Experimental Model of Arthritis Induced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in Rats

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a disease caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb), is highly prevalent in Brazil, where it is the principal cause of death by systemic mycoses. The disease primarily affects men aged 30-50 year old and usually starts as a pulmonary focus and then may spread to other organs and systems, including the joints. The present study aimed to develop an experimental model of paracoccidioidomycotic arthritis. Two-month-old male Wistar rats (n = 48) were used, divided in 6 groups: test groups EG/15 and EG/45 (received one dose of 100 μl of saline containing 10(5) Pb viable yeasts in the knee); heat killed Pb-group HK/15 and HK/45 (received a suspension of 10(5) Pb nonviable yeasts in the knee) and control groups CG/15 and CG/45 (received only sterile saline in the knee). The rats were killed 15 and 45 days postinoculation. In contrast with the control rats, the histopathology of the joints of rats of the test groups (EG/15 and EG/45) revealed a picture of well-established PCM arthritis characterized by extensive sclerosing granulomatous inflammation with numerous multiple budding fungal cells. The X-ray examination revealed joint alterations in these groups. Only metabolic active fungi evoked inflammation. The experimental model was able to induce fungal arthritis in the knees of the rats infected with metabolic active P. brasiliensis. The disease tended to be regressive and restrained by the immune system. No evidence of fungal dissemination to the lungs was observed.     

Nitration of Tyrosine by Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitrite

Peroxynitrite anion is a powerful oxidant which can initiate nitration and hydroxylation of aromatic rings. Peroxynitrite can be formed in several ways, e.g. from the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide or from hydrogen peroxide and nitrite at acidic pH. We investigated pH dependent nitration and hydroxylation resulting from the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and nitrite to determine if this reaction proceeds at pH values which are known to occur in vivo. Nitration and hydroxylation products of tyrosine and salicylic acid were separated with an HPLC column and measured using ultraviolet and electrochemical detectors. These studies revealed that this reaction favored hydroxylation between pH 2 and pH4, while nitration was predominant between pH 5 and pH 6. Peroxynitrite is presumed to be an intermediate in this reaction as the hydroxylation and nitration profiles of authentic peroxynitrite showed similar pH dependence. These findings indicate that hydrogen peroxide and nitrite interact at hydrogen ion concentrations present under some physiologic conditions. This interaction can initiate nitration and hydroxylation of aromatic molecules such as tyrosine residues and may thereby contribute to the biochemical and toxic effects of the molecules.     

Nitration of Tyrosine by Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitrite

Peroxynitrite anion is a powerful oxidant which can initiate nitration and hydroxylation of aromatic rings. Peroxynitrite can be formed in several ways, e.g. from the reaction of nitric oxide with superoxide or from hydrogen peroxide and nitrite at acidic pH. We investigated pH dependent nitration and hydroxylation resulting from the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and nitrite to determine if this reaction proceeds at pH values which are known to occur in vivo. Nitration and hydroxylation products of tyrosine and salicylic acid were separated with an HPLC column and measured using ultraviolet and electrochemical detectors. These studies revealed that this reaction favored hydroxylation between pH 2 and pH4, while nitration was predominant between pH 5 and pH 6. Peroxynitrite is presumed to be an intermediate in this reaction as the hydroxylation and nitration profiles of authentic peroxynitrite showed similar pH dependence. These findings indicate that hydrogen peroxide and nitrite interact at hydrogen ion concentrations present under some physiologic conditions. This interaction can initiate nitration and hydroxylation of aromatic molecules such as tyrosine residues and may thereby contribute to the biochemical and toxic effects of the molecules.     

HAX-1抑制过氧化氢诱发的乳腺癌细胞MCF-7凋亡

目的：应用RNA干扰（RNAi）技术特异地干扰HAX-1在乳腺癌细胞MCF-7中的表达,研究其在过氧化氢诱导的细胞凋亡中的作用。方法：应用载体pSR-GFP／Neo构建针对HAX-1基因的小干扰RNA（siRNA）表达质粒;转染MCF-7细胞,G418筛选稳定细胞系,Western blot鉴定筛选的细胞克隆;用流式细胞仪检测筛选的细胞系在过氧化氢条件下的凋亡率。结果：电泳和测序证实合成的siRNA序列正确并准确克隆到pSR-GFP／Neo载体中;Western blot证实获得MCF-7／HAX-1 siRNA稳定细胞株,其HAX-1蛋白水平降低95％左右;用1mmol／L过氧化氢处理获得的稳定细胞株8h,细胞凋亡率明显高于对照组。结论：HAX-1能够保护乳腺癌细胞MCF-7免于过氧化氢诱导的细胞凋亡。     

H2O2致体外培养动脉内皮细胞损伤及山莨菪碱保护

目的:实验以过氧化氢(H2O2)损伤体外培养动脉内皮细胞(AEC),对过氧化氢介导内皮细胞损伤、凋亡的机制进行探讨,观察山莨菪碱(Ani)是否抑制H2O2介导的AEC损伤、凋亡,并探讨Ani保护损伤、凋亡的机制.方法:体外培养AEC随机分组:对照组(正常培养AEC);H2O2损伤组(0.5 mmol/L H2O2损伤12 h);Ani组(不同浓度Ani:0.05,0.1,0.2 mg/mL处理45 min后加0.5 mmol/L H2O2损伤12 h).结果:1.低浓度H2O2(0.5 mmol/L)可以损伤AEC并诱导凋亡.H2O2损伤组台盼蓝着染率及LDH释放率均高于对照组(P<0.01);细胞总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)下降(比对照组P<0.01);琼脂糖凝胶电泳发现凋亡细胞的梯状电泳条带;细胞荧光染色见凋亡形态特征.2.Ani对H2O2诱导的内皮细胞损伤具保护作用.Ani组与H2O2损伤组比较,台盼蓝着染率及LDH释放率下降;T-AOC上升;在Ani 0.2 mg/mL组DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳未见凋亡细胞特征性的梯状电泳条带;荧光染色未见凋亡细胞特征.结论:1.低浓度过氧化氢使AEC总抗氧化能力明显下降,耗竭细胞抗氧化能力,可致AEC的损伤、凋亡.2.山莨菪碱能减少AEC抗氧化能力的消耗,维持抗氧化能力平衡,保护0.5 mmol/L H2O2 介导的AEC损伤、凋亡.     

Hydrogen Peroxide and the Proliferation of Bhk-21 Cells

Intracellular levels of H2O2 in BHK-21 cells are not static but decline progressively with cell growth. Exposure of cells to inhibitors of catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, not only diminishes this decline but also depresses rates of cell proliferation, suggesting important growth regulatory roles for those antioxidant enzymes. Other agents which also diminish the growth-associated decline in intracellular levels of H₂O₂, such as the superoxide dismutase mimic, copper II—(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate)₂, or docosahexaenoic acid, also reduced cell proliferation. In contrast, proliferation can be stimulated by the addition of 1 μM exogenous H₂O₂ to the culture medium. Under these conditions, however, intracellular levels of H₂O₂ are unaffected, whereas there is a reduction in intracellular levels of glutathione. It is argued that critical balances between intracellular levels of both H₂O₂ and glutathione are of significance in relation both to growth stimulation and inhibition. In addition growth stimulatory concentrations of H₂O₂, whilst initially leading to increased intracellular levels of lipid peroxidation breakdown products, appear to “trigger” their metabolism, possibly through aldehyde dehydrogenase, whose activity is also stimulated by H₂O₂     

Cell wall composition of the yeast and mycelial forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Isolation and chemical analyses of the cell walls of the yeast (Y form) and mycelial forms (M form) of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Blastomyces dermatitidis revealed that their chemical composition is similar and depends on the form. Lipids, chitin, glucans, and proteins are the main constituents of the cell walls of both forms of these fungi. There is no significant difference in the amount of lipids (5 to 10%) and glucans (36 to 47%) contained by the two forms. In both fungi, the Y form has a larger amount of chitin (37 to 48%) than the M form (7 to 18%), whereas the M form has a larger amount of proteins (24 to 41%) than the Y form (7 to 14%). Several properties of the glucan of P. brasiliensis were studied. Almost all of the glucan in the Y form was soluble in 1 n NaOH, was weakly positive in the periodic acid-Schiff reaction, was not hydrolyzed by snail digestive juice, and had alpha-glycosidic linkage. Glucans of the M form were divided into alkali-soluble (60 to 65%) and alkali-insoluble (35 to 40%) types. The alkali-soluble glucan was similar to that of the Y form; the alkali-insoluble glucan was positive in the periodic acid-Schiff reaction and was hydrolyzed by snail digestive juice.     

Cell Wall Glucans of the Yeast and Mycelial Forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Glucans were isolated from the cell wall of the yeast (Y) and mycelial (M) forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The alkali-soluble glucan of the Y form had properties of alpha-1,3-glucan. The alkali-insoluble glucan of the M form was identified as a beta-glucan which contains a beta-(1 --> 3)-glycosidic linkage by infrared absorption spectrum, by effect of beta-1,3-glucanase, and by partial acid hydrolysis. The alkali-soluble glucans of the M form were a mixture of alpha- and beta-glucans and the ratio of alpha- to beta-glucan was variable, depending on the preparations.     

Ultrastructure of Dimorphic Transformation in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The fine structure of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis undergoing temperature-dependent transformation from mycelium to yeast and vice versa (M right harpoon over left harpoon Y) was studied. The transitional form to mycelium from the yeast appears as an elongated bud that extends from the yeast and which has a mixture of characteristics from both the yeast and the mycelium. The transitional form to yeast from the mycelium starts with enlargement of the interseptal spaces and cracking of the outer electron-dense layer of the cell wall of the hypha. Later the interseptal spaces tend to become round and separate. In M --> Y only few interseptal spaces seem to transform. The yeast is produced by self-transformation of the hypha. In Y --> M a new structure is formed and the yeast dies. Intrahyphal hyphae are observed during the transformation from M --> Y, and intrayeast hyphae during the Y --> M. Due to the high mortality and breakage observed in both types of transformations, we believe that wound of the yeast or the mycelium could elicit this phenomenon.     

Epithelial Sodium Channel Regulates Adult Neural Stem Cell Proliferation in a Flow-Dependent Manner

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Effects on Liver Hydrogen Peroxide Metabolism Induced by Dietary Selenium Deficiency or Excess in Chickens

To determine the relationship between dietary selenium (Se) deficiency or excess and liver hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) metabolism in chickens, 1-day-old chickens received insufficient Se (0.028 mg Se per kg of diet) or excess Se (3.0 or 5.0 mg Se per kg of diet) in their diets for 8 weeks. Body and liver weight changes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, H₂O₂ content, and activities and mRNA levels of enzymes associated with H₂O₂ metabolism (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1–3) were determined in the liver. This study showed that Se deficiency or excess Se intake elicited relative severe changes. Se deficiency decreased growth, while Se excess promoted growth in chickens. Both diets vastly altered the liver function, but no obvious histopathological changes were observed in the liver. Se deficiency significantly lowered SOD and CAT activities, and the H₂O₂ content in the liver and serum increased. Se excess (3.0 mg/kg) decreased SOD and CAT activities with changes in their mRNA levels, and the H₂O₂ content increased. The larger Se excess (5.0 mg/kg) showed more serious effects but was not fatal. These results indicated that the H₂O₂ metabolism played a destructive role in the changes in bird liver function induced by Se deficiency or excess.     

Cytochemical Localization of Hydrogen Peroxide in Lignifying Cell Walls

The presence of endogenous H₂O₂ was demonstrated at the electronmicroscope level with the CeCl₃ technique in lignifying cellwalls of poplar. Reaction product was precisely located in thevery same walls which could oxidize hydrogen donors in the absenceof exogeneous H₂O₂. As evidenced by these results, peroxidasesare truly involved in the polymerisation of lignin monomerseven if other oxidases may participate in this biosyntheticpathway.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press Cytochemistry, hydrogen peroxide, lignification, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, Populus x euramericana, poplar     

Cell Wall Changes During the Budding Process of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Blastomyces dermatitidis

The difference between the budding process of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Blastomyces dermatitidis is reported herein. A characteristic feature in P. brasiliensis is that the optical density of the cell wall increases at the site where budding begins and at the neck of the dividing cell, whereas B. dermatitidis does not undergo this alteration. The neck which is formed between the mother and daughter cell at the site of division is much wider in B. dermatitidis than in P. brasiliensis. The bud scar in P. brasiliensis appears as a truncated cone, the top of which is covered only by the inner layer of the cell wall; in comparison, in B. dermatitidis the bud scar exhibits a flattened surface covered by the cell wall. Both fungi show an increase in the number of mitochondria and infoldings of the cytoplasmic membrane at the site of separation, which indicates that at this site there is an increase of metabolic activity.     

Nutritional studies on a methionine-requiring strain of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Strain IVIC-Pb9, unlike other strains ofParacoccidioides brasiliensis, cannot grow on a simple basal medium and requires the addition of casein hydrolyzate or yeast extract. The present study shows that this requirement is limited to very low concentrations of methionine and that methionine concentrations above 0.01% inhibit growth. The levels of glucose and organic nitrogen required for maximum rate of growth of strain IVIC-Pb9 on both basal medium and GGY medium composed of glucose, glycine and yeast extract were also determined. An evaluation of the suitability of the GGY medium revealed that its composition, as commonly used to grow dimorphic fungi, is not adequate to obtain a maximum rate of growth with strain IVIC-Pb9 ofP. brasiliensis.     

Accumulation of Oxidatively Induced DNA Damage in Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Following Treatment with Hydrogen Peroxide

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Although the causes of this disease are largely unknown, inefficient repair of oxidatively induced DNA lesions has been thought to play a major role in the transformation of normal breast tissue to malignant breast tissue. Previous studies have revealed higher levels of 8-hydroxyguanine in malignant breast tissue compared to non-malignant breast tissue. Furthermore, some breast cancer cell lines have greatly reduced capacity to repair this lesion suggesting that oxidatively induced DNA lesions may be elevated in breast cancer cells. We used liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to measure the levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyadenosine, (5’S)-8,5’-cyclo-2’-deoxyadenosine, 2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine, and 4,6-diamino-5-formamidopyrimidine in MCF-7 and HCC1937 breast cancer cell lines before and after exposure to H2O2 followed by a DNA repair period. We show that H2O2-treated HCC1937 and MCF-7 cell lines accumulate significantly higher levels of these lesions than the untreated cells despite a 1 h repair period. In contrast, the four lesions did not accumulate to any significant level in H2O2-treated non-malignant cell lines, AG11134 and HCC1937BL. Furthermore, MCF-7 and HCC1937 cell lines were deficient in the excision repair of all the four lesions studied. These results suggest that oxidatively induced DNA damage and its repair may be critical in the etiology of breast cancer.     

Morphogenesis of the mycelium-to-yeast transformation in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The sequential changes observed during the mycelium to yeast transformation in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were studied microscopically. The mycelial elements produced terminal and intercalary swellings which, later on, became chlamydospore-like structures. These increased in size, acquired a double contour and, finally, gave rise to multiple budding cells. Transformation was asynchronous. During the observation period, multiple budding cells and chlamydospores remained attached to the parent mycelium.     

Hydrogen Peroxide Contributes to the Epithelial Cell Death Induced by the Oral Mitis Group of Streptococci

Members of the mitis group of streptococci are normal inhabitants of the commensal flora of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract of humans. Some mitis group species, such as Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus sanguinis, are primary colonizers of the human oral cavity. Recently, we found that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced by S. oralis is cytotoxic to human macrophages, suggesting that streptococcus-derived H₂O₂ may act as a cytotoxin. Since epithelial cells provide a physical barrier against pathogenic microbes, we investigated their susceptibility to infection by H₂O₂-producing streptococci in this study. Infection by S. oralis and S. sanguinis was found to stimulate cell death of Detroit 562, Calu-3 and HeLa epithelial cell lines at a multiplicity of infection greater than 100. Catalase, an enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of H₂O₂, inhibited S. oralis cytotoxicity, and H₂O₂ alone was capable of eliciting epithelial cell death. Moreover, S. oralis mutants lacking the spxB gene encoding pyruvate oxidase, which are deficient in H₂O₂ production, exhibited reduced cytotoxicity toward Detroit 562 epithelial cells. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that both S. oralis and H₂O₂ induced interleukin-6 production in Detroit 562 epithelial cells. These results suggest that streptococcal H₂O₂ is cytotoxic to epithelial cells, and promotes bacterial evasion of the host defense systems in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tracts.     

Immunoblotting of soluble antigens in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis culture

This study investigated the major soluble antigens produced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb339) cultured in solid Sabouraud (pH 5.6 and 8.5), Sabouraud plus brain heart infusion and liquid tomato juice‐enriched complex medium media at intervals of 3 days over 30 days by immunoblotting and concluded that, to optimize the source of each antigen, both time and growth conditions should be considered.     

Evaluation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Infection in Dairy Goats

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis that affects mainly rural workers in Brazil and other Latin American countries. The participation of domestic and wild animal species in the ecoepidemiology of paracoccidioidomycosis is not well understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate P. brasiliensis infection in dairy goats. The humoral immune response to the gp43 antigen, the main antigen used for paracoccidioidomycosis serodiagnosis and seroepidemiology, was evaluated in two goats immunized with inactivated P. brasiliensis yeast cells. Both animals produced antibodies against the P. brasiliensis gp43 antigen, detected by ELISA, 2 weeks after immunization. A total of 202 goat serum samples were analyzed by ELISA and the immunodiffusion test using P. brasiliensis gp43 and exoantigen as antigens. The seropositivity observed by ELISA was 26.2 % although no reactivity was detected by immunodiffusion. The animals over 18 months of age showed significantly higher positivity (40 %) than animals aged 6–18 months (14.8 %) and 0–6 months (2.6 %). Taking into account that cross-reactivity may occur with other pathogens, the serum samples were also analyzed by ELISA using Histoplasma capsulatum exoantigen as antigen and the positivity observed was 14.3 %. The low correlation (0.267) observed between reactivity to P. brasiliensis gp43 and H. capsulatum exoantigen suggests co-infection rather than cross-reactivity. This is the first report showing serological evidence of P. brasiliensis infection in goats and reinforces that domestic animals are useful epidemiological markers of paracoccidioidomycosis.