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Vaitkevicius-Antão V, Moreira-Silva J, Reino IBDSM, de Melo MGN, da Silva-Júnior JN, de Andrade AF, de Araújo PSR, Bezerra RP, Marques DDAV, Ferreira S, Pessoa-e-Silva R, de Lorena VMB, de Paiva-Cavalcanti M. Therapeutic Potential of Photosynthetic Microorganisms for Visceral Leishmaniasis: An Immunological Analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:891495. [PMID: 35844611 PMCID: PMC9280147 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.891495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
New therapeutic strategies for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been studied, and the development of an immunotherapeutic agent that modulates the host’s immune response is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the bioactive extracts of photosynthetic microorganisms (PMs) for their leishmanicidal/leishmanistatic and immunomodulatory potentials. Bioactive extracts from PMs (Arthrospira platensis and Dunaliella tertiolecta) were obtained by sonication. Reference drugs, miltefosine (MTF) and N-methylglucamine antimoniate (SbV), were also evaluated. The selectivity index (SI) of treatments was determined by assays of inhibitory concentration (IC50) in Leishmania infantum cells and cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by the MTT method. The immune response was evaluated in healthy human cells by the production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) and the gene expression of Tbx21, GATA3, RORc, and FOXP3, using four concentrations (CC50, ½ CC50, ¼ CC50, and IC50) for in-vitro stimulation. Based on the data obtained, we observed that the extracts of D. tertiolecta (SI = 4.7) and A. platensis (SI = 3.8) presented better results when compared to SbV (SI = 2.1). When analyzing the immune response results, we identified that the extracts of PMs stimulated the production of cytokines of the Th1 profile more than the reference drugs. The extracts also demonstrated the ability to stimulate NO synthesis. Regarding gene expression, in all concentrations of A. platensis extracts, we found a balance between the Th1/Th2 profile, with the average expression of the Tbx21 gene more than the GATA3 in the highest concentration (CC50). Regarding the extract of D. tertiolecta, we can observe that, in the lowest concentrations, a balance between all the genes was present, with the average expression of the GATA3 gene being lower than the others. The best result was found in the ½ CC50 concentration, stimulating a balanced positive expression between the Th1×Th17×Treg profiles, with a negative expression of GATA3. Thus, PM extracts showed promising results, presenting low toxicity, leishmanicidal/leishmanistatic activity, and induction of the immune response, which could be potential therapeutic candidates for VL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jady Moreira-Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fiocruz Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Silvana Ferreira
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | - Milena de Paiva-Cavalcanti
- Department of Microbiology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fiocruz Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Milena de Paiva-Cavalcanti,
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DA Costa Neto JJ, Neves Martins C, Santos Março K, Furlan Paz B, Paz Monteiro G, Torres DE Melo R, Dantas Mota FC, Alves AE. NOTETongue nodules in an atypical canine leishmaniasis in Brazil. J Vet Med Sci 2021; 83:1549-1553. [PMID: 34393149 PMCID: PMC8569869 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to report a case of canine leishmaniasis with the only visible clinical sign
being the presence of nodules in the lateral region of the tongue. The bitch was treated
for a mandibular fracture, when multiple small nodules were observed on the tongue. We
identify nodular glossitis with the presence of structures compatible with amastigote
forms of Leishmania. The bitch was positive by ELISA, RIFI and PCR
assays. Clinical re-evaluation after one year of treatment for leishmaniasis showed
clinical improvement, but there was maintenance of antibody titers and infectivity.
Lingual nodules as the only clinical sign of the disease is rare, especially in endemic
areas, but should be included as differential diagnosis for leishmaniasis in the
country.
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Affiliation(s)
- João José DA Costa Neto
- Uniprofessional Residency Program in Veterinary Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Camila Neves Martins
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Karen Santos Março
- Postgraduate in Specialization in Small Animal Medical Clinic, Equalis-Higher Education and Qualification
| | - Beatriz Furlan Paz
- Uniprofessional Residency Program in Veterinary Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Guilherme Paz Monteiro
- Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Roberta Torres DE Melo
- Professor, Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Francisco Cláudio Dantas Mota
- Professor, Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
| | - Aracelle Elisane Alves
- Professor, Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia
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Pessoa-E-Silva R, Trajano-Silva LAM, Vaitkevicius-Antão V, Dos Santos WJT, Magalhães FB, Moura DMN, Nakasone EKN, de Lorena VMB, de Paiva-Cavalcanti M. Immunoprophylactic Potential of a New Recombinant Leishmania infantum Antigen for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: An In Vitro Finding. Front Immunol 2021; 11:605044. [PMID: 33488607 PMCID: PMC7819978 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.605044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and application of safe and effective immunoprophylactic/immunotherapeutic agents against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL) have been pointed out as the only means for the real control of the disease. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro cellular immune response of dogs, elicited by the new recombinant proteins of Leishmania infantum, Lci10 and Lci13, in order to investigate their potential for vaccinology. Twenty-four dogs were submitted to clinical, parasitological, serological and molecular tests, and then separated into two study groups: 12 infected (InD) and 12 non-infected dogs (NInD), and six of each group were directed for Lci10 and Lci13 evaluation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured and stimulated with Lci10 (10 μg/ml) or Lci13 (5 μg/ml), and with L. infantum soluble antigen (LSA) (25 μg/ml) or no stimulus (NS) as controls. Afterwards, the mRNA levels of different cytokines were quantified through qPCR, and Nitric Oxide (NO) production was assessed in the culture supernatants. Significant differences were considered when p ≤ 0.05. The comparative analysis revealed that, in the NInD group, Lci13 promoted a significant increase in the expression of IFN-γ in relation to LSA (p = 0.0362), and the expression of this cytokine in NInD was significantly higher than that presented in the InD (p = 0.0028). A negative expression for TGF-β was obtained in both groups. Lci13 also induced a greater production of NO in relation to the NS sample in the NInD group. No significant differences were observed after stimulation with Lci10. In conclusion, the results suggest a protective role of Lci13 for uninfected animals, thus with a potential for immunoprophylaxis. The results will help to direct the antigen Lci13 for further studies (pre-clinical trials), in order to determine its immunogenicity and reactogenicity effects, as a way to consolidate its real applicability for vaccinology against CanL.
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