RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The modulation activity of these cells can interfere in the host/parasite relationship and influences the prognosis. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of the homeopathic preparation Antimonium crudum 30cH on experimental infection induced by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Male Balb/c mice were inoculated with 2 × 10(6)Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes into the footpad and, after 48 h (acute phase) or 60 days (chronic phase), cell population of lymphocytes and phagocytes present in the peritoneal washing fluid and spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry and histopathology, with histometry of the subcutaneous primary lesion, local lymph node and spleen. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify CD3 (T lymphocyte), CD45RA (B lymphocyte) and CD11b (phagocytes) positive cells. RESULTS: In treated mice, during the acute phase, there was significant increase of the macroscopic lesion, associated to inflammatory edema, as well increase in the number of free amastigotes and B lymphocytes inside the lesion. Increase of B lymphocytes (predominantly B-2 cells) was also seen in the local lymph node, spleen and peritoneum. In the chronic phase, the inflammatory process in the infection focus was reduced, with reduced phagocyte migration and peritoneal increase of B-1a cells (precursors of B-2 immunoglobulin producers cells) and T CD8+ cells. CONCLUSION: The treatment of mice with Antimonium crudum 30cH induced a predominantly B cell pattern of immune response in Leishmania (L.) amazonensis experimental infection, alongside the increase of free amastigote forms number in the infection site. The clinical significance of this study is discussed, further studies are suggested.
Assuntos
Antimônio/uso terapêutico , Homeopatia/métodos , Inflamação/tratamento farmacológico , Leishmaniose Cutânea/tratamento farmacológico , Linfonodos/parasitologia , Baço/parasitologia , Animais , Brasil , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Inflamação/parasitologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/complicações , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB CRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In previous studies, we observed that thymulin 5cH could modulate BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) induced chronic inflammation by increasing peritoneal B1 stem cells differentiation into phagocytes and improving phagocytosis efficiency. METHODS: We used the same protocol to study the effects of thymulin 5cH in the experimental murine Leishmaniasis, in order to elucidate some aspects of the parasite-host relation under this homeopathic treatment. Male Balb/c mice were orally treated with thymulin 5cH or vehicle during 60 days, after the subcutaneous inoculation of 2 × 10(6) units of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis into the footpad. Washied inflammatory cell suspension from peritoneal cavity, spleen, local lymph node and infected subcutaneous tissue were harvested after 2 and 60 days from infection to quantify the inflammation cells by flow cytometry and histometry methods. RESULTS: After a transitory increase of peritoneal T reg cells, treated mice presented, chronically, increase in the peritoneal and spleen B1 cells percentage (p = 0.0001) in relation to other cell types; more organized and exuberant inflammation response in the infection site, and decrease in the number of parasites per field inside the primary lesion (p = 0.05). No difference was seen in local lymph node histology. CONCLUSIONS: Thymulin 5cH is able to improve B1 cell activation and Leishmania (L) amazonensis phagocytosis efficiency in mice, similarly to that observed previously in BCG experimental infection.