Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A asma é um distúrbio crônico pulmonar caracterizado por inflamação, obstrução e remodelamento brônquico, levando a sintomas como sibilo, tosse e falta de ar. A terapia antiasmática consiste em corticosteroides inalados e agonistas &#946;2 de curta ou longa duração. O tratamento é limitado por efeitos colaterais e refratariedade de alguns pacientes, justificando a necessidade de novas terapias. Estudos demonstram que a 15-deoxy-delta- 12,14-prostaglandina J2 (15d-PGJ2), um ligante endógeno de receptores ativados por proliferadores de peroxissomos do tipo gama (PPAR-&#947;), é capaz de reduzir a expressão de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, o que pode resultar em benefícios no tratamento de doenças com esse perfil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial anti-inflamatório e antiasmático da 15d-PGJ2 em modelos experimentais de asma. Camundongos A/J machos foram sensibilizados nos dias 0 e 7 através de injeção subcutânea (s.c.), contendo ovoalbumina (OVA) e Al(OH)3, e desafiados com 4 instilações intranasais (i.n.) de OVA em intervalos semanais. O tratamento com 15d-PGJ2 (30 e 100 &#61549;g/Kg, s.c.) foi realizado 30 min antes dos desafios a partir da terceira provocação antigênica. Em outro modelo, camundongos A/J foram desafiados intranasalmente com extrato de ácaro 3 vezes por semana durante 3 semanas. As administrações de 15d-PGJ2 (30, 70 e 100 g/Kg, s.c. e 0,65; 1,5 e 2,3 g/animal, i.n.) foram realizadas a partir da 3 semana, 30 min antes dos desafios. As análises ocorreram 24 h após o último desafio. Nossos resultados mostraram que, em camundongos previamente sensibilizados e desafiados com OVA, a administração de 15d-PGJ2 limitou significativamente o influxo peribrônquico de eosinófilos e neutrófilos, bem como a produção de muco por células caliciformes e fibrose sub-epitelial, além da hiperreatividade das vias aéreas e produção de IL-5. A redução do epitélio brônquico e das citocinas IL-13 e TNF-&#945; foram observadas somente na maior dose administrada. No modelo HDM a inflamação e o remodelamento foram atenuados em todas as doses administradas do composto, enquanto que a hiperresponssividade brônquica foi inibida apenas nas doses de 70 e 100 &#956;g/Kg (via sistêmica) e na dose intermediária dada topicamente (1,5 &#956;g/animal, i.n.). Os níveis de citocinas foram atenuados pelo tratamento subcutâneo, porém somente os níveis de IL-17, eotaxina-1 e TNF-&#945; foram inibidos com a dose intranasal de 0,65 g/animal. O aumento da expressão de NF-&#954;B, induzido por provocação com HDM também foi reduzido significativamente pela administração de 15d-PGJ2. Em conjunto, nossos dados indicam que o tratamento com 15d-PGJ2 inibe alterações cruciais associadas à patogênese da asma, em modelos experimentais distintos da doença, demonstrando possuir grande potencial para controlar e reverter inflamação, hiperreatividade e remodelamento pulmonar desencadeados por provocação alérgica. / Asthma is a chronic pulmonary disorder characterized by inflammation, obstruction and airway remodeling, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and breathlessness. Asthma therapy is based on inhaled corticosteroids and short or long term-&#946;2 agonists. The treatment is limited by side effects and some refractory patients, justifying the study for new therapies. Studies have demonstrated that 15-deoxy-delta-12 ,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-&#947;) can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, providing a protective effect in diseases with this profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic properties of 15d-PGJ2 in murine models of experimental asthma. A/J mice rats were sensitized on days 0 and 7 by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection , containing ovalbumin (OVA) and Al(OH)3, and challenged with 4 intranasal OVA instillations at weekly intervals. 15d-PGJ2 treatment (30 and 100 &#956;g/Kg) was performed 30 min before the challenges from the third antigen challenge. In another model, A/J mice were intranasally (i.n.) challenged with mite extract 3 times per week for 3 weeks. The administration of 15d-PGJ2 (30, 70 and 100 &#956;g /Kg, s.c. and 0.65, 1.5 and 2.3 &#956;g / animal, i.n.) were performed from the 3rd week, 30 min before the challenges. The analyzes were 24 h after the last challenge. Our results showed that in previously OVA-sensitized and challenged mice, administration of 15d-PGJ2 limited significantly (p <0.05), eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation and mucus production by goblet cells and sub-epithelial fibrosis, as well as airways hyperreactivity and IL-5 production. The reduction of bronchial epithelium and IL-13 and TNF-&#945; were observed only at the highest dose administered. In HDM model, inflammatory and remodeling parameters were attenuated in all administered doses of compound, whereas bronchial hyperresponsiveness was inhibited only at doses of 70 and 100 &#956;g/kg (s.c.) and 1.5 &#956;g/animal (i.n.). Serum cytokine levels were attenuated by subcutaneous treatment, but only IL-17, Eotaxin-1 and TNF-&#945; was inhibited by intranasal dose of 0.65 &#956;g/ animal. The increased expression of NF-kB induced by HDM challenge was also significantly reduced by the administration of 15d-PGJ2. Together, our data indicate that treatment with 15d-PGJ2 inhibits critical changes associated with the pathogenesis of asthma in different experimental models of the disease, demonstrating great potential to control and reverse pulmonary inflammation, hyperresponsiveness and remodeling triggered by allergen challenge.

É plausível que a poluição urbana das grandes metrópoles possa favorecer o desenvolvimento ou mesmo agravar o quadro de hipertensão arterial. A possibilidade de estudar o efeito direto do DE em roedores é extremamente importante e eficaz através do modelo de exposição com o gerador de combustíveis instalado no campus da Faculdade de Medicina da USP. A nossa proposta principal foi avaliar os efeitos hemodinâmicos, aspectos de remodelamento das fibras da matriz extracelular cardíaca e perfil inflamatório pulmonar, visando obter uma conexão entre a exposição ao DE e seus efeitos sistêmicos em 60 ratos hipertensos: SHR (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats) e 60 normotensos: WKY (Wistar Kyoto). Esses animais foram divididos em 2 grupos: expostos ao ar filtrado e expostos ao diesel e também em 3 tempos de exposição: 15, 30 e 45 dias. Para tanto, foi proposto neste estudo a avaliação dos seguintes parâmetros: Frequência cardíaca, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial, lavado broncoalveolar, hemograma completo e fatores de coagulação; expressão de marcadores de estresse oxidativo através das análises de citocinas (IL1alfa, IL6, CINC e TNF-alfa) e da enzima superóxido dismutase (SOD) e avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa do tamanho e número de cardiomiócitos e volume de ventrículo esquerdo, através de técnicas estereológicas, e o remodelamento dos elementos fibrilares da matriz extracelular do ventrículo esquerdo dos ratos. Resultados: A exposição DE causou uma diminuição da VFC: SDNN: (p=0,017), RMSSD (p=0,045) nos SHR comparados com WKY todos os tempos de exposição, também foi observado um aumento do tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada no grupo de 45 dias (p= 0,000), do tempo de protombina nos grupos 30 (p=0,004) e 45 (p=0,000) e uma diminuição da concentração de fibrinogêni no grupo 15 dias (p=0,020). Houve um aumento da concentração de plaquetas nos grupos 30 (p=0,000) e 45 dias (p=0,004) e hipertrofia ventricular esquerda, no grupo 45 dias (p=0,000) para os animais SHR quando comparado aos animais WKY expostos ao DE. Notamos um aumento das fibras colagênicas no grupo 45 dias (p= 0,000) e aumento de volume de cardiomiócitos nos grupos 15 (p= 0,000) 30 (p= 0,000) e 45 dias (p=0,023) em ratos SHR expostos ao DE comparados aos WKY. Também ocorreu um aumento da produção das citocinas IL1beta nos grupos 30 (p=0,002) e 45 dias (p=0,000) e TNF-alfa nos grupos 30 (p=0,012) e 45 dias (p=0,003) e CINC no grupo 45 dias (p= 0,021) em ratos SHR expostos ao DE. Comparando as linhagens, os ratos SHR expostos ao DE apresentaram maiores valores de IL1? no grupo 45 dias (p=0,043). Os valores de SOD foram menores em ratos SHR no grupo 30 dias (p= 0,016) de exposição ao DE. Nos ratos SHR, expostos ao DE, nos grupos 30 (p= 0,008) e 45 dias (p= 0,002), notou-se um aumento de macrófagos no lavado broncoalveolar. Conclusões: De acordo com esses achados, notamos que a exposição ao diesel promove inflamação pulmonar e sistêmica, desbalanço do sistema nervoso autônomo e remodelamento do miocárdio em animais hipertensos. Estes fatores poderão promover ou agravar os quadros de hipertensão arterial sistêmica em indivíduos suscetíveis e expostos a poluição urbana / The expousure to DEP (Diesel Exhaust Particles) it is related to oxidative stress, it is possible that air pollution of the cities may aggravate hypertension. The possibility of studying the direct effects of DEP in rats it is important and effective through intoxication model with the fuel generator installed in Medicine University of USP. The fuel generator system possible to evaluate the toxicological risks to the use of diesel. The study allowed hemodynamics effects, remodeling of left ventricle, pulmonary inflammation, having the connection between exposure to DEP and your systemic effects. It was evaluated: heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, bronchoalveolar lavage, complete blood count and coagulation factors, citokines evaluation (IL1beta, 1L6, CINC and TNF-alpha) and SOD, vascular endothelium peribronchial vessels in bronchoalveolar lavage through immunoassay and qualitative and quantitative remodeling of extracellular matrix elements in left ventricle of 60 rats hypertensive: SHR (Spontaneosly Hypertensive Rtas) and 60 normotensive WKY (Wistar Kyoto). This animals were divided in 2 groups: exposed to filtred air and exposed to diesel and to 3 times exposures groups: 15, 30 and 45 days. Results: The DE exposure caused decreased in HRV: SDNN: (p=0,017), RMSSD (p=0,045) in SHR in all times of exposure, increased in the values of coagulation factors in SHR exposed to DE after 30 (p=0,001) and 45 days (p=0,000), an aggregation of platelets after 30 (p=0,000) and 45 days (p=0,004), and left ventricular hypertrophy after 45 days (p=0,000) in SHR exposed to DE. We noticed an increase in colagenous fibers after 45 days (p= 0,000) in SHR rats exposed to DE and increased volume of cardiomyocytes after 15 (p= 0,000), 30 (p= 0,000) and 45 days (p=0,023). A increased in citokines production IL1beta after 30 (p=0,002) and 45 days (p=0,000) e TNF-alpha after 30 (p=0,012) and 45 days (p=0,003) and CINC after 45 days (p= 0,021) in SHR exposed to DE. Comparing the lineages, the SHR exposed to DE presented increased in values of IL1beta after 45 days (p=0,043). The SOD values increased in SHR after 30 days (p= 0,016) of exposure to DE. In SHR exposed to DE presented increased after de 30 (p= 0,008) and 45 days (p= 0,002), in values of macrophages. Conclutions: According to these findings, we noticed that exposure to diesel can promote pulmonary and systemic inflammation, imbalance the autonomic nervous system and remodeling the myocardium. These factors may promote or worsen hypertension in susceptible individuals exposed to urban pollution

Mechanical ventilation in itself can harm the lung and cause ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), which can induce or aggravate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Much debate remains over pivotal concepts regarding the pathophysiology of VILI, especially about the precise contribution, kinetics, and primary role of potential VILI mechanisms. Consequently, it remains largely unknown how best to design a well-timed and full-bodied mechanical ventilation strategy. Little is known also about small airways dysfunction in ARDS. Dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) can be used to image cellular metabolism, which during lung inflammation mainly reflects neutrophil activity, allowing the study of regional lung inflammation in vivo. We studied the regional evolution of inflammation using dynamic PET/CT imaging of 18F-FDG in VILI and during different lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategies. By dynamic CT we investigated also the location and magnitude of peripheral airway closure and alveolar collapse under high and low distending pressures and high and low inspiratory oxygen fraction. Piglets were submitted to an experimental model of early ARDS combining repeated lung lavages and injurious mechanical ventilation. The animals were subsequently studied during sustained VILI, or submitted to distinct approaches of lung-protective mechanical ventilation: the one recommended by the ARDS Network (ARDSNet), or to one defined as open lung approach (OLA). The normally and poorly aerated regions - corresponding to intermediate gravitational zones - were the primary targets of the inflammatory process accompanying early VILI, which may be attributed to the small volume of the aerated lung that receives most of ventilation. The ARDSNet strategy did not attenuate global pulmonary inflammation during 27h and led to a concentration of inflammatory activity in the upper and poorly aerated lung regions. The OLA, in comparison with the ARDSNet approach, resulted in sustained and better gas exchange and lung mechanics. Moreover, the OLA strategy resulted in less global and regional inflammation. Dynamic CT data suggested that a significant amount of airway closure and related reabsorption atelectasis occurs in acute lung injury. Whether potential distal bronchioles injury (“bronchiolotrauma”) is a critical and decisive element in ventilator-associated lung injury is a matter for future studies.

Abstract Advances over the past few decades in ante- and neonatal care have led to the survival of a growing number of premature infants of extremely low gestational age. However, the occurrence of serious diseases, particularly those affecting the most immature infants, remains high. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease of premature infants, is one such disease. Our current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of BPD is incomplete; consequently, there are few preventive and therapeutic options for BPD. Moreover, it is challenging to predict the risk of BPD. Previous studies of BPD in twins revealed that the heritability of BPD is quite high. However, the individual genes that predispose premature infants to BPD are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and study genes associated with BPD in order to investigate its pathogenesis. An additional aim was to add to knowledge of the risk of BPD in newborn premature infants, with an emphasis on twins. A candidate gene study found no consistent association between common polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and BPD. A second candidate gene study noted an association between the gene encoding Kit ligand and BPD. A genome-wide association study found a suggestive association between a locus close to the gene encoding C-reactive protein (CRP) and BPD, and in subsequent analyses, plasma levels of CRP during the first week of life predicted BPD. Finally, a nationwide register study found that the risk of BPD was lower in twins than in singletons. The results of this study add to what is known of the genetics and pathogenesis of BPD. They also provide new data on the risk of BPD, which may be used to improve early identification of infants for whom the risk of developing BPD is high. / Tiivistelmä Ennenaikaisen syntymän ja keskoslasten hoidon kehittymisen myötä yhä useammat huomattavan epäkypsinä syntyneet lapset jäävät henkiin. Samalla erityisesti juuri näitä lapsia uhkaavien sairauksien esiintyvyys on pysynyt korkeana. Bronkopulmonaalinen dysplasia (BPD, keskosen krooninen keuhkosairaus) on yksi näistä sairauksista. BPD:n molekyylitasoinen tautimekanismi on vielä osin tuntematon, eikä BPD:tä tehokkaasti estävää tai siitä parantavaa hoitoa ole. Myös BPD riskin arvioiminen vastasyntyneen keskoslapsen kohdalla on vaikeaa. BPD on huomattavan perinnöllinen tauti. BPD:lle altistavista geeneistä on kuitenkin vasta vähän tietoa. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli lisätä tietoa BPD:n tautimekanismista tutkimalla BPD:lle altistavia geenejä. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin BPD:n esiintyvyyttä ja syntymää edeltäviä riskitekijöitä erityisesti kaksosten osalta. Ehdokasgeenitutkimuksessa verisuonten endoteelikasvutekijää koodaava geeni ei assosioitunut toistuvasti BPD:hen. Kit ligandia koodaava geeni sen sijaan assosioitui. Koko genomin assosiaatiotutkimuksessa C-reaktiivista proteiinia (CRP) koodaavan geenin lähistöltä löydettiin BPD:hen mahdollisesti assosioituva alue. Lisäksi ensimmäisen viikon CRP-arvojen osoitettiin ennakoivan myöhemmin kehittyvää BPD:tä. BPD-riskin todettiin olevan matalampi kaksi- kuin yksisikiöisistä raskauksista syntyneillä lapsilla. Tutkimuksen tulokset lisäävät tietoa BPD:n perinnöllisyydestä ja sitä kautta BPD:n tautimekanismista. Tutkimus toi myös uutta tietoa BPD:n riskitekijöistä parantaen vastasyntyneen keskoslapsen BPD-riskin arviota.