Thesis (Ph.D.)--Australian National University, 2004.

Thesis (MPharm.--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Univ. , 2010.

INTRODUÇÃO: O significado clínico das vasculites, lesões isquêmicas, efeito Quilty e da presença de eosinófilos em biópsias endomiocardicas de receptores de transplante cardíaco com rejeições leves não foi ainda estabelecido. OBJETIVOS: Verificar se estes achados histológicos encontrados nas biópsias endomiocardicas (eosinófilos, vasculites, efeito Quilty e lesões isquêmicas) são capazes de predizer rejeição aguda do enxerto acompanhada ou não de grave comprometimento hemodinâmico e morte por rejeição aguda. MÉTODOS: Foram reavaliadas 939 biópsias endomiocardicas consecutivas classificadas como OR ou 1R pela de 2005 da Nomenclatura da Sociedade Internacional de Transplante de Coração e Pulmão e dividimos estas em dois grupos (1) Biópsias preditoras: aquelas que precederam rejeição aguda, rejeição aguda associada à grave comprometimento hemodinâmico ou morte e (2) Biópsias não preditoras aquelas que não precederam eventos clínicos. Comparamos a ocorrência dos seguintes achados histológicos: vasculites, lesões isquêmicas, efeito Quilty e eosinófilos por análise uni e multivariada entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: Após análise estatística verificou-se que a presença de vasculite intensa e de eosinófilos como maiores preditores tanto para rejeição aguda futura, apresentando respectivamente as seguintes razões de chance: 10,60 (IC95%: 3,62 31,06. p<0,001) e 6,26 (IC95%:3,16 12,43. p< 0,001) , quanto para rejeição aguda associada á grave comprometimento hemodinâmico, que para este desfecho clínico apresentaram respectivamente as seguintes razões de chance 7,52 (IC95%: 1,45-38,93. p=0,016) e 6,61 (IC95%: 2,38 18,31. p< 0,001), e também para morte em decorrência a rejeição aguda com as respectivas razões de chance: 11,20 (IC95%: 3,53 36,17. p < 0, 001) e 14,50 (IC95%: 2,19 36,17. p = 0,006). CONCLUSÕES: Vasculites intensas e eosinófilos em biópsias do miocárdio são os principais fatores preditores de rejeição aguda, rejeição aguda associada à grave comprometimento hemodinâmico e morte pós - transplante cardíaco / INTRODUCTION: The clinical meaning of vasculitis, ischemic lesions, Quilty effect and the presence of eosinophils in endomyocardial biopsies of transplant recipients with mild rejections have not been established yet. OBJECTIVES: Verify if these histological findings (eosinophils, vasculitis, Quilty effect and ischemic lesions), whose clinical meaning remains unknown so far, are able to predict acute rejection of the transplanted organ, accompanied or not by severe hemodynamic compromise and death due to acute rejection. METHODS: We reevaluated 939 consecutive endomyocardial biopsies classified as 0R or 1R, according to the nomenclature that the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation established in 2005. We divided these biopsies in 2 groups, as they follow: (1) Predictor biopsies, which are preceded by acute rejection, acute rejection associated to severe hemodynamic compromise or death and (2) Non-predictor biopsies that did not precede any clinical events. We compared the occurrence of the histological findings studied (eosinophils, vasculitis, Quilty effect and ischemic lesions) through univariate and multivariate analysis among the groups. RESULTS: After an appropriate statistical analysis, the result obtained was the presence of intense vasculitis and eosinophils as the greatest predictors of future acute rejection, presenting the respective odds ratio: 10,60 (IC95%: 3,62 31,06. p<0,001) and 6,26 (IC95%:3,16 12,43. p< 0,001), as well as acute rejection associated to severe hemodynamic compromise, which presented the respective odds ratio for this clinical outcome: 7,52 (IC95%: 1,45-38,93. p=0,016) and 6,61 (IC95%: 2,38 18,31. p< 0,001) and death due to acute rejection, presenting the respective odds ratio: 11,20 (IC95%: 3,53 36,17. p < 0, 001) and 14,50 (IC95%: 2,19 36,17. p = 0,006). CONCLUSIONS: Intense vasculitis and eosinophils in myocardial biopsies post-cardiac transplantation are the chief factors that can predict acute rejection, acute rejection associated to severe hemodynamic compromise or death

Orientador: Heloísa Helena de Araújo Ferreira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T22:34:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Benetti_LeticiaRegina_M.pdf: 4223548 bytes, checksum: 318ea90daa8192a20e71e361921955fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Estudos têm demonstrado que o sulfeto de hidrogênio (H2S) tem um importante papel em vários aspectos da fisiologia e da patologia de diferentes doenças. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a ação do H2S nos marcadores de estresse oxidativo e sua interação com o oxido nítrico ('NO) na inflamação alérgica pulmonar de camundongos. Camundongos BALB/c foram sensibilizados com ovalbumina (OVA) e tratados com o doador de H2S, hidrosulfeto de sódio (NaHS), ou com o inibidor da oxido nítrico sinatase induzível (iNOS), 1400W, 30 minutos e 2h antes do desafio com OVA, respectivamente. Vinte e quatro, 48 e 96h após o desafio, os animais foram sacrificados e coletou-se o lavado broncoalveolar para contagem total e diferencial de leucócitos e dosagem dos níveis de NOx; os pulmões foram homogeneizados para análise da expressão das proteínas iNOS, MnSOD e Cu/ZnSOD por Western blotting e verificação dos níveis da 3-nitrotirosina (3-NT) por Slot blotting. A atividade da iNOS foi analisada pela conversão de L-arginina para L-citrulina. Os resultados demonstraram que o tratamento com NaHS inibiu a migração de neutrófilos para os pulmões de camundongos sensibilizados em 24h e 48h e de eosinófilos em 48h após o desafio alergênico, quando comparados com os camundongos controles (não tratados). De maneira semelhante, o tratamento com 1400W inibiu o influxo de eosinófilos para o pulmão dos camundongos alérgicos em 48h. O controles em 48h que foi inibida tanto pelo tratamento com NaHS como pelo 1400W. Neste período,desafio com OVA provocou aumento da expressão da iNOS nos pulmões dos animais observou-se aumento da atividade da NOS Ca -independente nos pulmões dos camundongos controles. O tratamento com 1400W, mas não com NaHS, provocou redução desta atividade. Quando comparados com os animais não desafiados, os níveis de NOx nos controles estavam aumentados em todos períodos estudados. Os tratamentos com 1400W e NaHS reduziram seus níveis em 48h e 96h, respectivamente. A expressão da 3-NT foi reduzida pelo 1400W em 48h, mas nenhum efeito foi observado com o NaHS. O desafio com OVA nos animais controles não alterou a expressão de MnSOD, mas provocou aumento da expressão da Cu/ZnSOD em 48h após o desafio com OVA. Neste período, o NaHS reduziu a expressão da MnSOD e o 1400W a expressão da Cu/ZnSOD. Estes resultados demonstram que o efeito anti-inflamatório do H2S na asma ao inibir a migração de eosinófilos e neutrófilos para os pulmões não é decorrente de mecanismos relacionados à via do 'NO. Se a redução da expressão da MnSOD verificada nos animais tratados com NaHS está relacionada à apoptose de eosinófilos e/ou neutrófilos e, consequentemente, à diminuição do conteúdo destas células no LBA precisa ser verificado / Abstract: Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has an important role in various physiological and pathological aspects of different diseases. In this study, we verified the influence of H2S on oxidative stress and its interaction the nitric oxide ('NO) pathway in the allergic lung inflammation of mice. BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and treated the H2S donor, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), or with the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, 1400W, 30 minutes and 2h before OVA-challenge, respectively. Twenty-four, 48 and 96h after challenge, mice were sacrificed and the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was collected to investigate the total and differential leukocyte counts and the NOx leveis. The lungs were homogenized to analyze the iNOS, MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD protein expressions by Western blotting and the 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) leveis by Slot blotting. The iNOS activity was determined by conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. Results showed that NaHS-treatment of sensitized mice inhibited neutrophil migration at 24h and 48h, as well as the eosinophil influx to the lungs at 48h after allergen challenge when compared with control mice (untreated). Similarly, 1400W-treatment reduced the content of eosinophils in the BAL of allergic mice at 48 hours. OVA-challenge caused an increase in iNOS expression in the lungs of control mice at 48 hours, which was inhibited by NaHS or 1400W treatments. At this time, an increase in Ca+-independent NOS activity was observed in the lungs of control mice. The 1400W-treatment, but not NaHS-treatment, caused a reduction in this activity. When compared with non-challenged mice, NOx leveis were increased in coritrols at ali times studied. Treatment with 1400W or NaHS reduced their leveis at 48h and 96h, respectively. The 3-NT expression was reduced by 1400W at 48 hours, but no effect was observed with the NaHS-treatment. The OVA-challenge of control mice did not modify the MnSOD expression, but caused increased of Cu/ZnSOD expression at 48 hours. However, the NAHS reduced the MnSOD expression and 1400W inhibited the Cu/ZnSOD expression at this time. These results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effect of H2S in asthma by inhibiting eosinophils and neutrophil migration to the lungs is not due to mechanisms associated with 'NO pathway. If the reduced MnSOD expression observed in NaHS-treated mice is related with the eosinophil apoptosis and, consequently, decrease of inflammatory cells content in the BAL needs to be studied / Mestrado / Farmacologia / Mestre em Farmacologia

The objective was to establish the safety and therapeutic efficacy of oral potassium humate in reducing the signs and symptoms of hayfever. Potassium humate was randomly assigned to 40 atopic patients with acute symptoms of hayfever. Blood and nasal samples were used to determine the safety and the effects of potassium humate on basophil activation, cytokine levels and eosinophil migration. A skin prick test was used to determine its anti-allergic effects. An in vitro neutrophil adhesion was also used. A significant decrease in the skin prick test results and eosinophil counts was observed. No significant differences were observed with regard to neutrophil adhesion nor were any differences observed with regard to the stimulation of basophils. Decreases were observed in the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and IL-1â after treatment, although not reaching significance. This study confirmed that this product possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties possibly due to a decreased recruitment of eosinopils to the inflammatory site the recruitment and activation of eosinophils by decreasing the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-8 and IL-1â, although not reaching statistical significance. / Dissertation (MSc (Pharmacology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Pharmacology / unrestricted

The host eosinophil response was compared in mice infected with either T. spiralis or T. pseudospiralis by determination of levels of splenic and intestinal phospholipase B, a marker enzyme for eosinophils. Primary infection of naive mice and challenge infection of homologously sensitized mice with T. pseudospiralis resulted in significantly lower tissue phospholipase B activities than infection with T. spiralis. Mice homologously challenged with T. pseudospiralis did exhibit an anamnestic eosinophil response compared to mice given a primary T. pseudospiralis infection. This anamnestic response, however, was significantly lower than the eosinophil response seen in sensitized mice given a homologous T. spiralis challenge. Mice sensitized to T. spiralis or T. pseudospiralis and heterologous challenge demonstrated an elevated eosinophil response compared to mice given a primary infection with either parasite. The heterologous challenge response, however, was not as intense as found for sensitized mice given a homologous challenge.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a pleotropic cytokine highly implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma and allergic diseases. Although there are robust data regarding the associations of TSLP polymorphisms with the development of allergy and asthma, there is very little information on how these TSLP variants functionally affect downstream effector pathways and disease phenotype. The overall objective of this thesis was to investigate how TSLP polymorphisms are linked to alterations in TSLP secretion and subsequent downstream cellular events. Initially, we investigated the influence of innate and adaptive stimuli on epithelial-derived TSLP expression and secretion, including effects on dendritic cells (DC). We show that polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) and allergen-specific T cells induced enhanced TSLP secretion from asthmatic bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) compared to non-asthmatic BEC. Furthermore, activated-BEC culture supernatants induced TSLP-dependent CCL17 production from monocyte-derived DC in relation to clinical asthmatic status (Chapter 2). Next, we examined effects of TSLP on hemopoietic progenitor eosinophil-basophil (Eo/B) differentiation, demonstrating enhanced TSLP-mediated hemopoiesis ex vivo in relation to clinical atopic status. We further demonstrated p38MAPK-dependent autocrine signaling by TNFα in TSLP-mediated human Eo/B differentiation ex vivo (Chapter 3). Lastly, to explore the potential functional consequences of a key variant of the TSLP gene, we investigated associations between the rs1837253 TSLP variant and ex vivo production of TSLP in nasal epithelial cells (NEC). We showed that NEC derived from individuals with the “protective” minor allele have diminished TSLP secretion, which suggests that this rs1837253 polymorphism may be directly involved in the regulation of TSLP secretion (Chapter 4). The novel work presented herein provides further evidence for TSLP regulation of distinct immunological pathways in allergic immune inflammatory airway responses initiated at the epithelial surface, and thus (by implication) of allergic disease. These observations support the concept that TSLP is potentially an important biomarker and therapeutic target for allergic diseases characterized by increased Th2 and/or eosinophilic-basophilic inflammation. Continued investigations into the functional mechanisms linking TSLP variants to allergic disease phenotype are of critical importance. / Dissertation / Doctor of Science (PhD)

No description available.

Noncanonical NF-KB is an alternative NF-KB pathway that is critically involved in the development and maturation of the adaptive immune system. As such, it has typically been studied in B and T cell biology without application to complex organ systems such as the gut. The following work explores the contribution of noncanonical NF-KB to inflammatory and neoplastic disease in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, as well as the effects of its loss on GI health. Chapter 1 opens with an overview of gastrointestinal homeostasis and inflammation, with emphasis on the particular diseases studied in this body of work. Chapter 2 focuses on a review of noncanonical NF-KB function and components, as well as its applications in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a quintessential example of disruption of intestinal homeostasis. In Chapter 3 we determine the role of noncanonical NF-KB in allergic disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract, namely a novel model of the disease eosinophilic esophagitis. Our studies revealed that loss of NF-KB-inducing kinase (NIK), the bottleneck molecule in noncanonical NF-KB signaling, results in targeted esophageal inflammation, remodeling, and gene expression changes that are comparable to the human disease. In Chapter 4, we examine the role of noncanonical NF-KB in inflammatory bowel disease using biopsy samples from human IBD patients, and compare the expression of various components of the pathway to inflammation status and treatment response. Noncanonical NF-KB is upregulated in IBD patients, and also appears to be specifically upregulated in patients that have lost response to anti-TNF inhibitors, which are potent drugs that are widely used to treat IBD. In Chapter 5 we focus on NIK and its effects on stem cell function, growth, and inflammation-induced cancer in the gut. Loss of NIK in mice results in alterations in colonic stem cell function and changes in colonic microbiome, which predisposes them to the development of inflammation-induced carcinogenesis. Indeed, in human patients with colorectal cancer, noncanonical NF-KB is also suppressed. Overall, we have discovered multiple novel roles of noncanonical NF-KB signaling at multiple levels in the gut and in the context of a variety of diseases, and have greatly expanded the current body of knowledge as to the functions and effects of this pathway. / Ph. D. / The gastrointestinal system has a complex set of checks and balances to maintain overall health. If factors involved in the promotion or suppression of inflammation, the regulation of growth, or the prevention of tumor formation become dysregulated, there can be catastrophic consequences for the human body. The aim of this work is to investigate a pathway called noncanonical NF-κB in the development of various diseases in the GI tract. Noncanonical NF-κB is not a well understood pathway and to date has mostly been studied in the context of white blood cell development. However, we discovered that noncanonical NF-κB has several very important functions in the GI tract that have implications in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. First we explored the role of noncanonical NF-κB in the upper GI tract, namely the esophagus, and found that this signaling pathway is critically involved in the movement of white blood cells called eosinophils to the esophagus, resulting in throat inflammation in both mouse models and human patients. Secondly, we determined that this same pathway also has effects in the lower GI tract. Human patients with inflammatory bowel disease, especially those who develop resistance to popular medications, see an upregulation of this pathway in their colon tissue. Loss of this pathway in the colons of mice also causes changes in growth of the colonic epithelium, and predisposes them to the formation of colon cancer. Interestingly, in human colon cancer patients, we also see similar changes in expression of genes associated with this pathway. Overall, we have found many new and exciting roles for this underappreciated pathway in the gut.