Immunosenescence and dendritic cells: role of TLR2 and TLR4 in phagocytosis and cytokines production against Candida albicans

• Grant number: 10/15271-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2010
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Vanessa Soares Lara
• Grantee: Vanessa Soares Lara
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dendritic cells are the most potent antigens present in cells, playing a key role in the induction of both innate and adaptive immunity. There are immature and mature forms located in the non-lymphatic organs and in the lymph nodes, respectively. The term immunosenescence usually refers to the aging of the immune system. Aging is associated with the progressive decline in immune function, resulting in an increasing susceptibility of the body to infection, taking into account the specific changes in T- cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. Amongst the microorganisms, the fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an important pathogen for the development of invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Still, the role of dendritic cells in immunosenescence and C. albicans infection is poorly understood. Comparatively, using blood samples from both healthy young and aged subjects for the generation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes, we evaluated aspects of the immunomodulatory function of dendritic cells of aged patients in response to the challenge of the fungi through the production of TNF-a, IL-6, IL-23 and IL-10 as well as the involvement of TLR2 and TLR4 receptors present in mature dendritic cells. Moreover, we want to evaluate the phagocytic capacity of mature dendritic cells after in vitro challenge with C. albicans. The evaluation will be made up of the measurement of cytokines by ELISA, and the participation of receptor type TOLL 2 and 4 assessed by phagocytosis and immunofluorescence assays, through the expression of membrane markers of mature dendritic cells. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PEREIRA DO NASCIMENTO, MAGDA PAULA; PINKE, KAREN HENRIETTE; PENITENTI, MARCIMARA; VALERIO IKOMA, MAURA ROSANE; LARA, VANESSA SOARES. Aging does not affect the ability of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells to phagocytose Candida albicans. AGING CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH, v. 27, n. 6, p. 785-789, DEC 2015. (10/15271-1, 09/17889-5)