Cristiane de Castro Pernet Hara

Melatonin Nanoparticles Adsorbed to Polyethylene Glycol Microspheres as Activators of Human Colostrum Macrophages

The effectiveness of hormones associated with polymeric matrices has amplified the possibility of obtaining new drugs to activate the immune system. Melatonin has been reported as an important immunomodulatory agent that can improve many cell activation processes. It is possible that the association of melatonin with polymers could influence its effects on cellular function. Thus, this study verified the adsorption of the hormone melatonin to polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres and analyzed its ability to modulate the functional activity of human colostrum phagocytes. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that melatonin was able to adsorb to the PEG microspheres. This system increased the release of superoxide and intracellular calcium. There was an increase of phagocytic and microbicidal activity by colostrum phagocytes when in the presence of melatonin adsorbed to PEG microspheres. The modified delivery of melatonin adsorbed to PEG microspheres may be an additional mechanism for its microbicidal activity and represents an important potential treatment for gastrointestinal infections of newborns.

Characterization of Natural Killer Cells and Cytokines in Maternal Placenta and Fetus of Diabetic Mothers

The present study characterized natural killer cells and cytokines in diabetic mothers, their placenta, and fetus. In the maternal blood from the hyperglycemic groups, the CD16+CD56− NK cells increased, whereas that of CD16+CD56+ decreased in gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] group. Cord blood from type 2 diabetes [DM-2] showed a higher proportion of CD16+CD56− and CD16−CD56+. The placental extravillous layer of GDM and DM-2 showed an increase of CD16+CD56− cells and, irrespective of region, the proportion of CD16−CD56+ cells was higher in mild gestational hyperglycemia [MGH] and GDM and lower in DM-2. IL-2 was lower in maternal blood and IFN-γ higher in maternal and cord blood from the GDM group. IL-17 was higher in maternal and cord blood from the DM-2 group. The placental extravillous layer of the MGH showed high levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IFN-γ and low levels of IL-1β and IL-8, whereas the placental villous layer contained high levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ. The GDM group, irrespective of region, showed higher levels of IL-8. The DM-2 group, irrespective of region, placenta showed high levels of TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ. The hyperglycemia produces an inflammatory environment with a high content of inflammatory cytokines and cells expressing CD16+.

Changes in T-cell phenotype and cytokines profile in maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers

Abstract Objective: The present study evaluated the cells and cytokine of maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers. Methods: The women evaluated were divided according to their body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status into non-diabetic (ND – N = 15), mild gestational hyperglycemic (MGH – N = 15), diabetes mellitus gestational (DMG – N = 13) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM2 – N = 15) groups. The subsets of cells and cytokine profile were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Maternal blood from MGH group had increase percentage of CD3+T cells, and DM-2 group had decrease percentage of CD4+ T cells. The cord blood from hyperglycemic groups showed lower percentage of CD3+ T cells expressing CD45RO+ and higher of CD4+ T cells and CD4+ T cells expressing CD45RA+. In the colostrum, the CD4+ T cells and CD4+ T cells expressed CD45RA+ increase in hyperglycemic groups. The DM2 group exhibited higher IL17 levels in maternal blood. IFN-γ was lower in cord blood from MGH and DMG groups with overweight/obese. Irrespective of the glycemic status, IL6 was higher in colostrum. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that maternal hyperglycemia modifies the phenotypes of T cells and cytokines profile in maternal, cord blood and colostrum.

Phenotypic characterization of regulatory T cells populations in maternal blood, cord blood and placenta from diabetic mothers

Abstract Purpose: Changes in regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood are associated with a number of pathologies, including diabetes. However, the immunological responses of pregnant diabetic women remain scarcely known, and the effects of Treg cells in these patients have yet to be investigated. The present study characterized the expression of regulatory T cells in the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta of diabetic pregnant women. Materials and methods: The women were divided according to glycemic status into a non-diabetic (ND; N = 20) or type 2 diabetic (T2DM; N = 20) group. Cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Compared to ND, T2DM blood cells exhibited a higher expression of CD25+, Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+, CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+; and cord blood cells showed a lower expression of CD25+, CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+. In the placenta of T2DM, the villous layer of the proportion, CD3+ and CD25 was lower than that of CD4+Foxp3+ and CD25+Foxp3+, and the extravillous placenta layer contained the lowest levels of CD4+ and CD25+ and highest proportions of CD4+Foxp3+. In maternal blood from T2DM, the frequency of CD3+CD95+ and CD3CD4+ T cells expressing CD95+ was lower. In cord blood from T2DM, the rate of CD3+CD95+ was lower. The placenta villous layer of T2DM showed a lower count of CD3+CD95+ and of CD3CD4+ T cells expressing CD95+, whereas the number of cells expressing CD3+CD45RO+ decreased in both placental layers. Conclusion: The data obtained suggest that hyperglycemia changes the phenotypes of regulatory T cells and Fas expression in memory T cells.