Ethanol and caffeine: interactions of NFKB, TLR4, TLR2, MYD88, A1, A2A gene expressions and mirnas on prostate of UChB rats (voluntary ethanol consumers)

• Grant number: 19/26870-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2020 - May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Martinez
• Grantee: Marcelo Martinez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The indiscriminate consumption of ethanol is one of the main risk factors for public health, being able to increase the levels of tissue inflammatory markers. Simultaneous intake of ethanol and caffeine may increase the risk of alcohol abuse and dependence. Caffeine has an antagonistic role in non-selective adenosine receptors. It is also known that the adenosinergic pathways play a protective role. Thus, it is assumed that the consumption of caffeine interferes in the cellular processes inherent to the inflammation and may attenuate the installation of inflammation. MiRNAs affect cellular and physiological function and are altered after consumption of ethanol and other substances, being linked to the modulation of the inflammatory response. The general objective of the study will be to detect alterations in the expression of genes, microRNAs and proteins related to the inflammatory processes and the adenosinergic pathways of the prostate after the interaction between ethanol and caffeine. UChB and Wistar rats, males at 5 months of age, will divide into the following groups (n = 15/group): 1. UChB (UChB rats receiving 10% ethanol solution and water ad libitum); 2. UChB + caffeine (UChB rats receiving 10% ethanol solution + 3g/L caffeine and water ad libitum); 3. Control (Wistar rats receiving water ad libitum). The prostate tissue of the animals will collected and processed for the RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry techniques for the inflammatory markers NFkB, TLR4, TLR2 and MyD88 and adenosinergic receptors A1 and A2a and for the miRNAs -155-5p, -146a- 5p, -126-3p, -132-3p, -339-5p. These same miRNAs will also be measured in plasma. (AU)