Paula Fernanda Massini

Predominance of Th1 response, increase of megakaryocytes and Kupffer cells are related to survival in Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice treated with Lycopodium clavatum.

We investigated the number of megakaryocytes, Kupffer cells and ratios of Th1/Th2 and Th1/Th17 cytokines in survival of mice infected with Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi and treated with Lycopodium clavatum. In a blind, randomized and controlled assay, Swiss male mice, 8weeks-old, infected with 1400 trypomastigotes (Y strain) were divided into groups and treated with: GLy - Lycopodium clavatum dynamization13c and GCI - alcohol solution 7° GL (vehicle medicine). The treatment was offered two days before infection and on the 2nd, 4th and 6th days after infection, overnight (1mL/100mL) and ad libitum. Parameters assessed were: survival rate, number of megakaryocytes and Kupffer cells, cytokines dosage (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17), Th1/Th2 and Th1/Th17 ratios. The increase in megakaryocytes, Kupffer cells, predominance of Th1 response, with increased TNF-α, IL-10, TNF-α/IL-4, TNF-α/IL-17 and decreased IL-6 IL-6/IL-4, are related to increased survival in mice infected with T. cruzi and treated with Lycopodium clavatum 13c. This result demonstrates the possibility of an alternative approach for the treatment of Chagas disease with dynamized drugs.

Histopathological lesions in encephalon and heart of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii increase after Lycopodium clavatum 200dH treatment

In many cases, symptoms of toxoplasmosis are mistaken for the ones of other infectious diseases. Clinical signs are rare in immunocompetent people. However, when they arise, in the acute phase of infection, several organs are affected due to the rapid spread of tachyzoites through the bloodstream. In the present study, the reduction of tachyzoites in peripheral blood of mice of G72 (infected 72h after treatment) and G48 (infected 48h after treatment and treated three more times), when compared with IC (infected and non-treated), suggests protective effect exerted by Lycopodium clavatum. If on the one hand L. clavatum brought benefits, reducing parasitemia, on the other hand, the parasitism became exacerbated. Histopathological analysis demonstrated focal, multifocal and diffuse inflammatory infiltrates, ranging from absent, discreet, moderate to intense, in heart and encephalon of mice of NIC (non-infected and non-treated), IC, G48 and G72 groups, respectively. In the perivascular region and meninges, the injuries were enlarged. The presence of tachyzoites was demonstrated through immunohistochemical (IHC) assay in myocardium. Toxoplasma gondii induced increase of collagen fibers in myocardium of mice of G72 and G48 groups, compared with IC (p<0.05) and NIC (p<0.001). The presence of inflammatory infiltrates, as well as the progressive fibrosis, caused myocardial remodeling in animals treated with L. clavatum. Counterstaining with H&E suggests TGF-β expression by mononuclear cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. Based on our results, we can conclude that the adopted regimen and potency exerted a protective effect, reducing parasitemia. However, it intensified the histopathological lesions in encephalon and heart of mice infected with T. gondii.

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.