5-Lipoxygenase is a key determinant of acute myocardial inflammation and mortality during Trypanosoma cruzi infection

This study provides evidence supporting the idea that although inflammatory cells migration to the cardiac tissue is necessary to control the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi, the excessive influx of such cells during acute myocarditis may be deleterious to the host. Production of lipid mediators of inflammation like leukotrienes (LTs) along with cytokines and chemokines largely influences the severity of inflammatory injury in response to tissue parasitism. T. cruzi infection in mice deficient in 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of LTs and other lipid inflammatory mediators, resulted in transiently increased parasitemia, and improved survival rate compared with WT mice. Myocardia from 5-LO^?/? mice exhibited reduced inflammation, collagen deposition, and migration of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, and IFN-γ-producer cells compared with WT littermates. Moreover, decreased amounts of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and nitric oxide synthase were found in the hearts of 5-LO^?/? mice. Interestingly, despite of early higher parasitic load, 5-LO^?/? mice survived, and controlled T. cruzi infection. These results show that efficient parasite clearance is possible in a context of moderate inflammatory response, as occurred in 5-LO^?/? mice, in which reduced myocarditis protects the animals during T. cruzi infection.     

The cleavage of the Met-Lys bond in a bradykinin derivative by glandular kallikreins

The synthetic tridecapeptide Gly-Leu-Met-Lys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg was used as a model substrate for horse urinary and porcine pancreatic kallikreins. The Met-Lys bond is hydrolyzed selectively by both enzymes. Oxidation of the methionine residue to sulfoxide made the peptide resistant to both kallikreins. Substitution of either the methionine or lysine residues by norleucine led to peptides in which the Nle-Lys or the Met-Nle bonds, respectively, were susceptible to the urinary kallikrein. The esterolytic and Met-Lys bond-splitting activities of both enzymes were inhibited similarly by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride. Both activities of the pancreatic kallikrein were inhibited by the chloromethane derivative Ala-Leu-Lys-CH2Cl. Inhibition by benzamidine of Met-Lys hydrolysis by both kallikreins was observed.     

Pharmacological evidence supporting a role for IL-1, IL-2 and serotonin in the inflammation induced by Schistosoma mansoni Soluble Egg Antigen (SEA) in rat paws.

THIS study intended to characterize pharmacologically the mediator(s) released in the inflammation induced by Soluble Egg Antigen (SEA), the main antigen released from eggs of Schistosoma mansoni, in rat hindpaws. A single intraplantar injection of 0.1-100 microg SEA at day zero induced a dose-dependent increase in the volume of rat hindpaws characterizing an oedema of quick onset (within 15 min) and 4h-duration, which was confirmed by histopathological analysis of the paws. A second injection of SEA in the same paw (1-10 microg) 28 days later induced an increased dose-dependent oedematogenic response. The early oedematogenic response following SEA sensitization was derived from serotonin release and interleukin-1 (IL-1), since treatment with either pizotifen or an antibody against IL-1, reduced the response by 60% and 48%, respectively. The increased oedematogenic response derived from SEA-challenge (10 microg) of rat paws derived from a local rather than systemic reaction, since it was not observed if the sensitization was in the contralateral paw or the peritoneal cavity of the animals. Chronic treatment with inhibitors of IL-2 synthesis/release such as cyclosporin or dexamethasone during the sensitization phase reduced the oedematogenic response due to SEA challenge by 51% and 55%, respectively. These data suggested that SEA-challenge was immune-derived and dependent of IL-2 release. It is discussed the association between cytokine release and the resistance of rats to S. mansoni infection.     

Effects of marine organisms extracts on microtubule integrity and cell cycle progression in cultured cells

Marine organisms have been reported to be a rich source of biologically active compounds, but when compared with plants, their use is much more restrict in popular medicine. Among marine animals, sponges and ascidians are two of the most prominent sources of new compounds with cytotoxic potential. In this study, we tested 40 extracts of marine sponges and ascidians from southeastern Brazilian coast aiming to evaluate their anti-proliferative effects on cultured cells. The extracts of Amorphinopsis sp., Arenosclera brasilensis, Cystodytes dellechiajei, Cliona aff. celata, Didemnum sp., Hadromerida and Scopalina ruetzleri showed an IC₅₀≤30 μg/mL and produce strong effects on microtubules organization and on the cell cycle progression.     

Comparative morphology of the oocyte surface and early development in four characiformes from the São Francisco River,Brazil

Early development from the egg fertilization to complete resorption of the yolk‐sac is a critical period in the life cycle of teleost fish. Knowledge of this process provides essential parameters for aquaculture and identification of spawning sites in the wild. In the present study, a comparative morphological analysis of the oocyte surface as well as early development was performed in four commercially valuable species from the São Francisco River: Brycon orthotaenia, Leporinus obtusidens, Prochilodus argenteus, and Salminus franciscanus. Stripped oocytes, embryo, and yolk‐sac larvae were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histology. A set of 10 lectins was used for investigation of lectin‐binding pattern in oocytes. In the four species, the outer layer of the zona radiata reacted to most lectins, indicating complex polysaccharides at the oocyte surface while no reactivity was detected in the inner zona radiata and yolk globules. Typical structural arrangements were recognized at the micropylar region by SEM. The four species showed nonadhesive eggs, short embryonic period (18–20 h at 24 ± 1°C), and poorly developed larvae at hatching. At 24 h posthatching (hph), larvae of the four species had neuromasts on the body surface. Rudimentary cement glands for larval attachment were identified on the cephalic region at 24 and 48 hph in B. orthotaenia and S. franciscanus, and following they were in regression. The time for whole yolk resorption varied among species from 48 to 120 hph, occurring earlier in S. franciscanus, followed by B. orthotaenia, P. argenteus, and L. obtusidens. The formation of the digestive tract and the mouth opening indicated initiation of exogenous feeding 24 h before complete resorption of the yolk. Together, our data indicate similarities in the early development among species that may be related to the life cycle strategies and phylogeny. J. Morphol. 276:1258–1272, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Rhizonema sequoiae n.gen. n.sp. from Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens (D.Don) Endl.

Rhizonema sequoiae n.gen, u. sp. is described from the roots of Coast Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl., growing near Lake Lagunitas, Marin County, California. Rhizonema females are annulated over their entire bodies, are wholly embedded in host tissue, and secrete an abundant amount of gel material. Mature females do not form a cyst. The vulva is located on a large posterior terminal cone, and the anus is on the dorsal vulval lip. Esophageal glands of the second-stage larvae fill more than half of the body cavity. Tails of the vermiform males are blunt, and a cloacal tubus is present.     

Effect of sex and bright coloration on survival and predator‐induced wing damage in an aposematic lantern fly with startle display

1. Aposematic coloration in prey promotes its survival by conspicuously advertising unpalatability to predators. Although classical examples of aposematic signals involve constant presentation of a signal at a distance, some animals suddenly display warning colours only when they are attacked. 2. Characteristics of body parts suddenly displayed, such as conspicuous coloration or eyespot pattern, may increase the survival of the prey by startling the predator, and/or by signalling unpalatability to the predators at the moment of attack. 3. The adaptive value of such colour patterns suddenly displayed by unpalatable prey has not been studied. We experimentally blackened the red patch in the conspicuous red–white–black hindwing pattern displayed by an unpalatable insect Lycorma delicatula White (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in response to predator's attack. 4. There was no evidence that the presence of the red patch increased prey survival over several weeks. We hypothesise that predators generalised from the red–white–black patches on the hindwings of unpalatable L. delicatula to any similar wing display as a signal of unpalatability. Because a higher proportion of males than females stay put at their resting sites, displaying their wings in response to repeated attacks by predators, wing damage was more frequent in males than in females. 5. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental test of an adaptive role of aposematic signals presented by unpalatable prey during sudden displays triggered by direct predatory attack.