Larissa Ciupa

Phosphorus protects cardiac tissue by modifying the immune response in rats infected by Trypanosoma cruzi

HighlightsPhosphorus 13cH promotes beneficial effects in murine infection by T. cruzi.The Treatment beneficially modulates as inflammatory cytokines IFN‐&ggr; e TNF‐&agr;.The drug reduces inflammation of cardiac tissue in Wister rats infected with T. cruzi. Abstract Aim: This study evaluates and correlates the number of myocarditis focuses and production of cytokines in Rattus norvegicus (Wistar lineage), experimentally infected with T. Cruzi and treated with Phosphorus. Methods: In two blind, controlled and randomized trials, 53 45‐day‐old, male animals were allocated into groups Control (n = 24): Control group infected and treated with 7% hydroalcoholic solution, the preparation vehicle of the test medication; and Phosphorus (n = 24 on days 0, 5, 10 and 24 after infection): group infected and treated with Phosphorus 13cH, diluted 10−26 and dynamized (test medication). The animals were inoculated intraperitoneally with 5 × 106 blood trypomastigotes of T. cruzi‐Y strain. The medication was administered overnight (16 consecutive hours), diluted in water (1 mL/100 mL) in amber water bottles. The animals were treated 2 days before and 2, 4, and 6 days after infection. Enumeration of inflammatory foci in cardiac tissue (Hematoxylin‐Eosin) and dosage of cytokines TNF‐&agr; and IFN‐&ggr; in the serum were performed on days 0, 5, 10 and 24 after infection, using three animals/group. Mann‐Whitney, Friedman ANOVA, Spearman correlation (p < 0.05), and Statistica Single User Software version 13.2 were used for data analysis. Results: The animals treated with Phosphorus 13cH had high concentration of INF‐&ggr; on the 5th day of infection with significant decrease on the 10th and 24th days (p < 0.05), and high concentration of TNF‐&agr; on the 5th and 10th days of infection with decrease on the 24th day (p < 0.05). The treatment with Phosphorus caused a significant increase of INF‐&ggr; and TNF‐&agr; on the 5th day of infection compared with the Control (p < 0.05), with reestablishment on the 24th day, as well as in the Control group. The group treated with Phosphorus had 52.5% less number of myocarditis focuses in heart than Control group (p < 0.05) on the 10th day of infection. The significant increase in cytokines on the5th day of infection in the Phosphorus group is related to a significant decrease in the number of inflammatory foci in cardiac tissue on the 10th day of infection in this group. Discussion and conclusion: Treatment with Phosphorus 13cH promotes beneficial effects in T. cruzi infection in Wistar rats by modulating the secretion of IFN‐&ggr; and TNF‐&agr; with decreased inflammation in cardiac tissue. These results reinforce the importance of considering the use of homeopathy for establishing new therapeutic approaches in the management of patients with Chagas disease.

Dynamized ethyl alcohol improves immune response and behavior in murine infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Aim To evaluate the effects of dynamized ethyl alcohol (Ethylicum) 6cH and 30cH in mice infected with T. cruzi. Methods In a blind, randomized and controlled assay, 63 eight‐week‐old, Swiss, male mice, infected with IP (1400 trypomastigotes, T. cruzi‐Y‐strain), were allocated into groups: CNI‐non‐infected (n = 12), CI‐infected and non‐treated (n = 17), Et6cH‐infected, treated with Ethylicum 6cH (dilution 1:1012) (n = 17), Et30cH‐infected, treated with Ethylicum 30cH (dilution 1:1060) (n = 17). Treatment was administered 48 h before and after infection, followed by 56 h/56 h periods, until the 9th day after infection (a.i), for 16 h. Survival and mortality were assessed until the 82nd day after infection (a.i.). TNF‐&agr;, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐5 and IL‐17A cytokines were assessed in serum (3–4 animals/group), at time T0 (before infection), T8 and T12 (8th and 12th a.i), using the Mouse Cytokine 20‐Plex Panel Magnetic Kit (Invitrogen, USA). Inflammation was determined in heart sections (eosin‐hematoxylin staining) and behavior was analyzed with ANY‐maze® software. The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee/UEM. Statistica 8.0 and R 3.0.2 software were used for statistical analyses. Results The greater survival observed in the Et6cH group was related to decreased inflammation in heart tissue and increased IL‐5 at T0 (p < 0.05) and IL‐10 at T8 (p < 0.05), characterizing the Th2 response. It was also related to shorter periods of immobility, observed on day 12 a.i. The higher mortality in the Et30cH group was related to increased inflammation in the heart and a higher concentration of IL‐6 and TNF‐&agr; cytokines, characterizing the Th1 response. Conclusion The results demonstrate the beneficial effect of Ethylicum 6cH in acute murine infection by T. cruzi. HighlightsBeneficial effect of Ethylicum 6cH in acute murine infection by T. cruzi.Ethylicum 6cH presented pronounced Th2 response.Ethylicum 6cH decreased inflammation in heart and increased hosts survival.Ethylicum 30cH exhibited pronounced Th1 response. Graphical abstract Figure. No Caption available.

Randomized study using biotherapeutic and #8220;T.cruzi 3dH and #8221; impairs experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a biotherapeutic in very low dynamization (3dH) in murine infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. Methods: Swiss male mice (Mus musculus) infected by T. cruzi Y strain were divided into three groups according to their treatment: Control infection - 7% ethanolwater solution; 3dH each day (ED) - daily biotherapeutic T. cruzi 3dH, from the day of infection until the end of experiment; 3dH single day (SD) - biotherapeutic T. cruzi 3dH, on the day of infection for 12 h. Parasitological (total parasitemia, peak of parasites, day of the peaks, prepatent period, patent period, and survival) and clinical (body temperature and body weight) parameters were evaluated. Results: No significant differences were observed among groups for parasitological evaluation. 3dH ED group presented an earlier mortality compared to control. Clinical parameters showed that animals treated with biotherapeutic had worse outcome when compared with control animals. Conclusion: The low dynamization of T. cruzi biotherapeutic worsened its murine infection by means of clinical evaluation. Considering other studies using biotherapeutic of T. cruzi, suggests the possibility for an efficacy of different dynamizations regarding oscillatory potency-effect-curves.