Immunogenicity and toxicity of antimicrobial peptide P34 were evaluated in vivo. BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with peptide P34 alone and associated with Freund's adjuvant. For acute ...toxicity testing, different concentrations of the peptide P34 (82.5, 165.0, 247.5 and 330.0mg/kg) were orally administered. To evaluate the sub-chronic toxicity the tested dose of 0.825mg/kg/day of the peptide P34 or nisin were administered for 21 days. There were no hypersensitivity reactions or significant increase in antibody titer during the immunogenicity experiment or death of animals during the acute or sub-chronic toxicity tests. The LD50 was higher than 332.3±0.76mg/kg. No significant changes in serum biochemical parameters were observed in the animals treated with the peptide P34 unlike nisin-treated group showed a significant increase in alanine transaminase levels in comparison to controls. The group treated with 0.825mg/kg/day of nisin showed histological changes in the spleen, skin and liver. In the group treated with peptide P34 histological changes in the spleen were observed, with the presence of megakaryocytes. Few studies report the use of animal models to evaluate the in vivo toxicity of antimicrobial peptides and such investigation is an essential step to ensure it safe use in foods.
Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat solid tumours. However, it causes an acute and neuropathic pain syndrome that limits its use. Among the mechanisms involved in neuropathic pain ...caused by paclitaxel is activation of kinin receptors. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can enhance kinin receptor signalling. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of kinins on paclitaxel-associated acute pain syndromes (P-APS) and the effect of ACE inhibition on P-APS and paclitaxel-associated chronic peripheral neuropathy (P-CPN) in mice. Herein, we show that paclitaxel caused mechanical allodynia and spontaneous nociceptive behaviour that was reduced by antagonists of kinin receptors B
1
(DALBk and SSR240612) and B
2
(Hoe140 and FR173657). Moreover, enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) enhanced the mechanical allodynia induced by a low dose of paclitaxel. Likewise, paclitaxel injection inhibited ACE activity and increased the expressions of B
1
and B
2
receptors and bradykinin-related peptides levels in peripheral tissue. Together, our data support the involvement of kinin receptors in the P-APS and suggest kinin receptor antagonists to treat this syndrome. Because hypertension is the most frequent comorbidity affecting cancer patients, treatment of hypertension with ACE inhibitors in patients undergoing paclitaxel chemotherapy should be reviewed, since this could enhance the P-APS and P-CPN.
Rationale
There are evidences indicating the role of kinins in pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, but little is known about their action on memory deficits.
Objectives
Our aim was to ...establish the role of bradykinin receptors B
1
(B
1
R) and B
2
(B
2
R) on the behavioral, biochemical, and histologic features elicited by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury (mLFPI) in mice.
Methods
The role of kinin B
1
and B
2
receptors in brain damage, neuromotor, and cognitive deficits induced by mLFPI, was evaluated by means of subcutaneous injection of B
2
R antagonist (HOE-140; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) or B
1
R antagonist (des-Arg9-Leu8-bradykinin (DAL-Bk; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) 30 min and 24 h after brain injury. Brain damage was evaluated in the cortex, being considered as lesion volume, inflammatory, and oxidative damage. The open field and elevated plus maze tests were performed to exclude the nonspecific effects on object recognition memory test.
Results
Our data revealed that HOE-140 (10 nmol/kg) protected against memory impairment. This treatment attenuated the brain edema, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide metabolites content elicited by mLFPI. Accordingly, HOE-140 administration protected against the increase of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive species, protein carbonylation generation, and Na
+
K
+
ATPase inhibition induced by trauma. Histologic analysis showed that HOE-140 reduced lesion volume when analyzed 7 days after brain injury.
Conclusions
This study suggests the involvement of the B
2
receptor in memory deficits and brain damage caused by mLFPI in mice.
•Apocynin protects against object recognition memory deficit induced by mLFPI.•Apocynin reduces IL-1β, TNF-α NOx contents increased by mLFPI.•Apocynin reduces the oxidative damage and Na+, K+, ATPase ...inhibition induced by mLFPI.•Apocynin reduces the cortical lesion induced by mLFPI.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating disease that commonly causes persistent mental disturbances and cognitive deficits. Although studies have indicated that overproduction of free radicals, especially superoxide (O2-) derived from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is a common underlying mechanism of pathophysiology of TBI, little information is available regarding the role of apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, in neurological consequences of TBI. Therefore, the present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of apocynin for treatment of inflammatory and oxidative damage, in addition to determining its action on neuromotor and memory impairments caused by moderate fluid percussion injury in mice (mLFPI). Statistical analysis revealed that apocynin (5mg/kg), when injected subcutaneously (s.c.) 30min and 24h after injury, had no effect on neuromotor deficit and brain edema, however it provided protection against mLFPI-induced object recognition memory impairment 7days after neuronal injury. The same treatment protected against mLFPI-induced IL-1β, TNF-α, nitric oxide metabolite content (NOx) 3 and 24h after neuronal injury. Moreover, apocynin treatment reduced oxidative damage (protein carbonyl, lipoperoxidation) and was effective against mLFPI-induced Na+, K+-ATPase activity inhibition. The present results were accompanied by effective reduction in lesion volume when analyzed 7days after neuronal injury. These data suggest that superoxide (O2-) derived from NADPH oxidase can contribute significantly to cognitive impairment, and that the post injury treatment with specific NADPH oxidase inhibitors, such as apocynin, may provide a new therapeutic approach to the control of neurological disabilities induced by TBI.
The analgesic potential of six 14-membered-ring cyclopeptide alkaloids, namely, franganine (1), discarine B (2), scutianines B (3), C (4), and D (5), and adouetine X (6), have been investigated. ...Among the compounds tested, only franganine (1) and adouetine X (6) produced antinociceptive effects in a mouse model of acute pain, without inducing undesirable side effects. Furthermore, compound 6 also exhibited a pronounced analgesic effect in a chronic neuropathic pain model in mice. It has been found that adouetine X (6) can decrease the activities of Ca2+-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase in vitro. Thus, the present findings have demonstrated that adouetine X (6) is a promising analgesic agent.
► Kallikrein–kinin system is produced in the ovary during ovulation in bovine. ► Bradykinin and kallikrein have a regulation in follicular fluid during ovulation. ► The B1R expression is induced in ...both follicular cells. ► The B2R is constitutively expressed in granulosa cells and induced in theca cells. ► The study uses an in vivo approach to study monovulatory species.
The kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) has been described as an important mediator of physiologic processes. Kallikreins use kininogen (KNG) as substrate to generate bradykinin, the main active peptide of the KKS that acts through two types of receptors, the B1R and the B2R. The goal of this study was to characterize some components of the KKS in different compartments of the ovary during the bovine ovulation process. The KNG, B1R and B2R mRNA expression patterns were assessed in theca and granulosa cells, as well as the bradykinin concentration and kallikrein-like activity in follicular fluid of bovine periovulatory follicles. To obtain a periovulatory follicle (≥12mm), twenty-seven cows were submitted to estrus synchronization protocol and ovariectomized by colpotomy at 0, 3, 6, 12 or 24h after a GnRH-analog injection (gonadorelin; 100μg, IM). Follicular fluid was aspirated for enzymatic assays while granulosa and theca cells were harvested for mRNA analysis. The mRNA expressions in follicular cells were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and data representation related to the cyclophilin housekeeping gene. The bradykinin concentration and kallikrein-like activity were measured in follicular fluid by enzymatic immunoassay and selective substrate cleavage, respectively. The B2R expression in theca cells and B1R expression in theca and granulosa cells showed different profiles during the periovulatory period (P<0.05). The bradykinin concentration and kallikrein-like activity in the follicular fluid were different (P<0.05) due to the time during the ovulation process. KNG mRNA expression was similar for both follicular cell types (P>0.05). Taken together, these results provide an important characterization of the presence and possible KKS regulation during the bovine ovulation.
Rationale There are evidences indicating the role of kinins in pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, but little is known about their action on memory deficits. Objectives Our aim was to ...establish the role of bradykinin receptors B.sub.1(B.sub.1R) and B.sub.2(B.sub.2R) on the behavioral, biochemical, and histologic features elicited by moderate lateral fluid percussion injury (mLFPI) in mice. Methods The role of kinin B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 receptors in brain damage, neuromotor, and cognitive deficits induced by mLFPI, was evaluated by means of subcutaneous injection of B.sub.2R antagonist (HOE-140; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) or B.sub.1R-antagonist (des-Arg9-Leu8-bradykinin (DAL-Bk; 1 or 10 nmol/kg) 30 min and 24 h after brain injury. Brain damage was evaluated in the cortex, being considered as lesion volume, inflammatory, and oxidative damage. The open field and elevated plus maze tests were performed to exclude the nonspecific effects on object recognition memory test. Results Our data revealed that HOE-140 (10 nmol/kg) protected against memory impairment. This treatment attenuated the brain edema, interleukin-1|3, tumor necrosis factor-a, and nitric oxide metabolites content elicited by mLFPI. Accordingly, HOE-140 administration protected against the increase of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive species, protein carbonylation generation, and Na.sup.+ K.sup.+ ATPase inhibition induced by trauma. Histologic analysis showed that HOE-140 reduced lesion volume when analyzed 7 days after brain injury. Conclusions This study suggests the involvement of the B.sub.2 receptor in memory deficits and brain damage caused by mLFPI in mice. Keywords Traumatic brain injury * Bradykinin * Inflammation * Object recognition task * Oxidative stress
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) are important endogenous regulators of ion channels, such as vanilloid (TRPV1), ...glutamatergic (NMDA or AMPA/kainate) and acid-sensitive (ASIC) receptors. In the present study, it was investigated the possible nociceptive effect induced by polyamines and the mechanisms involved in this nociception in vivo and in vitro. The subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of capsaicin, spermine, spermidine or putrescine produced nociception with ED50 of 0.16 (0.07-0.39) nmol/paw, 0.4 (0.2-0.7) μmol/paw, 0.3 (0.1-0.9) μmol/paw and 3.2 (0.9-11.5) μmol/paw, respectively. The antagonists of NMDA (MK801, 1 nmol/paw), AMPA/kainate (DNQX, 1 nmol/paw) or ASIC receptors (amiloride, 100 nmol/paw) failed to reduce the spermine-trigged nociception. However, the TRPV1 antagonists capsazepine or SB366791 (1 nmol/paw) reduced spermine-induced nociception, with inhibition of 81±10 and 68±9%, respectively. The previous desensitization with resiniferatoxin (RTX) largely reduced the spermine-induced nociception and TRPV1 expression in the sciatic nerve, with reductions of 82±9% and 67±11%, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of spermine (100 nmol/paw) and RTX (0.005 fmol/paw), in doses which alone were not capable of inducing nociception, produced nociceptive behaviors. Moreover, different concentrations of spermine (3-300 μM) enhanced the specific binding of 3H-RTX to TRPV1 receptor. Altogether, polyamines produce spontaneous nociceptive effect through the stimulation of TRPV1, but not of ionotropic glutamate or ASIC receptors.
As poliaminas (putrescina, espermidina e espermina) são importantes reguladores endógenos de canais iônicos como o receptor vaniloide (TRPV1), os receptores glutamatérgicos (NMDA ou AMPA/cainato) e o canal iônico sensível ao ácido (ASIC). No presente estudo, investigou-se o possível efeito nociceptivo induzido por poliaminas e o mecanismo envolvido nesta nocicepção in vivo e in vitro. A injeção subcutânea (s.c.) de capsaicina, espermina, espermidina e putrescina produziram nocicepção com DE50 de 0,16 (0,07-0,39) nmol/pata, 0,4 (0,2-0,7) μmol/pata, 0,3 (0,1-0,9) μmol/pata e 3,2 (0,9-11,5) μmol/pata, respectivamente. Os antagonistas dos receptores NMDA (MK801, 1 nmol/pata), AMPA/cainato (DNQX, 1 nmol/pata) ou ASIC (amiloride, 100 nmol/pata) não reduziram a nocicepção induzida por espermina. Porém, os antagonistas do receptor TRPV1 capsazepina (1 nmol/pata) e SB366791 (10 nmol/pata) reduziram a nocicepção induzida por espermina, com inibições de 81±10 e 68±9%, respectivamente. A dessensibilização prévia com resiniferatoxina (RTX) reduziu a nocicepção induzida por espermina e a expressão de TRPV1 no nervo ciático, com reduções de 82±9% e 67±11%, respectivamente. Além disso, a combinação de espermina (1 nmol/pata) e RTX (0,005 fmol/pata), em doses que separadamente não são eficientes em induzir nocicepção, produziu comportamento nociceptivo. Finalmente, diferentes concentrações de espermina (3-300 μM) aumentaram a ligação específica de 3H-RTX ao receptor TRPV1. Assim, os resultados demonstram que poliaminas produzem efeito nociceptivo espontâneo através da estimulação de receptor TRPV1, mas não de receptores glutamatérgicos ionotrópicos ou canal iônico sensível a ácido.
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