se a adição de T3 aumenta o potencial osteogênico das células-tronco mesenquimais da medula óssea (CTM-MO) de ratas adultas normais comparado ao de ratas jovens. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: CTM-MO foram cultivadas em meio osteogênico e separadas em seis grupos: 1) CTM-MO de ratas jovens; 2) CTM-MO de ratas adultas; 3, 4, 5 e 6) CTM-MO de ratas adultas com T3 nas concentrações de 0,01; 1; 100 e 1000 nM, respectivamente. Foram avaliados: atividade da fosfatase alcalina, conversão do dimetiltiazol (MTT) e síntese de colágeno aos sete, 14 e 21 dias e celularidade e número de nódulos de mineralização aos 21 dias de diferenciação. RESULTADOS: T3 reduziu significativamente a conversão do MTT, a atividade da fosfatase alcalina, a síntese de colágeno e a formação dos nódulos de mineralização em pelo menos uma das doses e dos períodos estudados (p < 0,05). Os valores foram menores quando comparados aos das CTM-MO de ratas jovens e adultas sem T3 (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: T3 apresenta efeitos negativos sobre os fatores envolvidos na diferenciação osteogênica das CTM-MO de ratas adultas.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if triiodothyronine (T3) increases osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) of adult rats compared with young rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BMMSCs were cultured in osteogenic medium and distributed into six groups: 1) BMMSCs of young rats; 2) BMMSCs of adult rats; 3, 4, 5 and 6) BMMSCs of adult rats with T3 (0.01, 1, 100 to 1000 nM). We analyzed alkaline phosphatase activity, dimethylthiazol (MTT) conversion, and collagen synthesis at 7, 14, and 21 days, and percentage of cells per field and number of mineralized nodules at 21 days of differentiation. RESULTS: T3 reduced MTT conversion, alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen synthesis, and the synthesis of mineralizalized nodules in at least one of the doses and periods studied (p < 0.05). Values were lower when compared with young and adult rats BMMSCs (p < 0.05) without T3. CONCLUSION: T3 has a negative effect on the factors involved in osteogenic differentiation of BMMSC from adult rats.

The levels of total of IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 were evaluated in 54 patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) before, during and after treatment using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with Mexo and recombinant Pb27 (rPb27) as the antigens. Mexo was effective in distinguishing PCM patients from individuals in the negative control group (NC) based on total IgG and rPb27 performed worse than Mexo when these two groups were compared. IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 could not be used to clearly distinguish PCM patients from those in the NC group using either antigen. There was no clear relationship between antibody levels and the period of treatment. The majority of patients presented with decreased antibody levels during treatment, with no statistically significant differences among the different periods of treatment. Only IgG4 presented a negative correlation between its levels and clinical improvement during treatment. In total, 65% of untreated PCM patients showed reactivity against IgG4 when the Mexo antigen was used and this reactivity decreased over the course of treatment. There was a tendency towards decreasing antibody levels during treatment, but these antibody levels did not necessarily clear after the treatment was stopped. Mexo was useful for PCM diagnosis using total IgG; however, more studies are necessary before this antigen can be used in measuring the levels of total IgG and its subclasses for monitoring patients during treatment.

A proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) foi originalmente descoberta no cnidário Aequorea victoria. Células-tronco GFP positivas podem ser rastreadas in vivo quando usadas na terapia de doenças. No entanto, no osso, a fluorescência gerada pela GFP pode ser perdida durante o processo de descalcificação, dificultando o rastreamento das células-tronco usadas no tratamento de doenças ou defeitos ósseos. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar diferentes técnicas de preservação da GFP no tecido ósseo descalcificado. Foram utilizados fêmures de ratas GFP Lewis distribuídos em quatro grupos: 1) descalcificado em ácido fórmico e incluído em parafina; 2) descalcificado em ácido fórmico e submetido à criomicrotomia; 3) descalcificado em EDTA e incluído em parafina; e 4) descalcificado em EDTA com criomicrotomia. Secções de tecido ósseo de todos os grupos foram analisadas para identificação da fluorescência natural e posteriormente submetidas à imunofluorescência, sendo utilizados anti-GFP e Alexa Flúor 555. As imagens foram obtidas por microscopia confocal. Osteócitos, osteoblastos e células da medula óssea de ratos GFP somente tiveram sua fluorescência natural preservada no tecido ósseo descalcificado em EDTA e submetido à microtomia por congelação. Nos demais grupos, houve perda da fluorescência natural, e as células GFP somente puderam ser identificadas com o uso da reação de imunofluorescência com anti-GFP. Conclui-se que a descalcificação em EDTA e a criomicrotomia são as melhores técnicas para preservar a fluorescência natural das células GFP no tecido ósseo e que a visualização de células GFP em tecido ósseo descalcificado em ácido fórmico e incluído em parafina somente pode ser realizada com o uso da técnica de imunofluorescência.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was originally derived from the cnidarians Aequorea victoria. GFP-positive stem cells can be tracked in vivo when used in the therapy of diseases. However, in the bone, the fluorescence generated by GFP can be lost during the decalcification process, hindering the tracking of stem cells used in the treatment of diseases or bone defects. The aim of this study was to compare different techniques of preservation of GFP in the decalcified bone tissue. Femurs of female Lewis GFP rats were distributed in four groups: 1) decalcified in formic acid and paraffin-embedded; 2) decalcified in formic acid submitted to cryomicrotomy; 3) decalcified in EDTA and paraffin-embedded and 4) decalcified in EDTA with cryomicrotomy. Sections of bone tissue of all the groups were analyzed for identification of the natural fluorescence and subsequently submitted to the immunofluorescence using anti-GFP and Alexa Flúor 555. The images were obtained by confocal microscopy. Osteocytes, osteoblasts and bone marrow cells of GFP rats only had natural fluorescence preserved in the bone tissue decalcified in EDTA and submitted to cryomicrotomy. In others groups there were loss of the natural fluorescence and the GFP cells could be only identified with the use of the immunofluorescence with anti-GFP. In conclusion, the decalcification in EDTA and the cryomicrotomy are the best techniques to preserve the natural fluorescence of the GFP cells in the bone tissue and the GFP cells in bone tissue decalcified in formic acid and paraffin-embedded can be visualized only with the use of the immunofluorescence with anti-GFP.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as diferenças sítio-ósseo dependentes no efeito das disfunções tireoidianas no fêmur e vértebras lombares de ratas. MÉTODOS: 33 ratas Wistar com dois meses de idade foram distribuídas em três grupos: eutireoideas (controle), hipotireoideas e hipertireoideas. Após 90 dias de tratamento para indução do hipo e hipertireoidismo, as ratas foram eutanasiadas, o sangue foi colhido para dosagem de T4 livre e os fêmures e as vértebras lombares (L1-L3) foram descalcificados e processados para análise da porcentagem de tecido ósseo trabecular. RESULTADOS: O grupo hipertireoideo apresentou porcentagem de tecido ósseo trabecular significativamente mais elevada na metáfise femoral, em comparação ao controle. Mas o hipertireoidismo não alterou a porcentagem de tecido ósseo trabecular na vértebra. O hipotireoidismo reduziu significativamente a porcentagem de tecido ósseo trabecular em comparação aos demais grupos nos segmentos 1-3 das vértebras lombares, mas não alterou a porcentagem de tecido ósseo trabecular no fêmur. CONCLUSÃO: O efeito do hipotireoidismo e do hipertireoidismo sobre a histomorfometria óssea é diferente e dependente do sítio ósseo.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating bone site-dependent differences in the effect of thyroid dysfunctions on the femur and lumbar vertebrae of female rats. METHODS: Thirty-three 2-month-old female wistar rats were distributed in three groups: euthyroid (control), hypothyroid and hyperthyroid. Ninety days after treatment for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism induction, the female rats were euthanized; the blood was collected for free T4 dosage and the femurs and segment 1-3 of the lumbar vertebrae were decalcified and processed for analysis of the trabecular bone percentage. RESULTS: The hyperthyroid group showed significantly higher trabecular bone percentage in the femoral metaphysis, in comparison with the control group. But the hyperthyroidism group did not increase the trabecular bone percentage in the lumbar vertebrae. The hypothyroidism group significantly reduced the trabecular bone percentage in the lumbar vertebrae, but did not alter the trabecular bone percentage in the femur. CONCLUSION: The effect of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on bone histomorphometry is different in each condition and bone site-dependent.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão de integração e diferenciação retiniana de células tronco mesenquimais (CTM) injetadas na cavidade vítrea de ratos portadores de lesões retinianas. MÉTODOS: Ratos Wistar adultos foram submetidos a múltiplas lesões retinianas utilizando-se YAG laser e injeção intravítrea de células tronco mesenquimais. A fim de se avaliar a integração e diferenciação retiniana, o tecido retiniano lesado pelo YAG laser / tratado pelas células tronco, foi avaliado 2, 4 e 8 semanas após a lesão. RESULTADOS: As células injetadas na cavidade vítrea sobreviveram na retina por pelo menos 8 semanas e quase todas células tronco mesenquimais migraram e incorporaram-se na retina neural, especificamente nas camadas nucleares externa e interna e camada de células ganglionares. Uma pequena quantidade de células foi encontrada no espaço sub-retiniano. A análise imuno-histoquímica de 8 semanas mostrou que a maioria das células injetadas expressou rodopsina (marcador para fotorreceptores), parvalbumina (marcador para células bipolares e amácrinas), GFAP (marcador de células gliais). As células injetadas não expressaram a pancitoqueratina, que é a marcadora de células do epitélio pigmentar da retina. CONCLUSÕES: Ocorre aparente diferenciação e incorporação de células tronco mesenquimais na retina de ratos após injeção intravitrea destas células.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pattern of retinal integration and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) injected into the vitreous cavity of rat eyes with retinal injury. METHODS: Adult rat retinas were submitted to laser damage followed by transplantation of DAPI-labeled BM-MSCs grafts. To assess the integration and differentiation of BM-MSCs in laser-injured retina, host retinas were evaluated 2.4 and 8 weeks after injury/transplantation. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the grafted cells survived in the retina for at least 8 weeks and almost all BM-MSCs migrated and incorporated into the neural retina, specifically in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) while a subset of grafted cells were found in the subretinal space posttransplantation. At 8 weeks immunohistochemical analysis with several retinal specific markers revealed that the majority of the grafted cells expressed rhodopsin, a rod photoreceptor marker, followed by parvalbumin, a marker for bipolar and amacrine cells. A few subsets of cells were able to express a glial marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein. However, grafted cells failed to express pan-cytokeratin, a retinal pigment epithelium marker. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the potential of BM-MSCs to differentiate into retinal neurons. Taken together, these findings might be clinically relevant for future mesenchymal stem cell therapy studies concerning retinal degeneration repair.

Estudo de 38 crianças com paracoccidioidomicose, até 14 anos de idade, tratados por 24-30 meses, com um derivado sulfamídico ou cetoconazol, desde o início do tratamento ou em seguida ao uso da anfotericina B. Dados laboratoriais à admissão foram analisados e comparados com exames seqüenciais até 30 meses de acompanhamento. Anemia, eosinofilia e bilirrubinas e aminotransferases elevadas normalizaram-se, na maioria, até os três meses de tratamento e, hipoalbuminemia, até os seis meses, sugerindo que esses achados sejam bons parâmetros para o monitoramento da resposta terapêutica inicial. Leucócitos periféricos, velocidade de hemossedimentação, IgG e títulos sorológicos para o Paracoccidioides brasiliensis estavam elevados e normalizaram-se, freqüentemente, após nove a 12 meses de tratamento, o que sugere utilidade desses exames no monitoramento de todo o tratamento e enfatiza a necessidade de curso terapêutico prolongado da paracoccidioidomicose na infância.

The study of 38 children with paracoccidioidomycosis, aged up to 14, treated for 24 to 30 months with either a sulfonamide derivative or ketoconazole either alone or, after the use of amphotericin B. Laboratory data at admission were analyzed and compared with those of sequential tests after up to 30 months follow-up. Anemia, eosinophilia, increased bilirubin and aminotransferases normalized, in most patients, after three months treatment and hypoalbuminemia normalized after six months, suggesting that these laboratory findings are useful for monitoring early therapeutic response. Peripheral leucocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, IgG, and serological titers for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were increased and frequently normalized after nine to 12 months of treatment. They may be useful for monitoring the entire treatment and emphasize the need for long term treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis in children.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important effector molecule involved in immune regulation and defense. NO produced by cytokine-activated macrophages was reported to be cytotoxic against the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. Identification and characterization of S. mansoni antigens that can provide protective immunity is crucial for understanding the complex immunoregulatory events that modulate the immune response in schistosomiasis. It is, then, essential to have available defined, purified parasite antigens. Previous work by our laboratory identified a fraction of S. mansoni soluble adult worm antigenic preparation (SWAP), named PIII, able to elicit significant in vitro cell proliferation and at the same time lower in vitro and in vivo granuloma formation when compared either to SEA (soluble egg antigen) or to SWAP. In the present work we report the effect of different in vivo trials with mice on their spleen cells ability to produce NO. We demonstrate that PIII-immunization is able to significantly increase NO production by spleen cells after in vitro stimulation with LPS. These data suggest a possible role for NO on the protective immunity induced by PIII.

Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigens (SEA) were fractionated by isoelectric focusing, resulting in 20 components, characterized by pH, absorbance and protein concentration. The higher absorbance fractions were submitted to electrophoresis, and fraction 8 (F8) presented a specific pattern of bands on its isoelectric point. Protein 3 was observed only on F8, and so, it was utilized to rabbit immunization, in order to evaluate its capacity of inducing protective immunity. IgG antibodies from rabbit anti-F8 serum were coupled to Sepharose, and used to obtain the specific antigen by affinity chromatography. This antigen, submitted to electrophoresis, presented two proteic bands (F8.1 and F8.2), which were transferred to nitrocellulose membrane (PVDF) and sequenciated. The homology of F8.2 to known proteins was determined using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool program (BLASTp). Significant homologies were obtained for the rabbit cytosolic Ca2+ uptake inhibitor, and for the bird a1-proteinase inhibitor. Immunization of mice with F8.1 and F8.2, in the presence of Corynebacterium parvum and Al(OH)3 as adjuvant, induced a significant protection degree against challenge infection, as observed by the decrease on worm burden recovered from portal system.

This study was performed in order to define Schistosoma mansoni antigens able to function as modulator agents in BALB/c mice granulomatous hypersensitivity to parasite egg. The antigens P-24, P-35 and P-97 were purified by affinity chromatography from a fraction of S. mansoni adult worm antigenic preparation, denominated PIII, involved in the inhibition of granulomatous response to eggs. Immunization of mice with these antigens, in the presence of Corynebacterium parvum and Al(OH)3 as adjuvant, induced a significant protection degree against challenge infection, as observed by the decrease on worm burden recovered from portal system. In vitro blastogenesis assays revealed that purified antigens were able to induce significant proliferation of spleen cells from S. mansoni-infected mice. This protection was correlated to significant decrease in granuloma size induced by PIII. From these results, we concluded that PIII preparation contains antigens capable of mediating protective anti-parasite immunity and down-regulating granulomatous hypersensitivity to S. mansoni eggs.