Superimposing a high-fat diet on schistosoma mansoni infection affects renin-angiotensin system components in the mouse kidney

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The levels of the full-length form of the (pro)renin receptor (PRR), a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), may be reduced in the membranes of kidneys in renal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the RAS components in the kidneys of mice submitted to a combination of a high-fat diet and Schistosoma mansoni infection. METHODS: Female BALB/c mice were maintained on a control or high-fat diet from 3 weeks of age. After 10 weeks on the designated diets, half the mice in each group were infected with S. mansoni cercariae. The blood and kidneys were harvested 8 weeks after infection. RESULTS: The high-fat diet increased the number of eggs in the feces and the number of adult worms in the mesenteric bed. Schistosoma mansoni infection reduced the plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol in the control and high-fat diet groups. In mice on the control diet, S. mansoni infection resulted in increased expression of IL-6 in the kidneys; however, in mice on the high-fat diet, the levels of IL-6 were reduced and those of superoxide anions were increased. The RAS components evaluated were ACE2, renin, PRR, AT1R, and AT2R, and the levels of PRR were found to be reduced in the kidneys of infected mice on the high-fat diet. CONCLUSIONS: The finding regarding PRR is not yet clear. However, combining a high-fat diet and S. mansoni infection resulted in increased oxidative stress in the kidney that can aggravate hypertension as well as its associated complications.

Efeito do treinamento físico moderado e intenso sobre os mecanismos de defesa de ratos adultos / Effect of moderate and intense physical training on the mechanisms of defense in adult rats

OBJETIVO: Analisou-se o impacto do treinamento físico moderado (TFM) e intenso (TFI) sobre o perfil leucocitário e a atividade microbicida de macrófagos alveolares, em 29 ratos machos Wistar. MÉTODOS: Foram formados três grupos: controle-sedentário (CS), treino-moderado (TM) e treino-intenso (TI). Os TFM e TFI foram efetuados através da natação, com aumento progressivo de carga conforme o peso corporal, até um máximo de 3% para o TFM, e 5% para o TFI. As coletas de sangue para contagem total e diferencial dos leucócitos foram automatizadas através do analisador hematológico Sysmex XT- 1800i (Roche®) antes e após o treino. E ao final realizou-se o lavado broncoalveolar para determinar a taxa de fagocitose e a produção de óxido nítrico (ON) de macrófagos. RESULTADOS: O grupo TM apresentou valores maiores para o número de leucócitos (12,77±2,0 x 17,25±2,4 10³/mm³), linfócitos (8,87±1,0 x 12,5±2,1 10³/mm³) e neutrófilos (0,99±0,5 x 3,18±1,0 10³/mm³), p<0,05. Apresentou também uma maior produção de ON (15,77±4,9µmols/mL) e da taxa de fagocitose (38,6%±8,65) em relação ao CS (6,58±1,9µmols/mL e 24,4%±7,40, respectivamente). Enquanto que, o grupo TI apresentou menor taxa de fagocitose (13,1%±1,52 x 24,4%±7,40), maior produção de ON (38,40± 2,1x 6,58±1,9 µmols/mL) e aumento apenas, no valor dos neutrófilos (2,6±1,4x 0,99±0,5 10³/mm³) quando comparado ao CS, p<0,001. CONCLUSÕES: O TFM proporcionou melhora nos mecanismos de defesa dos animais adultos. Enquanto que o TFI reduziu a taxa de fagocitose o que poderá implicar em prejuízo da atividade microbicida dos animais.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of moderate (MPT) and intense physical training (IPT) on the white blood cell profile and the microbicide activity of alveolar macrophages in 29 Wistar male rats. METHODS: The sample was separated into three groups: control group (sedentary), moderate training (MT), and intense training groups (IT). Swimming was the tool used to classify both moderate and intense training groups with a progressive increase of exercise load regarding body weight (up to 3% for the moderate physical training and 5% for the intense training group). The blood samples used to count total and differential leucocytes were automated by a hematological analyzer Sysmex XT-1800i (Roche®) before and after training sessions. At the end of the process, a bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out so to determine the amount of phagocytosis and the production of nitric oxide (NO) of the macrophages. RESULTS: The MT showed an increase in the number of leucocytes (12,77±2,0x17,25±2,4 10³/mm³), lymphocytes (8,87±1,0x 12,5±2,1 10³/mm³) and neutrophils (0,99±0,5x3,18 ±1,0 10³/mm³), p<0,05. There was also a higher production of NO (15,77±4,9µmols/mL) as well as a higher phagocytosis rate of (38,6%±8,65) as to the control group (6,58±1,9 µmols/mL and 24,4%±7,40, respectively). Whereas the IT showed a smaller phagocytosis rate (13,1%±1,52x 24,4%±7,40), a greater production of NO (38,40±2,1 x 6,58±1,9 µmols/mL) and an increase only in the number of neutrophils (2,6±1,4 x 0,99±0,5 10³/mm³) compared to the control group, p<0,001. CONCLUSIONS: The MPT induced a significant improvement in the defense mechanisms of the adult rats. On the other hand, the IPT induced a reduction in phagocytosis rate which could lead to the microbicide activity of the rats being damaged.