Mauro Vaisberg

Vitamin D3 induces IDO+ tolerogenic DCs and enhances Treg, reducing the severity of EAE.

A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that vitamin D is an important environmental factor in the etiology of T‐cell‐mediated autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Influências do exercício na resposta imune

RESUMO O estudo da relacao entre o exercicio e a resposta imune teve grande impulso a partir da metade da decada de 70, tendo como principais areas de interesse o estudo da infeccao de vias aereas superiores em atletas submetidos a grandes esforcos, o exercicio como modelo de estresse e a resposta do treinamento como resposta adaptativa frente a situacoes de estresse. A descricao da interacao entre os sistemas imune e neuroendocrino foi de importância capital no desenvolvimento desses estudos. O exercicio gerando um desvio da homeostase orgânica leva a reorganizacao das respostas de diversos sistemas, entre eles o sistema imune. E adequado dividir a resposta ao exercicio em resposta aguda, resposta transitoria ao estresse e resposta de adaptacao cronica, na qual o treinamento capacita o organismo a lidar com o estimulo estressante de maneira mais adequada. Ambas as respostas afetam os diversos componentes do sistema imune, tanto a resposta inata em seu componente celular compreendendo neutrofilos, macrofagos e celulas natural killer, como em seu componente humoral, proteinas de fase aguda, sistema do complemento e enzimas, como o sistema imune adaptativo, em seu componente celular (linfocitos T e B), como no componente humoral (anticorpos e citocinas). Apesar das incorrecoes que cometemos quando das generalizacoes, podemos dizer que, de modo geral, o exercicio de intensidade moderada, praticado com regularidade, melhora a capacidade de resposta do sistema imune, enquanto o exercicio de alta intensidade praticado sob condicoes estressantes provoca um estado transitorio de imunodepressao.

Influence of cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) on the course of experimental systemic lupus erythematosus in F1 (NZBxW) mice

The course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, is markedly affected by hormones such as estrogen and prolactin. It is well known that heavy exposure to sunlight has deleterious effects on SLE, triggering episodes of the disease. Classical explanations for this occurrence suggest that UV radiation damages DNA, which becomes immunogenic, or induces exposure of the Ro antigen in keratinocytes. In recent years, it has been shown that vitamin D3 has important effects on the immune system. Thus, we proposed an alternative hypothesis, suggesting that UV radiation, by promoting vitamin D3 synthesis, could be a factor aggravating the course of SLE after exposure to sunlight. To test this hypothesis, we injected F1(NZBxW) mice, which are prone to developing SLE, with vitamin D3, and we demonstrated a worsening of the histopathological findings in the kidney. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 14:91–96, 2000.

Increased production of autoantibodies and specific antibodies in response to influenza virus vaccination in physically active older individuals

Immunosenescence is associated to aging and among many changes in immune response is reported a reduced response to vaccination and an increase in the number of cases of autoimmunity, caused by autoantibodies known as natural antibodies whose function, according to reports, would be protection against infection and inflammation. Although immunosenescence is an irreversible process, regular moderate exercise can attenuate some aspects of the decline in the immune system. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the humoral immune response in physically active elderly individuals before and 30 days after vaccination against influenza virus. The results showed that the percentage of individuals positive for antinuclear antibodies and serum immunoglobulin M and G levels after vaccination were higher in the group that exercised regularly than in the sedentary group. We were also able to demonstrate a significant correlation between levels of natural autoantibodies and response to vaccination.

Incidência da sindrome pré-menstrual na prática de esportes

Despite the increasing number of women who practice physical exercise, there are still few reports concerned with anatomy, psychology and mainly hormones that could affect their performance. Although there is a multitude of articles about the effects of physical exercise in menstruation, only a few of them report how this function interferes in womens performance. The association physical exercise - menstruation has been studied but without considering the changes during the cycle, the perimenstrual symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this article was to investigate the incidence and periodicity of pre-menstrual symptoms in athletes. A daily questionnaire was applied with the aim to follow the pre-menstrual symptoms during a period of 3 consecutive months. The population of the study was composed by 31 female athletes in fertile age. RESULTS: The prevalence of PMS in athletes was of 71% and the mainly reported symptoms were irritability (86.5%), mood swings (77.3%) and cramps (72.7%). Other symptoms were reported by 59% of the athletes during the pre-menstrual period. CONCLUSION: Our data show a high prevalence of PMS among athletes.

Neuro-Immuno-Endocrine Modulation in Marathon Runners

Objective: Sports practice alters the homeostasis of athletes. To achieve homeostatic equilibrium, the integrated action of the neuroendocrine and immune systems is necessary. Here we studied the relation between cytokines, hormones and mood states in marathon runners. Methods: A total of 20 male recreational marathon runners (mean age = 35.7 ± 9 years) and 20 male sedentary individuals (mean age = 35.5 ± 7 years) were recruited. We compared the serum levels of growth hormone (GH), cortisol and interleukins 8 and 10 and the amounts of these two cytokines spontaneously produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blood samples of the sedentary group were collected at rest. Blood from the marathon runners was collected at rest (baseline: 24 h before the race), immediately after a marathon and 72 h after a marathon. Mood state analysis in both groups was performed using the 24-item Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS). Results: Our results showed that, at rest, levels of interleukins 8 and 10 in the supernatant of culture cells, the serum concentration of GH, and tension and vigour (evaluated using the BRUMS), were significantly higher in athletes compared to sedentary people. Immediately after the race all serum parameters analysed were statistically higher than baseline values. At 72 h after the marathon, serum levels of hormones and interleukins returned to values at rest, but the concentrations of interleukins in the supernatant of culture cells showed a significant reduction compared to values at rest. Conclusion: The higher serum levels of GH in athletes at rest and the higher production of cytokines in culture without previous stimulus suggest that marathon runners present mechanisms that may be associated with preparing the body to perform prolonged strenuous exercise, such as a marathon.

Incidência de lesão musculoesquelética sem trauma em atletas de handebol

O atleta competitivo muitas vezes apresenta lesoes musculoesqueleticas, algumas de natureza nao traumatica. Habitualmente, tais lesoes sao atribuidas a fatores mecânicos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar um grupo de atletas de handebol e verificar uma possivel acao de fatores imune-inflamatorios e hormonais na genese destas lesoes. Procedeu-se a avaliacao dos parâmetros laboratoriais, dosando-se a concentracao plasmatica de hormonios e neurotransmissores e a producao in vitro de citocinas e prostaglandina E2. Os resultados permitem afirmar que em 29% dos atletas estudados foi possivel constatar a ocorrencia de lesoes musculoesqueleticas nao traumaticas, que puderam ser relacionadas com o aumento da producao de citocinas pro-inflamatorias, com elevacao das concentracoes de IL-1, IL-2, TNF-α e IFN-α. Nesta mesma cultura foi possivel demonstrar aumento da concentracao de prostaglandina E2.

Aerobic exercise in polluted urban environments: effects on airway defense mechanisms in young healthy amateur runners

In this study, the effects of aerobic exercise on the upper airways and their defense mechanisms were investigated in athletes. The athletes ran in two different environments: the downtown streets of the city of São Paulo (Street), more polluted, and an urban forest (Forest), less polluted. Thirty-eight young healthy athletes ran for 45 min d-1 randomly during five consecutive days, with an interval of 48 h before changing environment. Clinical parameters and respiratory tract defense markers were evaluated before and after the first run on Mondays (1 d) and on Fridays (5 d). Street presented higher mean PM2.5 concentrations (65.1  ±  39.1 µg m-3, p  <  0.001) and lower temperature (22.0 °C, p  =  0.010) than Forest (22.6  ±  15.3 µg m-3 and 22.8 °C). After 1 d Street running, subjects showed an increment in heart rate (p  <  0.001). At day 5, there was twice the number of athletes with impaired nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) in the Street runners group when compared to the Forest runners group. Exhaled breath condensate pH values increased in the Forest group, with significant differences between groups in day 1 (p  =  0.006) and day 5 (p  <  0.001), despite the fact that both groups showed values within the normal range. After exposure to both environments, the number of cells in the nasal lavage fluid was reduced after exercise (p  =  0.014), without alterations in cell type and IL-8 and IL-10 concentrations. Aerobic exercise can either maintain or acutely enhance MCC and it may help to regulate inflammatory responses in the airways. Here we show that exercise practice in polluted outdoor environment, over a 5 d period, impairs MCC. In contrast, athletes running in the less polluted environment (Forest) show higher exhaled breath condensate pH values when compared to those who exercised in a more polluted environment (Street).

Exercise Training Improves Plasma Lipid and Inflammatory Profiles and Increases Cholesterol Transfer to High-Density Lipoprotein in Elderly Women

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Does acute swimming exercise alter the bioavailability of the radiopharmaceutical technetium-99m methylenediphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) in Wistar rats?

Experimental models have aided to understand the mechanism and the exercise effects on biological systems. To evaluate the effects of acute swimming exercise on the bioavailability of the radiopharmaceutical technetium-99m methylenediphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) used for bone scintigraphy, the rats were divided into control, sedentary, and exercised groups. Sedentary and exercised groups were adapted to water for 2 weeks (5 min/day, 5 days/week). After that, the exercised groups (EG) were submitted to acute swimming exercise for 5, 10 or 20 min (loads of 5% of body weight), and then all animals were anaesthetized, 99mTc-MDP was administered and after 180 min the animals were sacrificed. Blood and organs were removed, the radioactivity was determined in a well counter and the percentage per gram of tissue of injected dose (%ID/g) was calculated. The findings showed a significant decrease of %ID/g in the hearts of the sedentary group, EG-5min, EG-10min and EG-20min when compared to the control group, in the bones of EG-20min when compared to the control group, and in the lungs of EG-5min and EG-10min when compared to the control group. These findings could be associated with specific modifications of the metabolism in certain organs, which are highly relevant when evaluations of the bone using 99mTc-MDP are being carried out.