Characterization of the immunological response in H1N1 acute lung injury

• Grant number: 13/03881-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Thais Mauad
• Grantee: Marina Ballarin Albino
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has detected the end of the pandemic caused by influenza A viruses (H1N1 subtype 2009), the disease has also caused fatalities in several countries, especially during the winter months. Few studies have addressed aspects of the immune lung tissue in patients with severe forms of the disease. The knowledge of the pulmonary inflammatory phenotype to improve prevention strategies is important for future pandemics and treatment of the severe forms. The objective of the present study is to determine the distribution of CD20 + B lymphocytes, and mast cells in the lungs of patients who died from a viral infection of the H1N1 virus pandemic. We will study lung tissues of 16 patients who died by infection with pandemic H1N1 virus in 2009, and compared them to 2 control groups: 16 patients who died of non-pulmonary causes and 14 deceased patients with the clinical diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) confirmed by autopsy. Lung tissue stored in paraffin block will be processed. In a slide containing a 5¼m tissue slice, we will carry out an immunohistochemical reaction to verify the distribution of cells and inflammatory status. Subsequently, the slides will be digitized and images transferred to image analysis software for cell counts in the lung parenchyma. Statistical tests for multiple comparisons of means between groups are used and a significance level of 5% will be considered. (AU).