Role of complement component C5 to in vivo leptospirose control in murine models.

Author(s)

Íris Arantes de Castro

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2014-05-12

Examining board members

Lourdes Isaac; Alan John Alexander Mcbride; Alessandra Pontillo

• Advisor: Lourdes Isaac

Abstract

Although mice are resistant to Leptospira interrogans infection, they are not usual models to study the imune response against this bacteria. Adler and Faine demonstrated in 1976 the importance of the imune response, since immunosuppressed mice were suceptible to L. interrogans. Other authors showed that mice that had severe combined immunodeficiency also died when inoculated with L. interrogans. Due to the activity of the Complement System in infections, we analyzed whether C5 deficient (C5-) mice are more susceptible than C5 sufficient (C5+) mice to L. interrogans infection. C5- mice have lower percentages of T CD8+ lymphocytes in peripheral circulation and upper levels of IL-12p40 in the kidney and TNF and IL-6 in the lungs than C5+ mice. C57Bl/6 (B6) C5+ mice has higher percentages of T CD4+ lymphocytes than B6 C5- mice, in addition to stricter liver injures, exhibiting an effect dependent of C5 and of the genetic background. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/15733-8 - Role of complement component C5 to in vivo leptospirose control in murine models
• Grantee: Iris Arantes de Castro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master