TL2 and TL4 evaluation, ROS, and nitric oxide in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Leishmania infected dogs and controls after stimluation with P-MAPA immunomodulator

• Grant number: 10/13166-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima
• Grantee: Larissa Martins Melo
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a chronic zoonosis and, if untreated, can be fatal. The canine VL is a serious public health problem since infected animals are potent reservoirs, being more prevalent in dogs than in humans. The dogs are an important target in the control measures. Infected dogs have impaired cellular immunity and develop potent humoral response, which is not effective for elimination of the parasite. For treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis the use of antimonials humans is not allowed. It is therefore essential to study new alternatives for the treatment of infected dogs that may reduce the incidence of the disease in endemic areas. The immunomodulator known as P-MAPA is an aggregate polymer derived from Aspergillus oryzae. This drug is capable of stimulating, in an experimental model, the lymphoproliferation and the production of cytokines related to cellular immunity, but its mechanism of action is not known. In this project, we investigate the mode of action of the drug through the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 and generation of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide and expression of protein kinase p38 mitogen-activated mononuclear cells in peripheral blood of dogs naturally infected and control after action in vitro.

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, L. M.; PEROSSO, J.; ALMEIDA, B. F. M.; SILVA, K. L. O.; SOMENZARI, M. A.; DE LIMA, V. M. F. Effects of P-MAPA immunomodulator on Toll-like receptor 2, ROS, nitric oxide, MAPKp38 and IKK in PBMC and macrophages from dogs with visceral leishmaniasis. International Immunopharmacology, v. 18, n. 2, p. 373-378, FEB 2014. Web of Science Citations: 13.

Academic Publications

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

MELO, Larissa Martins. TLR 2, TLR 4, ROS, óxido nítrico, P38 e IKK em células mononucleares de cães com leishmaniose Visceral tratadas com o imunomodulador P-MAPA. 2014. 80 f. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária..