Biomedical Sciences Institute

Role of TLR4 in cardiac remodeling process of spontaneously hypertensive rats - SHR.

tde@sc.usp.br (Pereira, Cinthya Echem de Souza) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The cardiac remodeling is a sequel of hypertension. Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) are innate immunity receptor and its activation produces inflammatory molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate the involvement of TLR4 in cardiac remodeling of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We used male Wistar and SHR with 6 and 21 weeks. The level of TLR4 mRNA in SHR with 21 weeks is higher than the other groups. Wistar and SHR with 19 weeks were treated with anti-TLR4 or nonspecific IgG antibody...

The role of the NF-kB signaling pathway in the adipose tissue inflammation in cachectic patients.

tde@sc.usp.br (Camargo, Rodolfo Gonzalez) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Cancer Cachexia, whose most notable symptom is severe and rapid weight loss, affects about half of all cancer patients and is present in the vast majority (more than two thirds) of patients with advanced cancer. Recent studies have shown that inflammatory mediators play an important role in the development of cachexia, nowadays envisaged as a chronic inflammatory disease. The white adipose tissue is one of the first compartments of the organism affected in cancer cachexia, and suffers a high rate...

Role of E3 ligases on skeletal muscle plasticity.

tde@sc.usp.br (Baptista, Igor Luchini) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

In the present thesis we analyzed the involvement of E3 ligases under three aspects of skeletal muscle plasticity: mass loss resulting from disuse, maintenance of fiber type I and II and regeneration of muscle tissue. Our first aim was to determine whether leucine, was able to attenuate the mass loss caused by wasting. Our results showed that this amino acid prevented the mass loss, mainly by inhibiting the expression of E3 ligases. The second aim was to determine whether the absence of two E3 ligases,...

Analysis of the role of prostaglandin E2 receptors in the proliferation and apoptosis of human glioma, and expression of the enzymes COX-1, COX-2, mPGES-1,...

tde@sc.usp.br (Cunha, Andrew Silva da) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Gliomas are tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) that evolve from glial cells. The most common and most aggressive form of these tumors is known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The biological aggressiveness of GBM is associated with its rapid growth and lack of apoptosis. Its poor prognosis is strongly associated with the difficulty of treating these cells as they are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The gene expression of the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2...

Characteristics of crossmodal automatic attentional effect.

tde@sc.usp.br (Righi, Luana Lira) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The current work examined the possible contribution of signal to noise ratio, the asynchrony between the onsets of the cue and the target (SOA) and the kind of task performed by the observer to the manifestation of crossmodal attentional effects. The Experiments 1 and 2 showed that crossmodal attentional effect appears when there is visual noise, but it does not appear when there is no visual noise at 133 ms SOA. The Experiment 3 showed that when the SOA is longer than 133 ms, the crossmodal attentional...

17b-estradiol increases Slc2a4/GLUT4 expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via ESR1.

tde@sc.usp.br (Campello, Raquel Saldanha) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

GLUT4 (gene Slc2a4) is responsible by insulin-induced glucose uptake and alterations in its expression are related to insulin resistance (IR). Variability in estradiol levels (E2) is related with IR and lower glucose transporter expression and this mechanism can be mediated by transcriptional factor NFk-B, which is an Slc2a4 repressor. Our aim was to evaluate in 3T3-L1 adipocytes the role of E2 in Slc2a4/GLUT4 expression, NFk-B binding activity and glucose uptake as well as the ESR1 (estrogen receptor...

Time estimation in humans: ontogenesis and circadian variation.

tde@sc.usp.br (Miguel, Mario André Leocadio) — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Factors such as age, sleep and the ability to engage attention to time contribute to the subjective measure of the time flow. We aimed to describe the daily modulation in the production of time as a function of aging and to determine associations between temporal profiles of this behavior and the circadian rhythm of peripheral temperature and sleep/wake cycle. Our findings: (1) the prevalence of social Jet-lag in young adults; (2) a distinct arrangement in the internal temporal organization for each...

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and aging: cellular mechanisms of the potentiating effect on insulin secretion.

tde@sc.usp.br (Almeida, Felipe Natali) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

We sought to identify the cellular effects by which DHEA improves pancreatic islets function. Male Wistar rats, 12-14 month-old, receive one subcutaneous injection of DHEA (10mg.kg-1) or vehicle. After a week, pancreatic islets from these animals were isolated and submitted to the following tests: insulin secretion, mitochondrial respiration, glucose oxidation, citrate synthase activity, DNA fragmentation, gene expression and the dosage of plasmatic steroid hormones. DHEA treatment resulted in significant...

Topographical evaluation of the analgesic effect induced by transdural electrical stimulation of the motor cortex of rats: somatotopy of behavioral response...

tde@sc.usp.br (França, Nubia Regina Moreira) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Stimulation of the motor cortex (MC) has been used to treat patients with pain syndromes resistant to other treatments. Data from our group demonstrates that electrical stimulation of the motor cortex (MCS) induces opioid-dependent analgesia in rats. This study investigated the topography of the antinociceptive effect induced by MCS and the pattern of neuronal activation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (DHSC) and in the PAG through Fos and Egr-1 expression. Rats received implantation of transdural...

Role of inducible Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) in skeletal muscle atrophy and subsequent recovery.

tde@sc.usp.br (Nascimento, Tábata Leal) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Heat shock proteins play a key regulatory role in cellular defense. In order to investigate the role of the inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) in skeletal muscle atrophy and subsequent recovery, extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles from overexpressing HSP70 transgenic mice were immobilized during 7 days and subsequently released from immobilization and evaluated after 7 days. There was a decrease in myofiber cross-sectional area after immobilization in both wild type and HSP70 mice,...

In vivo effects of ACTH and N-POMC peptide in the expression of proteins and genes related to cell cycle control in rat adrenals.

tde@sc.usp.br (Mendonça, Pedro Omori Ribeiro de) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The proliferation of adrenal cortical cells involves genes and proteins related with the control of the cell cycle. The main factor involved in the proliferation of the adrenal cortex is the ACTH (corticotrophin), but other factor, such as the peptide N-terminal of POMC, seems to be involved. To contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the proliferative response of the adrenal cortex, we analyzed the effects triggered by both peptides in rats with the HPA axis inhibited by dexamethasone....

Decisional strategies in binary choice tasks from childhood to senescence.

tde@sc.usp.br (Victorino, Camila Gomes) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Studies have shown subjects dont maximize their profits all the time. When confronted with binary sequences, with rewards that show up more in one alternative than another, adult volunteers choose one side as the number of rewards the side shows; instead of maximizing in the side that shows more rewards. However, it was related children maximize. Studies assert to the possibility that adults dont maximize because they are searching for a pattern in the sequence. Four experiments were made with sequences...

Quantitative analysis of enteropathogens in children with and without diarrhea in São Paulo city, SP.

tde@sc.usp.br (Merino, Victor Rafael Castillo) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

Diarrhea is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide achieving children < 5 years old, and is second cause of death in emerging countries. Intestinal anaerobes like enterotoxigenic B. fragilis and Clostridium difficile are associated to acute diarrhea, as well as diarreiogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica. In this study, it was evaluated quantitatively the presence of enteropathogens directly from fezes. Stools specimens from children with...

Search for genes associated with response to the Montenegro skin test for Leishmania antigens.

tde@sc.usp.br (Pereira, Lucas Campana) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The present study aims, through genetic-epidemiological methods, to identify genes associated with response to Leishmania antigen. Using samples Montenegro skin test through the municipalities of Monte Negro (RO) and Assis Brazil (AC). In the first approach were tested with TaqManÒ and the second GWAS, and association analyzes were performed using SPSS and Plink. No associations were found with five SNPs (MyD88, IL12, IL10, IFNGR1, and NRAMP1). The analysis of genome scan data with filters,...

Targeting the ASP- 2 protein of amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi to the DEC205 receptor on the surface of dendritic cells.

tde@sc.usp.br (Rampazo, Eline Vital) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

As part of the innate immune system, dendritic cells (DCs) are critical in the process of induction of immunity and peripheral tolerance. These cells offer many receptors on their surface and can be classified in different subsets according to the expression there of. Monoclonal antibodies directed against different cellular receptors have been used successfully to treat diseases such as cancer. In the last ten years has been demonstrated that antigen can be sent directly to the receiver DEC205 present...

Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium vivax: molecular and phenotypic evaluation in the Brazilian Western Amazon.

tde@sc.usp.br (Rodriguez, Rosa Del Carmen Miluska Vargas) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

In this study, we performed a molecular and phenotypic evaluation of isolates of P. vivax from Brazilian Western Amazon. The phenotypic evaluation of chloroquine (CQ) sensitivity was performed using the schizont maturation assay. The molecular evaluation was made by typing of five non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the pvmdr-1 gene (A266G, A1498G, A2722C, T3226C and A2927T) and variations of the copy number of this gene. As a result, the CQ susceptibility phenotype in 36 isolates...

Protection or exacerbation of monoclonal antibodies generated against antigens of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in the experimental infection.

tde@sc.usp.br (Thomaz, Luciana) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

In this work we evaluated the protection that the monoclonal antibody (MAb) against Hsp60 and against CMH provides the animals infected with the yeast Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii in prophylactic model. The treatment with the MAbs of IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes were protective, inducing the secretion of IL-12p70, IFN-g and TNF-a, Th1 pattern of immune response. We show by immunogold that Hsp60 and MHC molecules are accessible on the cell. And the monospecific antibody against HCM and...

Effect of the endophytic diazotrophic bacterium Rhizobium sp. ICB503 in the growth of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.).

tde@sc.usp.br (Martinez, Lina Rocio Del Pilar Rada) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The effects of Rhizobium sp. ICB503 on the development of sugarcane plants were observed in experiments carried out in two different seasons. Sugarcane plants were submeted to the treatments: B, inoculated with bacteria , BN inoculated with bacteria and treated with nitrate; N treated with NO3-, and control C, uninoculated and untreated with nitrate (NO3-) Plants were maintained for two months in greenhouse. Monthly, several growth and physiological parameters were analyzed. Better results were...

Effect of the deregulation of the UPR pathway in the expression of cyclin A1 in human B lymphocytes.

tde@sc.usp.br (Pinto, Camila Bonin) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signaling pathway activated by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Previously we described a patient (Patient P) with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) whose delayed activation of the UPR associates with accumulation of immunoglobulins and slower rate of proliferation. Our results showed that chronic UPR stress interrupted cell cycling of EBV-B cells through dysruption of the cyclic nature of cyclin A1. This interrption is depend of the cell type and...

Standardization of a model of allergic inflammation by exposure to Aedes aegypti mosquito bites.

tde@sc.usp.br (Barros, Michele Silva de) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0300

During blood feeding, Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes inoculate saliva into the skin of their vertebrate hosts, modulating their immune functions and facilitating disease transmission. Some components presents in the saliva of Ae. aegypti have been described and characterized as allergens. In this study, we developed a model of allergic inflammation in mice naturally exposed to Ae. aegypti mosquito bites. Our data show that the sensitization and subsequent challenged with this mosquito salivary components...