The Role of Extracellular Traps in HIV Infection da Silva, Natanias Macson; Leite, Nicolas Patrícius de Medeiros; Carvalho, Amanda Estevam ...
AIDS research and human retroviruses,
05/2024, Volume:
40, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still an important public health problem, which justifies the research of new therapies to combat it. Recent studies show that Extracellular Traps ...(ETs) are cellular mechanisms useful in the capture and destruction of some viruses, such as the HIV. Here, we show that neutrophils from peripheral blood, genital tissues, and placenta are activated when exposed to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and release Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). The NETs can capture, neutralize, and inactivate the virus and, also, protect other target cells from HIV infection, as long as the DNA and other constituents of the NETs remain intact. Further, the review indicates that the immunoprotective role of NETs in the context of HIV-1 infection is a promising finding for the development of new antiviral therapies. It is necessary, however, the development of studies that evaluate the tissue injury that NETs can cause and the biological relationships with other cells to improve them as therapeutic targets.
Turner syndrome (TS) presents a characteristic immune imbalance among patients. As the X chromosome‐linked FOXP3 gene is a powerful immune regulator, in this work we investigated a possible ...relationship between FOXP3 and TS. We evaluated 117 TS patients to investigate whether genetic associations within polymorphisms in FOXP3 (rs3761548, rs3761549) were associated with immune conditions. TaqMan Assays genotyping probes were employed in a real‐time PCR‐based method. Subsequently, we compared FOXP3 mRNA expression levels in TS patients and healthy females (control group), using fluorogenic probes through qPCR assay. We detected that the T allele from rs3761549 FOXP3 SNP was significantly associated with chronic inflammatory diseases in TS patients (P = 0.008, OR = 0.17, CI = 0.02‐0.71). Further, we observed an upregulation of FOXP3 mRNA levels in the TS group compared to the HC group (+9.21 FC; P = 2.541 × 10−7). In conclusion, our results demonstrated a differential distribution of the T rs3761549 allele in chronic inflammatory diseases among TS patients, as well as that FOXP3 upregulation may influence appropriate immune or inflammatory regulation in these patients.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Chagas disease (CD) is a public health problem in Latin America. The acute phase presents nonspecific symptoms and most patients recover from acute parasitemia and undergo a prolonged asymptomatic ...phase. Several years later, about 30% of infected individuals develop chronic cardiopathy with progressive cardiomegaly, arrhythmia, thromboembolic events and heart failure. These symptoms suggest a persistent association with the presence of inflammatory infiltrate and tissue, and cellular destruction in the heart muscle. Nevertheless, few research studies have attempted to understand the role of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, in establishing the pathology and progression of CD. Only recently have some studies been performed with this intention. Despite this effort, the role of neutrophils in CD is still considered controversial. This review discusses the morphological and functional characteristics of neutrophils that describes their participation in the establishment and progression of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, through the development of its effector functions, such as release of lithic components, production of oxidative agents and release of inflammatory mediators capable of modulating the host immune response.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction
Chagas disease (CD) is a global health concern with approximately 12 000 deaths per year worldwide. In the chronic phase, about 30% of patients develop the cardiac clinical form, which ...presents symptoms associated with the presence of inflammatory cells in the cardiac tissue. Neutrophils are inflammatory cells able to modulate the chronic immune response against pathogens. These cells are capable of interacting with Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of CD, and perform several effector functions, such as NET release. However, few studies have been carried out to investigate the role of these cells in the disease.
Aims
To investigate the release of NETs by neutrophils from CD patients by measuring the amount of DNA and elastase released.
Methods and results
Measurement of DNA release by neutrophils from chronic CD patients presenting the indeterminate (IND group; n = 18) and cardiac (CARD group; n = 15) clinical forms and nonchagasic subjects (n = 18) stimulated with soluble antigen of T. cruzi was quantified using the Quant‐iT™ PicoGreen® dsDNA assay kit. Patients from CARD group release less DNA (117.3 ± 21.85 ng/mL; *P = .0131) than neutrophils from control (177.7 ± 58.41 ng/mL). Elastase enzyme degranulation was measured using the substrate N‐methoxysuccinyl‐Ala‐Ala‐Pro‐Val p‐nitroanilide (SAAVNA). Absorbance values of elastase degranulation activity showed that only cells from healthy individuals presented a high release profile of elastase. Also, we found a negative correlation between DNA released concentration and risk of death (r = −.6574; *P = .0173); the lower the neutrophil DNA release from chagasic patients with cardiac event, the higher the risk of death.
Conclusion
These preliminary data show that patients with the cardiac form of CD release less NETs than nonchagasic individuals, raising the possibility that lower release of NETs enhances risk of death in CD patients with cardiac events.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The establishment of physical training programs for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has several benefits. The study aimed to analyze the effect of resistance training using prediction of ...intensity by subjective perception of effort (SPE) on body composition, muscle strength, and TCD4+ lymphocyte levels in PLWHA. This a randomized controlled trial study. Participants (11 men and 8 women), were divided in two groups: exercise group (EG) and control group (CG). The EG was submitted to 12 weeks of a resistance-training program based in the prediction of intensity by SPE. Body mass percentages were evaluated using tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance and skinfold methods. We used Flow Cytometry to quantify CD4+ T lymphocytes. Patients showed significant changes in Body Fat Percentage (Δ%=-6.23%), Lean Body Mass (Δ%=2.45%), and CD4T lymphocytes levels (Δ%=15.77%). They also showed significant increase in muscular strength presented in the test for one repetition maximum in all the evaluated exercises. Our data suggest that exercising program prescribed by SPE is capable of improving immune function, body composition, and muscular strength in PLWHA.
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A pesquisa realizada na Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (FACS/UERN) investigou o impacto do ensino médico remoto durante a pandemia, com foco em ...docentes e discentes de Medicina. A coleta de dados envolveu questionários via Google Formulários. Docentes (76,1%) optaram por aulas síncronas, utilizando principalmente Google Meet (97,8%) e Google Classroom (95,7%). Estratégias incluíram aula expositiva-dialogada (82,6%) e discussão de casos (54,3%). Impressões dos alunos sobre o ensino remoto foram predominantemente negativas, apesar de reconhecerem alguns benefícios. Desafios para docentes incluíram adaptação às plataformas e adequação do conteúdo às avaliações, enquanto alunos destacaram a falta de práticas e exposição excessiva às telas. Ambos os grupos enfatizaram a importância do contato pessoal. A pesquisa destaca a complexidade do ensino médico remoto, evidenciando desafios e aprendizados, ressaltando a necessidade contínua de adaptação nesse contexto.
Objective: This study performed a literature review evaluating aspects of prevalence and motivations on the non-medical use of methylphenidate by medical students. Methods: We searched the Scopus, ...PubMed, SciELO, and Web of Science databases and the Google Scholar search tool using the keywords "Methylphenidate" and "Medical Student" and their correlates in Portuguese. A total of 472 articles were recovered, of which 24 were included for full reading and discussion after the application of the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: It was observed that the prevalence of non-prescribed use of methylphenidate ranged from 0.51% in Lithuania to 35% in Colombia. The main motivations reported for using the drug were academic outcomes improvement and increase in concentration during studies, although research shows no significant improvement in academic performance with the use of medication by healthy individuals. Conclusion: The non-prescribed use of methylphenidate presents a high and worrying frequency. Also, scientific studies questioning the use of psychostimulant medications for cognitive improvement by healthy students make the practice illegal and unfounded.
Abstract Introduction : The scientific production of the areas of physical therapy and occupational therapy presented important growth and international visibility. Objective : To evaluate technical ...and scientific indicators, in addition to the training of human resources, of scholarship researchers of scientific productivity of CNPq (PQ), in the area of physical therapy and occupational therapy. Methods : A cross-sectional, census and quantitative study was conducted from the Lattes curricula of CNPq researchers with active scholarships in December 2021. The information was extracted through the Lattes Platform of CNPq, including three dimensions of variables for analysis: a) researcher profile; b) scientific production; c) training of human resources. Results : The evaluation included 73 PQ CNPq, in the areas of physical therapy and occupational therapy. The majority were female (n = 42; 57.5%), distributed in 26 different institutions in the country, with the Southeast region being the most prevalent. The largest portion of the PQ completed their doctorate between 11 and 20 years ago (n = 41; 56.2%) and did postdoctoral work (n = 55; 75.3%) abroad (n = 32; 58.2%). The group published 9,486 scientific articles throughout its career, averaging 129.94 scientific articles per PQ. The group of PQ supervised a total of 2,561 undergraduate students, 1,748 master’s and 800 doctoral students. The mean H index of PQ was 19.74 (CI 95% = 18.40-21.11; SD = 5.71; median = 19). Conclusion : The PQ scholarship researchers presented significant scientific production and training of human resources, which confirms the important development of the areas in the last ten years. However, a strong nucleation of this production was observed.
Resumo Introducão : A produção científica das áreas de fisioterapia e terapia ocupacional apresentou importante crescimento e visibilidade internacional. Objetivo : Avaliar indicadores técni-cos e científicos, além da formação de recursos humanos, de pesquisadores bolsistas de produtividade científica do CNPq (PQ), nas área de fisioterapia e terapia ocupacional. Métodos : Realizou-se estudo transversal, censitário e quantitativo, a partir dos currículos Lattes dos pesquisadores do CNPq, nas áreas mencionadas, com bolsas ativas em dezembro de 2021. As informações foram extraídas da Plataforma Lattes do CNPq, incluindo três dimensões de variáveis para análise: a) perfil do pesquisador; b) produção científica; c) formação de recursos humanos. Resultados : Foram incluídos na avaliação 73 PQ do CNPq, nas áreas de fisioterapia e terapia ocupacional. A maioria foi do sexo feminino (n = 42; 57,5%), distribuída em 26 instituições distintas no país, sendo a região Sudeste a mais prevalente. A maior parcela dos PQ finalizou o doutorado entre 11 e 20 anos atrás (n = 41; 56,2%) e realizou pós-doutorado (n = 55; 75,3%) no exterior (n = 32; 58,2%). O grupo publicou 9.486 artigos científicos durante toda a carreira, com média de 129,94 artigos científicos por PQ. O conjunto dos PQ orientou um total de 2.561 estudantes de iniciação científica, 1.748 de mestrado e 800 de doutorado. O índice H médio dos PQ foi de 19,74 (IC 95% = 18,40-21,11; DP = 5,71; mediana = 19). Conclusão : Os bolsistas PQ apresentaram significativa produção científica e formação de recursos humanos, o que confirma o importante desenvolvimento das áreas nos últimos dez anos. Observou-se, entretanto, forte nucleação dessa produção.
Cervical cancer is associated with infection by certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and this affects women worldwide. Despite the improvements in prevention and cure of HPV-induced ...cervical cancer, it remains the second most common type of cancer in women in the least developed regions of the world. Epigenetic modifications are stable long-term changes that occur in the DNA, and are part of a natural evolutionary process of necessary adaptations to the environment. They do not result in changes in the DNA sequence, but do affect gene expression and genomic stability. Epigenetic changes are important in several biological processes. The effects of the environment on gene expression can contribute to the development of numerous diseases. Epigenetic modifications may serve a critical role in cancer cells, by silencing tumor suppressor genes, activating oncogenes, and exacerbating defects in DNA repair mechanisms. Although cervical cancer is directly related to a persistent high-risk HPV infection, several epigenetic changes have been identified in both the viral DNA and the genome of the infected cells: DNA methylation, histone modification and gene silencing by non-coding RNAs, which initiate and sustain epigenetic changes. In the present review, recent advances in the role of epigenetic changes in cervical cancer are summarized.
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