Action mechanism of anti-inflammatory protein galectin-1 in the uveitis process: analysis immunohistochesmitry and molecular

• Grant number: 12/02759-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Histology
• Principal Investigator: Sonia Maria Oliani
• Grantee: Caroline de Freitas Zanon
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Inflammation is the main contributing factor for many ocular disorders. Pharmacological treatment of such conditions includes corticosteroids and chemotherapeutic agents, whose side effects (glaucoma and cytotoxicity) limit their use and stimulate search for new therapeutic strategies. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a 14,5 kDa protein, possesses anti-inflammatory activities, however, is rarely explored in normal and inflamed ocular tissues. Thus, we will investigate, in vivo, the expression and the mechanism of action of endogenous Gal-1 protein in rat ocular tissues in normal conditions and after 24 and 48 hours of the endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). We will also investigate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of the administration of recombinant Gal-1 (rGal-1) in those experimental conditions. Studies will be conducted by histopathological and quantitative analysis of neutrophils in ocular tissues, and neutrophils and monocytes in aqueous humor and blood, flow cytometric detection of adhesion molecules L-selectin and ²2-integrin in blood leukocytes, immunohistochemical protein expression of endogenous Gal-1 in ocular tissues, biochemical parameters (TNF±, IL6, IL8, IL-10 and MCP1 levels in supernatants of ocular tissues), and mRNA expression in eye tissues by RT-PCR. The integrated results obtained from the analyses might indicate the mechanism of action of Gal-1 in ocular inflammatory processes and provide new therapies to treat these conditions.

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)

ZANON, CAROLINE DE FREITAS; SONEHARA, NATHALIA MARTINS; GIROL, ANA PAULA; GIL, CRISTIANE DAMAS; OLIANI, SONIA MARIA. Protective effects of the galectin-1 protein on in vivo and in vitro models of ocular inflammation. MOLECULAR VISION, v. 21, p. 1036-1050, SEP 2 2015. (11/21845-3, 11/05248-5, 12/02759-1)

Academic Publications

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

ZANON, Caroline de Freitas. Efeito protetor da proteína anti-inflamatória Galectina-1 sobre o processo de uveíte induzida pelo inflamógeno lipopolissacarídeo. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas. São José do Rio Preto São José do Rio Preto.