Antifungal activity of the naphthoquinone beta-lapachone against disseminated infection with Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans in dexamethasone-immunosuppressed Swiss mice
Rev. bras. pesqui. méd. biol
; Braz. j. med. biol. res;43(4): 345-349, Apr. 2010. graf, ilus, tab
Article
em En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-543576
Biblioteca responsável:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
The in vivo antifungal activity of the naphthoquinone beta-lapachone against disseminated infection by Cryptococcus neoformans was investigated. Swiss mice were immunosuppressed daily with dexamethasone (0.5 mg per mouse) intraperitoneally for 3 days, the procedure was repeated 4 days later, and the animals were then challenged intravenously with C. neoformans (10(6) CFU/mL) 1 week later. Seven days after infection, the mice were divided into groups and treated daily with beta-lapachone (10 mg/kg, iv) for 7 (N = 6) and 14 days (N = 10). Amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg) was used as comparator drug and an additional group received PBS. Treatment with beta-lapachone cleared the yeast from the spleen and liver, and the fungal burden decreased approximately 10(4) times in the lungs and brain 14 days after infection when compared to the PBS group (P < 0.05). This result was similar to that of the amphotericin B-treated group. Protection was suggestively due to in vivo antifungal activity of this drug and apparently not influenced by activation of the immune response, due to similar leukocyte cell counts among all groups. This study highlights the prospective use of beta-lapachone for treatment of disseminated cryptococcosis.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
LILACS
Assunto principal:
Naftoquinonas
/
Hospedeiro Imunocomprometido
/
Criptococose
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Cryptococcus neoformans
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Antifúngicos
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
/
Rev. bras. pesqui. méd. biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil
País de publicação:
Brasil