Evaluation of cytokines gene expression in the brain of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 10/12473-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2011
• End date: June 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Gisele Fabrino Machado
• Grantee: Guilherme Dias de Melo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 11/21415-9 - Detection of dynorphin A, TNF-alpha and TNF receptors during Borna disease virus infection in neuronal and glial cell cultures, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease with a multitude of clinical manifestations in dogs. These manifestations can include cases of asymptomatic infections and the occurrence of generalized disorders that can result in death, such as anemia, cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly, generalized lymphadenopathy and cutaneous lesions. Dogs with chronic infection may present neurological symptoms, however, there are few reports that characterize the lesions and elucidate the pathogenesis of the neurological manifestation of visceral leishmaniasis. In sequence to previous projects and to our aims to evaluate the brain lesions in dogs with leishmaniasis and to investigate the mechanisms involved in its occurrence, we propose to investigate, by means of real-time RT-PCR, the gene expression of cytokine pro and anti-inflammatory within the nervous tissue of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. It will be obtained brain specimen of dogs with positive diagnosis of leishmaniasis (serology and cytology of lymph nodes), with symptomatic and oligosymptomatic manifestations, and then it will be performed the evaluation of the gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-g and TNF-a, and of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-². Afterward, it will be verified if there is correlation between the expressed cytokine profile and the different clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis.

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)

MELO, GUILHERME D.; MARCONDES, MARY; MACHADO, GISELE F.. Canine cerebral leishmaniasis: Potential role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the development of neurological disease. VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY, v. 148, n. 3-4, p. 260-266, AUG 15 2012. (10/12473-2)

MELO, GUILHERME D.; SERAGUCI, TULIO F.; SCHWEIGERT, AUGUSTO; SILVA, JOSE EDUARDO S.; GRANO, FERNANDA G.; PEIRO, JULIANA R.; LIMA, VALERIA M. F.; MACHADO, GISELE F.. Pro-inflammatory cytokines predominate in the brains of dogs with visceral leishmaniasis: A natural model of neuroinflammation during systemic parasitic infection. Veterinary Parasitology, v. 192, n. 1-3, p. 57-66, FEB 18 2013. (10/12473-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MELO, Guilherme Dias de. Expressão gênica de citocinas no encéfalo de cães com leishmaniose visceral. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária. Araçatuba Araçatuba.