Silvia G. Correa

Evidence of a role for galectin‐1 in acute inflammation

Galectin‐1 (Gal‐1), a member of a family of β‐galactoside‐binding proteins, has been suggested to play key roles in immunological and inflammatory processes. The present study deals with the concept of an in vivo role for Gal‐1 in acute inflammation by using the rat hind paw edema test. Local administration of Gal‐1 (0.5, 2, 4 and 8u2004μgu2009/u2009ml) inhibited acute inflammation induced by bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) when it was injected 30u2004min before the enzyme or co‐injected together with PLA2. The anti‐inflammatory effect was prevented by a specific antibody, but independent of its carbohydrate‐binding properties. In contrast, Gal‐1 failed to inhibit histamine‐induced edema. Histopathological studies showed a clear reduction of the inflammatory process when Gal‐1 was injected before PLA2, evidenced by a diminished number of infiltrated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and scarce degranulated mast cells. The anti‐inflammatory effect was also assessed in vitro, showing that Gal‐1 treatment reduced prostaglandin E2 secretion and arachidonic acid release from stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Results presented here provide the first evidence for a role of Gal‐1 in acute inflammation and suggest that the anti‐inflammatory effect involves the inhibition of both soluble and cellular mediators of the inflammatory response.

Local and systemic activity of the polysaccharide chitosan at lymphoid tissues after oral administration

Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide derived from the partial deacetylation of chitin, which exhibits particular properties: interacts with negatively charged sites on the cell surface; changes the permeability of intestinal epithelium, enhancing the uptake of peptides and proteins; and activates leukocytes. Antigens coadministered or encapsulated with the polysaccharide show improved mucosal and systemic humoral immune responses, although the mechanism is poorly understood. Herein, we characterized in Peyer’s patches mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen molecular events triggered after oral administration of chitosan in the absence of protein antigen. Sixteen hours after feeding, we studied the uptake and distribution of the polysaccharide, the phenotype of recruited antigen‐presenting cells (APC), the induction of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)‐12, IL‐4, IL‐10, and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), and the activation of T lymphocytes. We show here that the uptake of chitosan at inductive mucosal sites involves CD11b/c+ APC and that chitosan feeding increases the percentage of OX62+ dendritic cells, which up‐regulate the major histocompatibility complex class II antigens without changing the expression of costimulatory CD80 or CD86 molecules. The polysaccharide elicits the release of IL‐10 as well as the expression of IL‐4 and TGF‐β in mucosa, and in spleen, the activation of CD3+ T cells occurs. Our results demonstrate that chitosan acts by enhancing the T helper cell type 2 (Th2)/Th3 microenvironment in the mucosa. A single dose of this polysaccharide exhibits local and systemic effects, and its activity could be relevant in the maintenance of the intestinal homeostasis.

Chitosan induces different L-arginine metabolic pathways in resting and inflammatory macrophages.

Chitosan is a linear polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and deacetylated glucosamine widely used as a wound-healing accelerator in clinical and veterinary medicine. Chitosan enhances the functions of inflammatory cells such as macrophages (Mphi), inducing the production of cytokines as well as the expression of activation markers, Fc receptors and mannose receptor. In this work we studied the effects of chitosan on the arginine metabolic pathways of both resident and inflammatory (proteose-peptone elicited) rat Mphi. Our results show that low molecular weight (LMW) chitosan activated moderately both the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase pathways in resident Mphi. In inflammatory Mphi treated with chitosan instead, the arginase activity was strongly enhanced. Supernatants of chitosan-stimulated Mphi enhanced the proliferation of the rat cell line C6. These findings suggest that the healing activity of chitosan could rely on the enhanced arginase activity observed in a wound-associated inflammatory milieu.

Helminth Antigens Enable CpG-Activated Dendritic Cells to Inhibit the Symptoms of Collagen-induced Arthritis through Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells

Dendritic cells (DC) have the potential to control the outcome of autoimmunity by modulating the immune response. In this study, we tested the ability of Fasciola hepatica total extract (TE) to induce tolerogenic properties in CpG-ODN (CpG) maturated DC, to then evaluate the therapeutic potential of these cells to diminish the inflammatory response in collagen induced arthritis (CIA). DBA/1J mice were injected with TE plus CpG treated DC (T/C-DC) pulsed with bovine collagen II (CII) between two immunizations with CII and clinical scores CIA were determined. The levels of CII-specific IgG2 and IgG1 in sera, the histological analyses in the joints, the cytokine profile in the draining lymph node (DLN) cells and in the joints, and the number, and functionality of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells (Treg) were evaluated. Vaccination of mice with CII pulsed T/C-DC diminished the severity and incidence of CIA symptoms and the production of the inflammatory cytokine, while induced the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The therapeutic effect was mediated by Treg cells, since the adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ T cells, inhibited the inflammatory symptoms in CIA. The in vitro blockage of TGF-β in cultures of DLN cells plus CII pulsed T/C-DC inhibited the expansion of Treg cells. Vaccination with CII pulsed T/C-DC seems to be a very efficient approach to diminish exacerbated immune response in CIA, by inducing the development of Treg cells, and it is therefore an interesting candidate for a cell-based therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Modulation of the inflammatory response by corticotropin-releasing factor.

Peptides of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family have been shown to have either pro- or anti-inflammatory activities. CRF (10-30 micrograms/kg) administered subcutaneously or intravenously could inhibit edema and dye leakage in the rat paw produced by several injuries. These findings are opposed to some results suggesting a predominantly pro-inflammatory effect of CRF mainly in arthritic processes. The purpose of this work was to identify in vivo and in vitro the conditions for the pro- or anti-inflammatory actions of CRF in order to clarify its physiological and pharmacological function. Using the rat paw edema test we observed that only the highest doses of CRF employed (5 micrograms) induced a moderate and sustained swelling. Pre-treatment with low doses of CRF (0.5-5 ng) was able to inhibit the edema induced by Naja naja phospholipase A2, carrageenin or histamine. Higher doses (50 ng-5 micrograms) had no anti-inflammatory activity. When co-inhibited with Naja naja phospholipase A2 or histamine the peptide did not modify the swelling at doses up to 500 ng, showing at 5 micrograms an additive edema with Naja naja phospholipase A2. In vitro, CRF did not modify the release of histamine but slightly increased the release of arachidonic acid to the medium. Our findings show a clear dose dependence on the local effects of CRF in inflammatory responses. These results suggest that the mechanisms of the two dose-related phenomena may be distinct.

In Vivo Immunomodulatory Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav

Several medicinal plants are considered immunomodulatory as they display a variety of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antitumoral effects. Larrea divaricata Cav. (jarilla) (Zygophyllaceae) is a plant widely used in popular medicine to treat tumors, infections, and inflammatory diseases. So far, the immunostimulating activities of Larrea divaricata have not been studied in vivo. In this work, we used healthy mice to assess the immunomodulatory potential of aqueous extracts of Larrea divaricata Cav. We found that Decoction (D) and Infusion (I) from Larrea divaricata Cav showed any acute hepatotoxic activity. Only D at 0.5 mg/kg increased the carrageenan-induced inflammation. Macrophages harvested from treated mice showed no signs of apoptosis. These cells showed a significant increase in NO and TNF-α release and exhibited the strongest expression of iNOS. Decoction also increased the phagocytosis of zymosan and the binding of LPS-FITC. The expression of CD14, TLR4 and CR3 was lower in macrophages of mice treated than in controls. Thus, Larrea divaricata was able to prime Mφ in vivo and to induce full activation in vitro. Our finding contribute to characterize the biological activity of Larrea divaricata and to understand the ability of these extracts to enhance immune responses.

Impaired Activity of Phagocytic Cells in Candida albicans Infection after Exposure to Chronic Varied Stress

Objective: Candidiasis is a prototypic opportunistic fungal disease that may follow severe modulations of the immune system of the host. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which innate immune mechanisms involved in the protection against fungal invasion are impaired under stress conditions. Methods: Wistar rats were infected intraperitoneally with Candida albicans and immediately exposed to chronic varied stress (CVS) over 10 days (CVS; Ca-S); the fungal burden (CFU), histopathological lesion and ACTH levels were evaluated. Additionally, functional assessment of peritoneal cells (PC) included the phagocytic and anticandidacidal activities and the production of H2O2 and NO. Results: In the only infected animals (Ca), C. albicans colonization stimulated an efficient inflammatory response, while in Ca-S rats poor tissue reactions were associated with increased CFU in livers and kidneys (p < 0.05, Ca vs. Ca-S). Whereas the phagocytic process was not modified, the candidacidal activity of PC was significantly decreased after the application of CVS (p < 0.001, Ca vs. Ca-S). The H2O2 production by macrophages and neutrophils was downregulated by the infection, and while at early intervals these cells possessed a residual oxidative capacity, by day 10, the production of this metabolite was blocked. Spontaneous NO production by macrophages was significantly increased in both Ca and Ca-S animals (p < 0.001), but in stressed rats, this reactive nitrogen intermediate was noticeably downregulated (p < 0.05, Ca vs. Ca-S). The hyperactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis after exposure to stress was confirmed by an increase in baseline plasma ACTH levels. Conclusion: These results show that during infection with C. albicans, the exposure to CVS contributes to the spread of the fungus and downregulates critical functions of phagocytic cells involved in the control of this opportunistic pathogen.

MCP-1/CCR2 interactions direct migration of peripheral B and T lymphocytes to the thymus during acute infectious/inflammatory processes

Mature lymphocyte immigration into the thymus has been documented in mouse, rat, and pig models, and highly increases when cells acquire an activated phenotype. Entrance of peripheral B and T cells into the thymus has been described in healthy and pathological situations. However, it has not been proposed that leukocyte recirculation to the thymus could be a common feature occurring during the early phase of a Th1 inflammatory/infectious process when a large number of peripheral cells acquire an activated phenotype and the cellularity of the thymus is seriously compromised. The data we present here demonstrate that in well‐established Th1 models triggered by different types of immunogens, for example, LPS treatment (a bacterial product), Candida albicans infection (a fungus), and after Trypanosoma cruzi infection (a parasite), a large number of mature peripheral B and T cells enter the thymus. This effect is dependent on, but not exclusive of, the available space in the thymus. Our data also demonstrate that MCP‐1/CCR2 (where MCP‐1 is monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1) interaction is responsible for the infiltration of peripheral cells to the thymus in these Th1‐inflammatory/infectious situations. Finally, systemic expression of IL‐12 and IL‐18 produced during the inflammatory process is ultimately responsible for these migratory events.

Coexpression of IL-18 Strongly Attenuates IL-12-Induced Systemic Toxicity through a Rapid Induction of IL-10 without Affecting its Antitumor Capacity

IL-12 is an excellent candidate for the treatment of cancer due to its ability to drive strong antitumor responses. Recombinant IL-12 protein is currently used in cancer patients; however, systemic expression of rIL-12 presents disadvantages including cost and dose limitation due to its toxicity. In this study, we used hydrodynamic shear of cDNA as a tool to achieve systemic expression of IL-12. We found that sustained but toxic levels of serum IL-12 could be generated in 6- to 7-wk-old B6 mice after a single injection of the cDNA. Unexpectedly, we observed that when IL-12 cDNA is coinjected with IL-18 cDNA, IL-12 antitumor activity was maintained, but there was a significant attenuation of IL-12 toxicity, as evidenced by a greater survival index and a diminution of liver enzymes (ALT and AST). Interestingly, after IL-12 plus IL-18 cDNA administration, more rapid and higher IL-10 levels were observed than after IL-12 cDNA treatment alone. To understand the mechanism of protection, we coinjected IL-12 plus IL-10 cDNAs and observed an increase in survival that correlated with diminished serum levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ. Confirming the protective role of early IL-10 expression, we observed a significant decrease in survival in IL-10 knockout mice or IL-10R-blocked B6 mice after IL-12 plus IL-18 treatment. Thus, our data demonstrate that the high and early IL-10 expression induced after IL-12 plus IL-18 cDNA treatment is critical to rapidly attenuate IL-12 toxicity without affecting its antitumor capacity. These data could highly contribute to the design of more efficient/less toxic protocols for the treatment of cancer.

Anti-inflammatory effect of gangliosides in the rat hindpaw edema test

The influence of total brain gangliosides on acute inflammation was investigated using the rat hind paw edema test. Total gangliosides (10 micrograms/paw) inhibited the edema produced by the injection of bee venom phospholipase A2 (5 micrograms/paw) when the lipids were co-injected or injected 15 min before the phospholipase A2. Sulphatide (10 micrograms/paw) did not inhibit the edema but potentiated it. Gangliosides (40 micrograms/paw) inhibited the edema induced by carrageenin 1% when they were injected 1 h before the agent. However, gangliosides (up to 200 micrograms/paw) failed to inhibit the dextran-induced edema. The edema test was also used to investigate the effect of gangliosides on the production of mediators of inflammation by peritoneal adherent macrophages. Gangliosides inhibited the production of mediators of inflammation only when they were incubated with these cells before the stimulation with phospholipase A2 or carrageenin. Gangliosides did not inhibit the production of mediators of inflammation when arachidonic acid was added to the cells. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect observed with gangliosides is mediated by inhibition at or before endogenous phospholipase activity.