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Pereira IAG, Freitas CS, Câmara RSB, Jesus MM, Lage DP, Tavares GSV, Soyer TG, Ramos FF, Soares NP, Santiago SS, Martins VT, Vale DL, Pimenta BL, Ludolf F, Oliveira FM, Duarte MC, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Costa AV, Gonçalves DU, Roatt BM, Teixeira RR, Coelho EAF. Treatment using vanillin-derived synthetic molecules incorporated into polymeric micelles is effective against infection caused by Leishmania amazonensis species. Exp Parasitol 2024; 260:108743. [PMID: 38513973 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Treatment against leishmaniasis presents problems, mainly due to the toxicity of the drugs, high cost, and the emergence of resistant strains. A previous study showed that two vanillin-derived synthetic molecules, 3s [4-(2-hydroxy-3-(4-octyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propoxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde] and 3t [4-(3-(4-decyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde], presented antileishmanial activity against Leishmania infantum, L. amazonensis, and L. braziliensis species. In the present work, 3s and 3t were evaluated to treat L. amazonensis-infected mice. Molecules were used pure or incorporated into Poloxamer 407-based micelles. In addition, amphotericin B (AmpB) and its liposomal formulation, Ambisome®, were used as control. Animals received the treatment and, one and 30 days after, they were euthanized to evaluate immunological, parasitological, and biochemical parameters. Results showed that the micellar compositions (3s/Mic and 3t/Mic) induced significant reductions in the lesion mean diameter and parasite load in the infected tissue and distinct organs, as well as a specific and significant antileishmanial Th1-type immune response, which was based on significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, nitrite, and IgG2a isotype antibodies. Drug controls showed also antileishmanial action; although 3s/Mic and 3t/Mic have presented better and more significant parasitological and immunological data, which were based on significantly higher IFN-γ production and lower parasite burden in treated animals. In addition, significantly lower levels of urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase were found in mice treated with 3s/Mic and 3t/Mic, when compared to the others. In conclusion, results suggest that 3s/Mic and 3t/Mic could be considered as therapeutic candidates to treat against L. amazonensis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela A G Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Camila S Freitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Raquel S B Câmara
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo M Jesus
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela P Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Grasiele S V Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tauane G Soyer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda F Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nícia P Soares
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas Em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Samira S Santiago
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida PH Rolfs, S/N, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vívian T Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Danniele L Vale
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Breno L Pimenta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ludolf
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-110, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fabrício M Oliveira
- Instituto Federal de Educação de Minas Gerais, Rua Afonso Sardinha, 90, Bairro Pioneiros, 36420-000, Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariana C Duarte
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Miguel A Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José S/N, Umacollo, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Adilson V Costa
- Departamento de Química e Física, Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, S/n, Guararema, 29500-000, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Denise U Gonçalves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno M Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas Em Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Insituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Róbson R Teixeira
- Grupo de Síntese e Pesquisa de Compostos Bioativos, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida PH Rolfs, S/N, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A F Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Prof. Alfredo Balena, 190, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Souza MDA, Ramos-Sanchez EM, Muxel SM, Lagos D, Reis LC, Pereira VRA, Brito MEF, Zampieri RA, Kaye PM, Floeter-Winter LM, Goto H. miR-548d-3p Alters Parasite Growth and Inflammation in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:687647. [PMID: 34178725 PMCID: PMC8224172 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.687647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is an endemic disease in Latin America, mainly caused in Brazil by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Clinical manifestations vary from mild, localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) to aggressive mucosal disease. The host immune response strongly determines the outcome of infection and pattern of disease. However, the pathogenesis of ATL is not well understood, and host microRNAs (miRNAs) may have a role in this context. In the present study, miRNAs were quantified using qPCR arrays in human monocytic THP-1 cells infected in vitro with L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes and in plasma from patients with ATL, focusing on inflammatory response-specific miRNAs. Patients with active or self-healed cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, with confirmed parasitological or immunological diagnosis, were compared with healthy controls. Computational target prediction of significantly-altered miRNAs from in vitro L. (V.) braziliensis-infected THP-1 cells revealed predicted targets involved in diverse pathways, including chemokine signaling, inflammatory, cellular proliferation, and tissue repair processes. In plasma, we observed distinct miRNA expression in patients with self-healed and active lesions compared with healthy controls. Some miRNAs dysregulated during THP-1 in vitro infection were also found in plasma from self-healed patients, including miR-548d-3p, which was upregulated in infected THP-1 cells and in plasma from self-healed patients. As miR-548d-3p was predicted to target the chemokine pathway and inflammation is a central to the pathogenesis of ATL, we evaluated the effect of transient transfection of a miR-548d-3p inhibitor on L. (V.) braziliensis infected-THP-1 cells. Inhibition of miR-548d-3p reduced parasite growth early after infection and increased production of MCP1/CCL2, RANTES/CCL5, and IP10/CXCL10. In plasma of self-healed patients, MCP1/CCL2, RANTES/CCL5, and IL-8/CXCL8 concentrations were significantly decreased and MIG/CXCL9 and IP-10/CXCL10 increased compared to patients with active disease. These data suggest that by modulating miRNAs, L. (V.) braziliensis may interfere with chemokine production and hence the inflammatory processes underpinning lesion resolution. Our data suggest miR-548d-3p could be further evaluated as a prognostic marker for ATL and/or as a host-directed therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina de Assis Souza
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Milton Ramos-Sanchez
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Salud Publica, Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodriguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru
| | | | - Dimitris Lagos
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Luiza Campos Reis
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Paul Martin Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | | | - Hiro Goto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMTSP/USP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Moafi M, Rezvan H, Sherkat R, Taleban R, Asilian A, Hamid Zarkesh-Esfahani S, Nilforoushzadeh MA, Jaffary F, Mansourian M, Sokhanvari F, Ansari N. Comparison of pro-inflammatory cytokines of non-healing and healing cutaneous leishmaniasis. Scand J Immunol 2017; 85:291-299. [PMID: 28168727 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) heals spontaneously within several weeks or months, but, in rare cases, CL-active lesions last for many years. In this study, we assessed cell-mediated immunity in non-healing CL through the measurement of three pro-inflammatory cytokines: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17a and CXCL-11. For this, 32 patients afflicted with healing or non-healing CL were recruited in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of every patient were treated with three antigens: purified protein derivative (PPD), soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Cytokine quantification was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results of our study showed that neither cytokine produced in the presence of a PPD stimulator (as an irrelevant antigen) significantly differed between the healing and non-healing groups (P-value ≥0.05 for all of them). However, IFN-γ, CXCL-11 and IL-17a levels produced in the presence of PHA or SLA were significantly higher within the healing than in the non-healing group (P-value <0.01 for all of them). It seems that appropriate levels of IFN-γ, as well as IL-17a and CXCL-11, contribute to the control of Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Moafi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - H Rezvan
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - R Sherkat
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - R Taleban
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - A Asilian
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - M A Nilforoushzadeh
- Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - F Jaffary
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - M Mansourian
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - F Sokhanvari
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - N Ansari
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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5
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Gomes AHS, Martines RB, Kanamura CT, Barbo MLP, Iglezias SD, Lauletta Lindoso JA, Pereira-Chioccola VL. American cutaneous leishmaniasis: In situ immune response of patients with recent and late lesions. Parasite Immunol 2017; 39. [PMID: 28239875 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17, CD68 and CD57 were evaluated in biopsies of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis living in Sorocaba, Brazil. The analyses were performed considering the time of lesions from 23 patients with recent lesions (Group I) and 19 patients with late lesions (Group II). All patients were infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Immunostaining cells for CD68, CD57, TNF- α, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17 were performed by immunohistochemistry. Except for CD68 and IL-17, the distribution of in situ for CD57, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ showed that patients with recent lesions expressed higher levels than those with late lesions. The comparison of cytokine expression/group showed that IL-10 was significantly higher than IL-17 and IFN-γ (similar data were shown in IL-17 compared with TNF-α), suggesting an immunological balance between inflammatory-anti-inflammatory agents. This balance was similar for two groups of patients. In conclusion, these data suggested that (i) patients from Group I had recent lesions (in the beginning of chronic phase) compared to those from Group II and (ii) the modulation of inflammatory response in patients with recent American cutaneous leishmaniasis was correlated with IL-10 expression in skin lesions preventing the development of mucosal forms. The parasite treatment also prevented the evolution of severe forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H S Gomes
- Laboratorio Regional de Sorocaba, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - R B Martines
- Centro de Patologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - C T Kanamura
- Centro de Patologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - M L P Barbo
- Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas e Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S D Iglezias
- Centro de Patologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - J A Lauletta Lindoso
- Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratório de Soroepidemiologia (LIM-38) Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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E Silva RDF, Ferreira LFGR, Hernandes MZ, de Brito MEF, de Oliveira BC, da Silva AA, de-Melo-Neto OP, Rezende AM, Pereira VRA. Combination of In Silico Methods in the Search for Potential CD4(+) and CD8(+) T Cell Epitopes in the Proteome of Leishmania braziliensis. Front Immunol 2016; 7:327. [PMID: 27621732 PMCID: PMC5002431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases widespread throughout the globe, which are caused by protozoans from the genus Leishmania and are transmitted by infected phlebotomine flies. The development of a safe and effective vaccine against these diseases has been seen as the best alternative to control and reduce the number of cases. To support vaccine development, this work has applied an in silico approach to search for high potential peptide epitopes able to bind to different major histocompatibility complex Class I and Class II (MHC I and MHC II) molecules from different human populations. First, the predicted proteome of Leishmania braziliensis was compared and analyzed by modern linear programs to find epitopes with the capacity to trigger an immune response. This approach resulted in thousands of epitopes derived from 8,000 proteins conserved among different Leishmania species. Epitopes from proteins similar to those found in host species were excluded, and epitopes from proteins conserved between different Leishmania species and belonging to surface proteins were preferentially selected. The resulting epitopes were then clustered, to avoid redundancies, resulting in a total of 230 individual epitopes for MHC I and 2,319 for MHC II. These were used for molecular modeling and docking with MHC structures retrieved from the Protein Data Bank. Molecular docking then ranked epitopes based on their predicted binding affinity to both MHC I and II. Peptides corresponding to the top 10 ranked epitopes were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their capacity to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from post-treated cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, with PBMC from healthy donors used as control. From the 10 peptides tested, 50% showed to be immunogenic and capable to stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes from recovered individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael de Freitas E Silva
- Department of Natural Sciences, Universidade de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil; Department of Immunology, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Zaldini Hernandes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco , Recife, Pernambuco , Brazil
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