Immuno-molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance to the development of immunosuppression in neonatal sepsis

• Grant number: 16/11405-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando de Queiroz Cunha
• Grantee: David Fernando Colon Morelo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/08216-2 - CRID - Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/23079-5 - Investigation of the immunological mechanisms involved in the resistance to long-term induced immunosuppression in pediatric sepsis, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality in hospitalized patients worldwide. Medically is defined as Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) resulting from an infectious process, which commonly, can develop into a multiple organ dysfunction followed by death. It is noteworthy that sepsis mortality rate in pediatric patients is significantly higher than in adults. In addition to the severity of sepsis, adult individuals surviving severe sepsis develop a long-term immunosuppression, characterized by increased mortality from secondary infections or other diseases, which may last for up to five years. Surprisingly, preliminary data from our research group demonstrated that neonatal animals surviving severe sepsis, although more susceptible to acute phase of sepsis presenting higher mortality rates, do not develop the immunosuppression, suggesting that immune dysfunction induced by severe sepsis may be an event dependent of age. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the relationship of this biological phenomenon with age is still unknown. In this context, our group recently demonstrated that cytokines type 2 (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-33) and increased frequency of Tregs cells mediated by M2 profile Macrophages play a central role in immunosuppression induced by severe sepsis in adults. However, until the present there are no studies analyzing the profile of type 2 cytokines, M2 macrophages and Treg cells in animals or pediatric patient survivors to severe sepsis. Thus, the aim of this project is to characterize the axis M2 macrophages / cytokines type 2 / Tregs, and perform comparative study of epigenetic-molecular events involved in the differentiation of Tregs in neonates and adult individuals surviving sepsis. This study may contribute to the understanding of mechanisms related to the development of immunosuppression induced by sepsis and contribute to the formation knowledge that will enable future therapeutic interventions.

Academic Publications

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

MORELO, David Fernando Colon. Evaluation of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in pediatric sepsis susceptibility and its long-term consequences. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.