Identification of inflammatory cytokines recruited in experimental extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis at different stages of evolution.

• Grant number: 23/12860-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho
• Grantee: Tatiane de Camargo Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/03042-5 - Characterization of the inflammatory response in an experimental model of Extraparenchymal Neurocysticercosis, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is the most common zoonosis that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and occurs when humans behave as an intermediate host in the biological cycle of Taenia solium, by ingesting the eggs developing cysticerci in their body. The cysticerci fall into the bloodstream, reach and lodge in the CNS, and the disease can develop in different ways, depending on where the cysts are lodged. There are two classically described clinical forms: parenchymal and extraparenchymal. In the parenchymal form, the cysts are lodged in the cerebral interstitium; In the extraparenchymal form, the cysts lodge in the CSF compartments (subarachnoid space or cerebral ventricles) and the inflammatory response caused by cysts in these compartments can cause changes in CSF flow with consequent hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension. Studies on humoral and cellular inflammatory mediators in neurocysticercosis are influenced by the stage of evolution of the parasite (vesicular, colloidal, granular and calcified phases). It is known that while the cysts are able to evade the host's immune response, there is a Th2 response pattern, permissive to infection, with few lymphocytes and eosinophils and the presence of IL-10, whereas the destruction of the parasites is mediated by a response Th1, with the presence of macrophages, plasma cells, NK cells, lymphocytes and cytokines IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-³. The objective of the project is to characterize the inflammatory response in the experimental model of extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis with T. crassiceps, analyzing whether there are changes over the course of the disease. For this purpose, an experimental animal model will be used, with 33 Wistar rats, fed with standard commercial food and free access to water, with control of light (12-hour cycles), temperature (approximately 21ºC) and humidity. After periods of 1, 3 and 6 months of inoculation (n=11 for each group), the animals will be euthanized and the brains will be removed for morphological analysis and homogenized for immunoenzymatic tests, in order to identify the inflammatory cytokines recruited in different moments of evolution. The cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-±, TGF-² and IFN-³ will be studied using the ELISA-sandwich method.