Evaluation of early immunosenescence in Rheumatic Heart Disease

• Grant number: 17/16853-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Luiza Guglielmi
• Grantee: Luiza Guglielmi
• Host Institution: Instituto do Coração Professor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (INCOR). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Guilherme Sobreira Spina ; Karen Francine Köhler ; Roney Orismar Sampaio ; Samar Freschi de Barros

Abstract

Diseases caused by group A streptococcus are still considered a public health problem in developing countries, nowadays 600 million cases/year. If not treated properly, they generate autoimmune sequelae such as rheumatic fever (RF) and glomerulonephritis. FR mainly affects children and young people, and has several clinical manifestations. Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is the most serious sequela. It is characterized by progressive and permanent valve lesions. Worldwide, about 33 million people are carriers of RHD. It is estimated that in 2015 there were 305,000 deaths and 11.5 million years of life (adjusted for the disease) were lost. In Brazil, valve damage due to RHD is responsible for 90% of infantile cardiac surgeries, representing a high cost for Public Health System (SUS). Several studies, including ours, have been conducted over the past 30 years on the mechanisms that trigger autoimmunity in RF/RHD. With complex pathogenesis, it involves genetic factors, cross-reaction between streptococcal and human proteins by molecular mimicry, activating autoreactive lymphocytes, which migrate to the cardiac tissue with the aid of adhesion molecules and chemokines. The aim of this project is to evaluete pioneerly the immunosenescence patterns in RHD, since the early aging of the immune system is a contributing factor to autoimmunity. The results to be obtained will certainly contribute to the characterization of new factors involved in the pathogenesis of RF/RHD, diseases recently recognized by the World Health Organization as a global health priority on the world stage for 2018. (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)

POSTOL, EDILBERTO; SA-ROCHA, LUIZ C.; SAMPAIO, RONEY O.; DERNARCHI, LEA M. M. F.; ALENCAR, RAQUEL E.; ABDUCH, MARIA C. D.; KALIL, JORGE; GUILHERME, LUIZA. Group A Streptococcus Adsorbed Vaccine: Repeated Intramuscular Dose Toxicity Test in Minipigs. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, JUL 5 2019. (17/16853-3)