RESUMEN
Several studies have reported that molecules extracted from invertebrates have activity against different viruses, even against those that do not infect these organisms in their environment. One of the main mechanisms against pathogens in these organisms is the production of antimicrobial peptides. The objective of this study was to determine whether the coelomic fluid (CF) of the sea urchin Tripneustes depressus has activity against Suid herpesvirus type 1 (SHV-1) and/or rabies virus (RV). We tested the antiviral activity of CF in neutralizing assays and observed 50% inhibition against SHV-1 lytic plaque formation using 33 µg of CF, whereas 21 µg CF was sufficient to obtain more than 90% inhibition for RV. Cytotoxicity to MDBK and BHK-21 cells was found with whole CF yet was eliminated by heating at 56 or 72 °C (even when using 50 µg of heat-inactivated CF supernatant [SN or thermostable fraction]), and SN retained the antiviral effect. In both cases, the antiviral effect was direct and thermostable (SN 56 and 72 °C), and the best inhibition was observed when CF + virus was incubated prior to the addition of the cells. Therefore, the coelomic fluid of T. depressus has antiviral activity against SHV-1 and RV that is direct and stable at 72 °C. We suggest that further assays should be performed using more accurate methods to characterize new molecules with antiviral activity that may result in new drugs.
Asunto(s)
Herpesviridae/crecimiento & desarrollo , Proteínas/farmacología , Virus de la Rabia/crecimiento & desarrollo , Erizos de Mar/química , Animales , Línea Celular , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Pruebas de Neutralización , Replicación Viral/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Among its many functions, prolactin (PRL) participates in immune responses and promotes the activation, differentiation and proliferation of T cells. However, the mechanisms by which PRL regulates regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are still unknown. Our goal was to determine whether PRL plays a role in T(reg) function. We measured the expression of PRL and its receptor in T(reg) and effector T (T(eff)) cells from 15 healthy individuals. We also evaluated the functional activity of T(reg) cells by examining proliferation and cytokine secretion in cells activated with anti-CD3/CD28 in the presence or absence of PRL. We report that T(reg) cells constitutively expressed PRL receptor, whereas T(eff) cells required stimulation with anti-CD3/CD28 to induce PRL receptor expression. Expression of PRL was constitutive in both populations. We found that the addition of PRL inhibited the suppressor effect (proliferation) mediated by T(reg) cells in vitro, reducing suppression from 37.4 to 13% when PRL was added to co-cultures of T(reg) and T(eff) cells (P<0.05). Cultures treated with PRL favoured a Th1 cytokine profile, with increased production of TNF and IFNγ. We report for the first time that PRL receptor expression was constitutive in T(reg) cells but not in T(eff) cells, which require stimulation to induce PRL receptor expression. PRL inhibited the suppressive function of T(reg) cells, apparently through the induced secretion of Th1 cytokines.
Asunto(s)
Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Prolactina/farmacología , Linfocitos T Reguladores/efectos de los fármacos , Linfocitos T Reguladores/inmunología , Adulto , Antígenos CD4/metabolismo , Separación Celular/métodos , Células Cultivadas , Citocinas/metabolismo , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunofenotipificación , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-2/metabolismo , Subunidad alfa del Receptor de Interleucina-7/metabolismo , Persona de Mediana Edad , ARN Mensajero/genética , Receptores de Prolactina/genética , Receptores de Prolactina/metabolismo , Linfocitos T Reguladores/metabolismoRESUMEN
Antiviral activity (99.5% inhibition) against the Autographa californica polyhedrosis nuclear virus AcNPV+GFP was shown by a polypeptide of approximately 10 kDa, isolated from the exoskeleton of Pleuroncodes planipes, the pelagic red crab. This thermo-stable polypeptide retained its anti-viral properties after being exposed to 76 °C for 30 min and showed no apparent cytotoxic effect. Its anti-viral activity was observed when incubated with the virus, previous to the inoculation of cells. Using Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS), this polypeptide showed sequence identity to a fragment of a myohemeritrin-like metalloprotein found in the Scoloplos armiger sea worm (VFYANLDEEHK).
Asunto(s)
Antivirales/química , Antivirales/farmacología , Baculoviridae/efectos de los fármacos , Braquiuros/química , Integumento Común , Proteínas/farmacología , Animales , Proteínas/químicaRESUMEN
The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the etiological agent of human amebiasis. The pathology of the disease starts with the cytolysis of the host target cells by amoebae. It is initiated by the adhesion of trophozoites to the host cells, through surface lectin via specific receptors. These adherence lectins have been demonstrated to be highly conserved, and can be recognised by serum antibodies from patients with invasive amebiasis. Some of these molecules have been used as antigens in serologic studies, which has been very helpful in the diagnosis of invasive intestinal amebiasis. However, false-positive serologic reactivity can occur using E. histolytica extracts and purified antigens. Additional problems are because the extracts display a great enzymatic activity. Several diagnostic methods, using different molecules and techniques, have been described. However, the problem still remains since these tests are not capable of differentiating between amoebic liver abscess (ALA) and intestinal amebiasis.Here, the research has been addressed to the 66-kDa antigen, which is a part of the outer membrane proteins from the E. histolytica strain HM1-IMSS trophozoites. First of all, we characterized the 66-kDa antigen in order to prove the relevance. We found that the 66-kDa antigen is a part of the plasma membranes and is distributed rather homogeneously on the cell surface of trophozoites. Apparently, the 66-kDa antigen is a glycoprotein. Using a monoclonal antibody (MAb), we found 25% of inhibition in the erythrophagocytosis by the trophozoites. Starting form one monoclonal antibody, we prepared an anti-idiotype (anti-Id) antibody reagent, with the purpose of searching for the different expressions of the idiotype between the sera from ALA and the intestinal amebiasis patients. Moreover, we produced the antibody Ab3 that is capable of recognising the 66-kDa antigen; it means that the Ab2 displays the internal image of the antigen. We found that 91.6% of the serum from ALA patients displayed the expression of the Id. In contrast, 15.7% of the E. histolytica asymtomatic cyst carriers displayed the Id expression, 6.6% of the patients with another parasite infection, and 11% of the negative controls (serum from umbilical cords of newborn babies). Our results showed that the expression of the Id could be differentiated among the AHA patients from the other groups with a 91.6% sensibility and 88.3% specificity.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antiidiotipos/inmunología , Antígenos de Protozoos/inmunología , Entamoeba histolytica/inmunología , Entamoeba histolytica/aislamiento & purificación , Entamebiasis/diagnóstico , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Especificidad de Anticuerpos , Antígenos de Protozoos/análisis , Entamebiasis/inmunología , Humanos , Inmunoensayo , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-prolactin autoantibodies and the relationship among anti-prolactin autoantibodies, serum prolactin (PRL) levels and lupus activity in paediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a transversal study. One-hundred and three consecutive paediatric SLE patients were tested for serum anti-PRL autoantibodies and PRL levels. Clinical disease activity was scored using the SLEDAI index. Anti-PRL autoantibodies were measured by means of gel filtration. The frequency of anti-PRL autoantibodies was 6.7% (7/103), on the basis of the amount of immunoreactive PRL eluted in molecular weight fraction corresponding to IgG (150 kDa). No anti-PRL autoantibodies were found in normoprolactinaemic patients. By contrast, 21.8% (7/32) hyperprolactinaemic patients (hPRL) had anti-PRL autoantibodies. There was a correlation between anti-PRL autoantibody and serum levels of PRL (r(s) = 0.98, P = 0.0001). Lupus activity was present in 64/103 (62.1%) patients, without a significant difference in the frequency of anti-PRL autoantibodies when compared to inactive lupus (7.8 vs 5.1%, P > 0.05). Higher levels of serum PRL were associated with lupus activity regardless of other variables (39.6% vs 17.9%, P = 0.05). Patients with anti-PRL autoantibodies had higher levels of serum PRL than those without anti-PRL autoantibody (41.85 vs 17.77 ng/ml, P = 0.01) and significantly different frequency of hPRL (100 vs 26%, r = 0.4531, P < 0.001). We have identified a subset of paediatric SLE patients with hPRL and anti-PRL autoantibodies. Anti-PRL autoantibodies were associated with hPRL state and antibody titres correlated positively with serum PRL levels. These data suggest that anti-PRL autoantibodies could be responsible for hPRL in a subset of SLE patients. An increase in serum PRL levels proved to be related to lupus activity, but there was no statistical relationship between anti-PRL autoantibodies and lupus activity.
Asunto(s)
Autoanticuerpos/sangre , Hiperprolactinemia/inmunología , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/inmunología , Prolactina/inmunología , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/sangre , Masculino , Prolactina/sangre , Índice de Severidad de la EnfermedadRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the general characteristics and methodology of indexed publications by the health staff of the Mexican Social Security Institute in 1997. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Original articles were evaluated. The primary sources included Index Medicus, Current Contents and the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) index. The following information was gathered for each article: affiliation and chief activity of the first author; impact factor of the journal; research type; field of study; topic of study, and methodological conduction. This latter point included congruence between design and objective, reproducibility of methods, applicability of the analysis, and pertinence of the conclusions. RESULTS: A total of 300 original articles was published of which 212 (71%) were available for the present study: full-time investigators (FTI) generated 109 articles and investigators with clinical activities (CAI) wrote 103 articles. The median impact factor of the journals in which FTI published was 1.337 (0.341 to 37.297) and for CAI publications, 0.707 (0.400 to 4.237). Biomedical research predominated in the first group (41%) and clinical investigation in the second (66%). Statistically significant differences were identified for the methodological conduction between groups of investigators. CONCLUSIONS: Descriptive studies and publications in journals without impact factor predominated. The FTI group had the highest bibliographic production of original articles in indexed journals with an impact factor.
Asunto(s)
Academias e Institutos , Bibliometría , Edición/estadística & datos numéricos , Seguridad Social , México , Publicaciones Periódicas como Asunto/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess satisfaction of attendants to a National Meeting on Medical Research in relation with the scientific quality and level of discussion of the research work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An anonymous self-applied questionnaire was handed out to gather opinions about the scientific quality, level of discussion of the research work, and overall satisfaction with the meeting. The studied population included 400 physicians, all of them authors or collaborators of the research work presented. RESULTS: The rate of response was 62% (n = 249). Two hundred and twenty-four approved the scientific quality (90%), and 203 were satisfied with the level of discussion of research (88%); 239 were satisfied with the meeting as a whole (96%). The factors associated with dissatisfaction regarding the quality of the scientific meeting were the masculine gender (OR = 2.7, CI 95% = 0.8-9.l, p = 0.06), having an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree (OR = 2.3, CI 95% = 0.9-5.5, p = 0.03), and having attending prior meetings more than twice (OR = 5.0, CI 95% = 1.5-18.4, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the attendants were satisfied with the scientific quality and discussions of the research work. The masculine gender, having an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree, and prior assistance were the factors associated with dissatisfaction of the scientific quality of the Meeting.
Asunto(s)
Congresos como Asunto , Satisfacción Personal , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , México , Investigación , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
We investigated patients with lupus erythematosus to detect the presence of hyperprolactinemia and to determine it's origin. From the seric specimens obtained in 225 patients with LES, we found 37 (14.5%) with hyperprolactinemia and they were trated with polyethylenglicol, in 11 of 37 patients (29.7%) had a high significance of prolactin precipitation (PRL). The test in gel filtration shown the big-big PRL (Molecular weight > 100 kDa) was the predominant form from PRL seric in these patients and no woman had clinic effects of hyperprolactinemia as galactorrhea and/or amenorrhea. The big-big PRL essence was due to an antibody, with it was found like a immune complex (Ig-PRL). This evidence suggest the patients with LES and hyperprolactinemia have a very high incidence of macroprolactinemia relationated to antibodies anti-PRL, and in spite of the hyperprolactinemia not have clinical effects like amenorrhea and/or galactorrhea, and it is other cause to explain the high incidence of hyperprolactinemia in patients with LES.
Asunto(s)
Hiperprolactinemia/inmunología , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/inmunología , Prolactina/inmunología , Autoanticuerpos , Femenino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
The aim of this revision is to explore the possible role of the prolactin in the immune response. The prolactin is a hormone secreted by the pituitary. However, it has a trophic function in the proliferation of the lymphocytes. The cell of the immune system show outer membrane receptor for the prolactin. Moreover, the lymphocytes are capable to produce and secret prolactin. In cell culture, different levels of prolactin show different immune responses- low levels of prolactin awake a weak immune response. In contrast, high levels of prolactin show a strong immune response. Alteration in the sera levels of prolactin has been describes in severe autoimmune disease like systemic lupus erythematosus. Reiter syndrome, adjuvant arthritis, uveitis etc. Until now many evidences has been reported about the roles of the prolactin in the immune response acting like an immunomodulator, but the relevance of this phenomena in the clinical practice is still unclear.
Asunto(s)
Inmunidad/fisiología , Prolactina/fisiología , Animales , Enfermedades Autoinmunes/inmunología , Enfermedades Autoinmunes/fisiopatología , Biomarcadores , Bromocriptina/uso terapéutico , Femenino , Rechazo de Injerto/sangre , Rechazo de Injerto/fisiopatología , Humanos , Hiperprolactinemia/tratamiento farmacológico , Hiperprolactinemia/inmunología , Interleucinas/fisiología , Activación de Linfocitos/fisiología , Linfocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Linfocitos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos NZB , Prolactina/sangre , Prolactina/farmacología , Ratas , Receptores de Prolactina/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Although we still do not fully understand many aspects of eosinophil function, they are certainly active participants in important physiological and pathophysiological events. Eosinophils kill many species of helmints and other parasites and probably play a role in defence against infection; they also probably play a role in inflammatory responses in the lung, skin and heart. The following discussion will review finding that support such conclusions.