Role of galectin-1 in the host resistance against Neospora caninum experimental infection

• Grant number: 12/11669-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ana Patricia Yatsuda Natsui
• Grantee: Ana Patricia Yatsuda Natsui
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carla de Agostino Biella ; Marcelo Dias Baruffi

Abstract

Neospora caninum is an Apicomplexan protozoan, obligatory intracellular parasite that has the dog as definitive host and especially cattle as intermediate hosts. Galectin-1, a beta-galactoside-binding protein, shows an immunomodulation effect in different models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However the galectin-1 role during the parasite infection has not been completely elucidated. The aim of this project is to evaluate the role of galectin-1 in the modulation of the immune response based on an experimental model of Neospora caninum, with wild type mice (Gal-1+/+) and galectin-1 genetically deficient mice (Gal-1-/-) and, in parallel, evaluate the effect of the treatment with exogenous galectin-1 in infected animals . Male C57BL/6 mice, gal-1+/+ and gal-1-/-, will be infected with 1 x 108 N. caninum tachyzoites, intraperitoneally, and treated with PBS or galectin-1, intraperitoneally from day 1 to 7 of infection. Several parameters will be evaluated like animal survival, spleen cells phenotyping by flow citometry and cytokine production on serum and spleen cell culture supernatant by ELISA. The tissue parasite burden and the cytokine detection will also be evaluated by immunohistochemistry assays, as well as histopathology. This study can generate helpful knowledge to the elucidation of the role of galectin-1 in the immune response to Neospora caninum and, more importantly, will seek for therapeutic strategies development against parasitic diseases (AU)