Liliane Oliveira

The activity and expression of NTPDase is altered in lymphocytes of multiple sclerosis patients

BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating neurological disease, which is presumed to be a consequence of infiltrating lymphocytes that are autoreactive to myelin proteins. ATP and adenosine contribute to fine-tuning immune responses and NTPDase (CD39) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) are important enzymes in the control of the extracellular levels of these molecules at the site of inflammation. We evaluated the activity and expression of NTPDase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in lymphocytes from patients with the relapsing-remitting form of MS (RRMS). METHODS This study involved 22 patients with RRMS and 22 healthy subjects as a control group. The lymphocytes were isolated from blood and separated on Ficoll density gradients and after isolation the NTPDase and ADA activities were determined. RESULTS The NTPDase activity and expression were increased in lymphocytes from RRMS patients when compared with the control group (p<0.05). In addition, a decrease in ADA activity was observed in lymphocytes from these patients when compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The regulation of ATP and adenosine levels by NTPDase and ADA activities may be important to preserve cellular integrity and to modulate the immune response in MS.

Effect of Uncaria tomentosa Extract on Apoptosis Triggered by Oxaliplatin Exposure on HT29 Cells

Background/Aim. The use of herbal products as a supplement to minimize the effects of chemotherapy for cancer treatment requires further attention with respect to the activity and toxicity of chemotherapy. Uncaria tomentosa extract, which contains oxindole alkaloids, is one of these herbal products. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether Uncaria tomentosa extract modulates apoptosis induced by chemotherapy exposure. Materials and Methods. Colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29 cells) were grown in the presence of oxaliplatin and/or Uncaria tomentosa extract. Results. The hydroalcoholic extract of Uncaria tomentosa enhanced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, with an increase in the percentage of Annexin positive cells, an increase in caspase activities, and an increase of DNA fragments in culture of the neoplastic cells. Moreover, antioxidant activity may be related to apoptosis. Conclusion. Uncaria tomentosa extract has a role for cancer patients as a complementary therapy. Further studies evaluating these beneficial effects with other chemotherapy drugs are recommended.

Antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri tea on healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri, Euphorbiaceae) tea on healthy subjects. METHODS Five non-smoking, male healthy volunteers, 20 to 31 years old, were enrolled. Each subject was treated twice, following a randomized crossover fashion regarding the ingestion of P. niruri infusion (5 g/750 mL) (tea group) or 750 mL of water (control group). Fasting venous blood samples were collected prior to and at 1, 2 and 4 h after infusion drinking. Samples were tested for plasmatic gallic acid and ascorbic acid levels, erythrocytic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and intracellular DCFH fluorescence in granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. RESULTS Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were not altered by tea ingestion. Plasma levels of gallic acid were significantly increased at 1, 2 and 4 h after P. niruri ingestion and plasma ascorbic acid at 1 h after P. niruri ingestion. CONCLUSIONS Ingestion of P. niruri tea is associated with a slight increase in antioxidant markers in human blood (ascorbic acid and gallic acid), which may contribute to its pharmacological effects.

Decanoato de nandrolona no hemograma e nas células mononucleares da medula óssea de ratos Wistar hígidos

O decanoato de nandrolona (DN), um estimulante do sistema hematopoetico, caracteriza-se por ser um medicamento acessivel aos proprietarios de animais com escassos recursos economicos. Assim, este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses do DN no hemograma e na quantificacao e a viabilidade das celulas mononucleares (CM) da medula ossea (MO), juntamente com a marcacao das celulas hematopoeticas CD34+ de ratos Wistar saudaveis. Para isso, 48 animais foram separados em seis tratamentos, de forma aleatoria, com oito animais cada. Os grupos foram constituidos por: G1 - controle (solucao fisiologica); G2 - controle diluente (somente veiculo oleoso de origem vegetal); G3 - 0,42mg kg-1 de DN; G4 - 1,8mg kg-1 de DN; G5 - 4,6mg kg-1 de DN; e G6 - 10,0mg kg-1 de DN. O farmaco foi aplicado semanalmente por tres semanas. Os parâmetros hematologicos e medulares avaliados nao tiveram diferenca significativa entre os grupos, o que pode ter sido influenciado pela condicao da MO ou pelo intervalo entre as doses. De acordo com os resultados obtidos e nas condicoes em que esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida, pode-se concluir que o DN nao altera o hemograma, a quantificacao e a viabilidade das CM e a marcacao de CD34+ em ratos wistar saudaveis.

Effect of antioxidant potential on severity of cirrhosis in humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. METHODS fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patients clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. RESULTS the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. CONCLUSION we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.