Determination of the pattern of immune response (Th1, Th2 and / or Th17) predominant in early and late development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in wistar rats associated with hypercholesterolemic diet consumption

• Grant number: 13/26156-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Simone Gusmão Ramos
• Grantee: Karina Magalhães Alves da Mata Fernandes
• Supervisor: Raouf A. Khalil
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, Boston, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/13517-9 - Determination of the pattern of immune response(Th1, Th2 and/or Th17) predominant in early and late development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in Wistar rats associated with hypercholesterolemic diet consumption., BP.PD

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic degenerative disease reaching high morbidity and mortality levels. Weakening of aortic wall and dilatation up 50% are the mainly characteristics of AAA, associated with atherosclerosis, proinflammatory cytokines increase, chronic inflammatory response, mainly CD4+ lymphocytes, producers of IFN-³ (Th1), lymphocytes IL-4 producers (Th2) and regulatory T cells (Treg). However, studies involving IL-17 (Th17) described in several diseases of inflammatory nature, are still scarce in AAA pathogenesis. In addiction, data concerning to predominant pattern of cell response (Th1 and Th2) and inflammatory factors involved in the pathogenesis of AAA are controversial. To contribute a better understanding of the cytokines importance in AAA, was performed a pilot study using an experimental model of AAA developed in our laboratory, that generating outstanding results such as abdominal aortic dilatation up 300%, intensive remodeling associated with elastic fiber degradation and collagen deposition, in a short time. When associated with administration of a hypercholesterolemic diet, show the development of fat plaques in the aneurysmal wall. These results facilitated the development of an original project that will investigate the predominant immune response pattern (Th1, Th2 and Th17) in cytokines activation associated with hypercholesterolemic diet in early and late phases of AAA development. This project will be conducted partially in the laboratory of Professor Raouf A. Khalil, in Harvard Medical School. (AU)