Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of modulating the of immune-pineal axis in an animal model of lethal systemic inflammation

• Grant number: 15/23348-8
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2016 - March 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal researcher: Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno Fernandes
• Grantee: Pedro Augusto Carlos Magno Fernandes
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Regina Pekelmann Markus ; Zulma Felisbina da Silva Ferreira

Abstract

In the mounting phase of inflammatory responses, the activation of the immune pineal axis facilitates leukocyte migration to peripheral tissues by inhibiting the production of melatonin by the pineal gland, and locally modulates the immune response due to the production of melatonin by peripheral immunocompetent cells and by glial cells of the central nervous system. Restoring the production of melatonin by the pineal gland and the suppression of its production by extra-pineal sources are essential for the proper regulation of inflammation intensity. Unregulated processes that do not regulate the inflammatory response may result in death of the individual. Thus, it is important to understand the differences in the pattern of the immune-pineal axis activation between lethal and nonlethal situations. In this projected, we will compare the activation of the immune-pineal axis (inhibition/stimulation of the production of melatonin by the pineal and by extra-pineal sources, in the periphery and in the nervous system) in rats injected with lethal and nonlethal dose of LPS. Melatonin dosages will be associated with the determination of the melatonin receptors expression (MT1 and MT2) in the cells and tissues. In addition, it will be evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological (melatonergic agonists and antagonists) or physical (electroacupuncture) interventions in reducing the lethality of systemic inflammation. The expectation is that the adjustment of the melatonergic system activation can reverse the mortality induced by high doses of LPS, and that we can base the proposition of therapeutic strategies for lethal inflammation by understanding the endogenous relevance of the immune-pineal axis. (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)

KINKER, G. S.; OSTROWSKI, L. H.; RIBEIRO, P. A. C.; CHANOCH, R.; MUXEL, S. M.; TIROSH, I.; SPADONI, G.; RIVARA, S.; MARTINS, V. R.; SANTOS, T. G.; MARKUS, R. P.; FERNANDES, P. A. C. M. MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors play opposite roles in brain cancer progression. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM, v. 99, n. 2 JAN 2021. Web of Science Citations: 1.

CORDOBA-MORENO, MARLINA O.; DE SOUZA, EWERTON DA SILVA; QUILES, CAROLINE L.; DOS SANTOS-SILVA, DEBORA; KINKER, GABRIELA S.; MUXEL, SANDRA M.; MARKUS, REGINA P.; FERNANDES, PEDRO A. Rhythmic expression of the melatonergic biosynthetic pathway and its differential modulation in vitro by LPS and IL10 in bone marrow and spleen. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1 MAR 16 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.