BACKGROUND Streptococcus agalactiae can causes sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis in neonates, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients. Although the virulence properties of S. agalactiae have been partially elucidated, the molecular mechanisms related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in infected human endothelial cells need further investigation. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the influence of oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) during S. agalactiae infection. METHODS ROS production during S. agalactiae-HUVEC infection was detected using the probe CM-H2DCFDA. Microfilaments labelled with phalloidin-FITC and p47phox-Alexa 546 conjugated were analysed by immunofluorescence. mRNA levels of p47phox (NADPH oxidase subunit) were assessed using Real Time qRT-PCR. The adherence and intracellular viability of S. agalactiae in HUVECs with or without pre-treatment of DPI, apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitors), and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) were evaluated by penicillin/gentamicin exclusion. Phosphorylation of p47phox and Akt activation by S. agalactiae were evaluated by immunoblotting analysis. FINDINGS Data showed increased ROS production 15 min after HUVEC infection. Real-Time qRT-PCR and western blotting performed in HUVEC infected with S. agalactiae detected alterations in mRNA levels and activation of p47phox. Pre-treatment of endothelial cells with NADPH oxidase (DPI and apocynin) and PI3K/Akt pathway (LY294002) inhibitors reduced ROS production, bacterial intracellular viability, and generation of actin stress fibres in HUVECs infected with S. agalactiae. CONCLUSIONS ROS generation via the NADPH oxidase pathway contributes to invasion of S. agalactiae in human endothelial cells accompanied by cytoskeletal reorganisation through the PI3K/Akt pathway, which provides novel evidence for the involvement of oxidative stress in S. agalactiae pathogenesis.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a expressão da HO-1 (enzima induzida pelo estresse) em diferentes peças esofágicas obtidas de um estudo experimental em ratos que avaliou o papel do refluxo gastroesofágico e duodeno esofágico na carcinogênese experimental. MÉTODOS: Blocos de parafina contendo peças de esôfago provenientes de um estudo experimental com ratos foram utilizados para verificar a expressão imunohistoquímica da HO-1. Os ratos haviam sido divididos nos seguintes grupos: (1) Cardioplastia com o objetivo de promover refluxo ácido, (2) Anastomose esofagoduodenal para indução de refluxo misto (ácido e biliar), (3) sem tratamento (controles), (4) cardioplastia + dietil-nitrosamina (DEN), (5) Anastomose esofagoduodenal + DEN, (6) DEN. Amostras contendo três peças de cada grupo com as lesões histopatológicas mais graves encontradas em cada braço do estudo foram escolhidas para avaliação da expressão imunoistoquímica da HO-1. RESULTADOS: A expressão da HO-1 foi observada somente nas peças de esôfago de ratos submetidos à anastomose esofagoduodenal (Grupos 2 e 5) e analise da intensidade média da fluorescência demonstrou uma diferença significativa na expressão da HO-1 nesses grupos quando comparada com o grupo controle (4,8 e 4,6 vezes respectivamente) (p<0,05). As células inflamatórias localizadas dentro dos tumores e nas regiões adjacentes ao epitélio foram as que mais intensamente expressaram a HO-1. Ratos expostos ao refluxo ácido (gástrico) apresentaram pouca ou nenhuma atividade da HO-1. CONCLUSÃO: Esofagite de refluxo induzida pelo refluxo com conteúdo duodenal provocou considerável estresse oxidativo, que parece exercer um papel importante na carcinogênese esofágica. O refluxo puramente ácido não foi capaz de induzir estresse oxidativo nesse modelo experimental

PURPOSE: To study the expression of heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an enzyme induced by oxidative stress, in specimens obtained from an experimental model in rats that evaluated the role of gastric and duodenal reflux in esophageal carcinogenesis. METHODS: Esophageal specimens embedded in paraffin obtained from different experimental groups of rats were used for immunohistochemistry analysis of HO-1 expression. The rats had been divided into the following groups and were killed after 22 weeks: (1) cardioplasty to induce acid reflux; (2) esophagoduodenal anastomosis to induce duodenal reflux; (3) no treatment; (4) cardioplasty + diethylnitrosamine (DEN); (5) esophagoduodenal anastomosis + DEN; and (6) DEN. The study sample comprised 3 specimens from each group with the most severe histopathological lesions found on each study branch. RESULTS: The expression of HO-1 was seen only in rat specimens submitted to esophagoduodenal anastomosis (Groups 2 and 5), and the analysis of mean fluorescence intensity revealed a significant increase of HO-1 expression (4.8 and 4.6 fold, respectively) when compared with the control group (Group 3) (p<0.05). The main target for HO-1 induction was the inflammatory cells inside the tumor or in subepithelial areas. Rats exposed to gastric reflux had no HO-1 expression. CONCLUSION: Reflux esophagitis induced by reflux of duodenal contents, which provoked considerable oxidative stress, may play an important role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Acid reflux did not induce oxidative stress in this experimental model.

Hemolytic episodes such as sickle cell disease, malaria and ischemia-reperfusion occurrence are often associated to the statement of an inflammatory response which may develop or not to a chronic inflammatory status. Although these pathological states are triggered by distinct etiological agents, all of them are associated to high levels of free heme in circulation. In this review, we aim to focus the very recent achievements that have led to the statement of free heme as a proinflammatory molecule, which may play a central role during the onset and/or persistance of inflammation during these pathologies.

Hemolytic episodes such as sickle cell disease, malaria and ischemia-reperfusion occurrence are often associated to the statement of an inflammatory response which may develop or not to a chronic inflammatory status. Although these pathological states are triggered by distinct etiological agents, all of them are associated to high levels of free heme in circulation. In this review, we aim to focus the very recent achievements that have led to the statement of free heme as a proinflammatory molecule, which may play a central role during the onset and/or persistance of inflammation during these pathologies.