Cytotoxic Potential of Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in industrial, household, and healthcare-related products due to their excellent antimicrobial activity. With increased exposure of AgNPs to human beings, the risk of safety has attracted much attention from the public and scientists. In review of recent studies, we discuss the potential impact of AgNPs on individuals at the cell level. In detail, we highlight the main effects mediated by AgNPs on the cell, such as cell uptake and intracellular distribution, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and immunological responses, as well as some of the major factors that influence these effects in vivo and in vivo, such as dose, time, size, shape, surface chemistry, and cell type. At the end, we summarize the main influences on the cell and indicate the challenges in this field, which may be helpful for assessing the risk of AgNPs in future.

Immune restoration in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus coinfected patients after highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of hepatitis C virus on immunological and virological responses after highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients compared to monoinfected human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. METHODS: The study enrolled 65 human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected subjects who initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy and attended follow-up visits over 48 weeks from 2008 to 2010. They were grouped based on hepatitis C virus-RNA results. Virological and immunological responses were monitored at baseline and at the end of weeks 12, 24, 36, and 48. RESULTS: There were 35 human immunodeficiency virus monoinfected and 30 human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients. In the present study human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection did not seem to influence CD4 Tlymphocytes recovery. There was no difference between the curves of CD4 T-lymphocytes raise of coinfected and monoinfected groups. CONCLUSION: This prospective study confirms that hepatitis C virus infection does not seem to be associated with impaired CD4 T-lymphocytes recovery after HAART.

Linfócitos CD4, CD8 e células NK no estroma da cérvice uterina de mulheres infectadas pelo papilomavírus humano / CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells in the stroma of the uterine cervix of women infected with human papillomavirus

INTRODUÇÃO: A resposta imune pode ser um elemento chave para a progressão ou remissão da infecção pelo papilomavírus humano (HPV) no estroma da cérvice uterina. Este estudo objetivou quantificar no estroma cervical a presença de linfócitos T CD4, CD8 e células NK, por imunohistoquímica, em lesões de alto e baixo grau em pacientes infectadas por HPV MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se 56 amostras de biópsia da estroma cervical, sendo 43 amostras positivas para DNA de HPV de alto risco oncogênico e com diagnóstico histopatológico de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (NIC) de alto e baixo grau, ou negativa para lesão intraepitelial e malignidade (NILM), e 13 amostras de pacientes negativas para DNA de HPV com diagnóstico histopatológico NILM RESULTADOS: Maior quantidade de linfócitos T CD4 foi observada em amostras NIC II/III, carcinoma e NILM (p=0,04) e naquelas cuja carga viral esteve entre 10 e 1,000 RLU/PCB. O predomínio de linfócitos T CD8 ocorreu em maior proporção nas amostras NIC II/III (p=0,02) e em amostras com carga viral entre 100 e 1.000 RLU/PCB. As células NK prevaleceram nas amostras com lesões de baixo grau e com baixa carga viral CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo comprovou que nas fases iniciais da infecção, onde não há ainda alterações celulares de alto grau, não temos a presença de células que possam desencadear a fase efetora da resposta imune.

INTRODUCTION: Immune response might be a key element regarding the progression or regression of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the stroma of the uterine cervix. This study aimed to quantify the presence of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes and NK cells in the cervical stroma, by means of immunohistochemistry, in high and low grade lesions in patients infected by HPV METHODS: Fifty-six biopsy samples from the uterine cervix were used. Forty-three samples were positive for oncogenic high-risk HPV DNA and had a histopathological diagnosis of high and low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or negative for intraepithelial lesion and malignancy (NILM); while the other 13 samples were negative for HPV DNA with a histopathological diagnosis of NILM RESULTS: Higher quantities of CD4 T lymphocytes were observed in CIN II/III, carcinoma and NILM samples (p = 0.04) and in those in which the viral load was between 10 and 1.000 RLU/PCB. CD8 T lymphocytes were predominant in CIN II/III samples (p = 0.02) and also in samples with viral loads between 100 and 1,000 RLU/PCB. NK cells predominated in samples with low-grade lesions and low viral load CONCLUSIONS: This study proved that in the initial stages of the infection, in which no high-grade cell abnormalities have yet occurred, no cells that might trigger the effector phase of the immune response.

Comparação da resposta imunológica à toxina botulínica tipo A na pele antes e após o tratamento da hiperidrose axilar / A comparison of the immunological response to botulinum toxin type A in skin before and after axillary hyperhidrosis treatment

Introdução: Há relatos de casos publicados e não publicados sobre rash cutâneo, erupções acneiformes e desenvolvimento de Herpes simples em pacientes injetados com toxina botulínica para tratamento de rugas faciais e hiperidrose. Foi realizada uma pesquisa para determinar se há alteração imunológica na pele de pacientes tratados pela primeira vez com esta toxina. Métodos: Foi avaliada a resposta imunológica à toxina tipo A na pele de 15 pacientes com hiperidrose axilar antes e após sua aplicação. Os seguintes marcadores imuno-histoquímicos foram utilizados para defi nir o perfi l imunológico local antes e depois da aplicação de toxina botulínica: CD4+, CD8+, CD1a, CD25, anti-TNF-α, HLA-DR, ICAM-1, anti-IFN-γ e anti-IL-4. Resultados e discussão: Realizou-se análise estatística descritiva de cada marcador, e os dados obtidos foram avaliados pelo teste dos sinais de Wilcoxon. Conclui-se que não houve alteração na pele após o tratamento da hiperidrose com toxina botulínica A quando comparados os marcadores.

Introduction: There are both unpublished and published anecdotal case reports of skin rash, acneiform eruptions and onset of Herpes simplex in patients injected with botulinum toxin for treatment of facial wrinkles and hyperhidrosis. We carried out a research to determine if there are immunological changes in the skin in ab initio treatment of patients with botulinum toxin. Methods: The immunological response to botulinum toxin type A was assessed in skin before and after its application in 15 patients with axillary hyperhidrosis. The following immunohistochemical markers were used to determine the local immunological profi le before and after application of botulinum toxin: CD4+, CD8+, CD1a, CD25, anti-TNF-α, HLA-Dr, ICAM-1, anti- IFN-γ and anti-IL-4. Results and discussion: A descriptive statistical analysis of each marker was carried out and the data were analyzed by Wilcoxon sign test. It was concluded that there was no alteration in skin after hyperhidrosis treatment with botulinum toxin a when markers were compared.

Gestação: um fenômeno imunológico? / Pregnancy: an immunological phenomenon?

Objetivo: A gestação apresenta relativa analogia com transplante, sendo um intrigante paradoxo do ponto de vista da Imunologia. Esta revisão procura abordar os principais aspectos imunológicos envolvidos na interação materno-fetal, destacando a participação da resposta celular. O reconhecimento destes processos fisiológicos contribui para o esclarecimento de patologias obstétricas. Um grande foco de interesse é a implicação do fator imune na etiologia do aborto espontâneo recorrente. Por sua importância prática, a identificação destas alterações e as estratégias terapêuticas propostas para estes casos têm sido objeto de investigações. Fonte de dados: Para realização desta revisão foram consultadas publicações científicas internacionais. As referências bibliográficas foram selecionadas por consulta à base de dados Pubmed. Procuramos incluir dados recentes, focalizando em especial o período de 2000 a 2007. Síntese de dados: É notável a evolução observada no conhecimento da fisiopatologia da gestação, porém ainda existem questões não esclarecidas. Um grande número de provas diagnósticas ainda não está disponível para uso clínico. Os exames disponíveis são pouco específicos e os tratamentos são discutíveis. Os avanços nas áreas da biologia molecular e da genética ampliaram as possibilidades das pesquisas, criando perspectivas de progresso na identificação de marcadores de risco e definição de protocolos terapêuticos para patologias obstétricas. Conclusão: O sucesso gestacional envolve o desencadeamento de resposta imunológica materno-fetal com a participação de diversos mecanismos e tipos celulares. Baseado neste conhecimento tem-se investido na busca por marcadores genéticos de valor preditivo, que além de identificar a susceptibilidade a patologia obstétrica, possam contribuir para a definição de abordagens terapêuticas mais efetivas.

Objective: Pregnancy is somewhat similar to a transplant and is an immunological paradoxo this review discusses the main immunological aspects involved in maternal-fetal interaction, emphasizing the role of cellular response. The knowledge of these physiological mechanisms contributes to the understanding of obstetric pathologies. Much interest has been roeused on immune factors beca use of their participation in the etiology of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Due to practical implications, investigations have mostly concentrated on the identification of these alterations and the development of possible therapeutic strategies. Data source: In order to elaborate this review, international scientific papers were consulted. The bibliographic references were achieved from Pubmed database. We searched for recent data, focusing specially the period from 2000 to 2007. Data synthesis: Although knowledge on pregnancy physiopathology has remarkably evolved in recent years, there are still many unsolved points. The available diagnostic tests are not specific, and the treatments are questionable. Recent advances in molecular biology and genetics have expanded research possibilities, created perspectives of rapid progress in the identification of risk markers and the proposal of new therapeutic protocols for obstetric pathologies. Conclusion: Gestational success includes the development of maternal immune response to the fetus, counting with several mechanisms and cellular populations. Based in this knowledge, the search for genetic markers with predictive values that, besides identifies susceptibility to obstetric pathologies may contribute for the definition of more effective therapeutic strategies.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of the inflammatory response in periodontal disease

In order to contribute to the knowledge of the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, an immunohistochemical analysis of the density of inflammatory mononucleated cells and the number of dendritic cells was performed using anti-CD4, anti-CD20, anti-CD25, anti-CD68 and anti-protein S-100 antibodies in 17 cases of chronic gingivitis (CG) and 25 of chronic periodontitis (CP). The CD4+ and CD68+ cells exhibited a diffuse distribution in the connective tissue. CD20+ cell distribution was predominantly in groups and the CD25+ cells exhibited a diffuse or focal distribution. The S-100+ cells were identified in the epithelium and the lamina propria, exhibiting distinct morphology and number. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences (p>0.05) between CG and CP regarding the density of the CD4+ and CD20+ cells and the number of S-100+ cells. However, significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the groups in the density of CD25+ and CD68+ cells . The density of macrophages was greater in CG and the level of cellular activation of the lymphocyte infiltrate was greater in CP. No differences were detected between the aforementioned conditions regarding the density of the T and B lymphocytes and to the number of the dendritic cells.

Com o objetivo de contribuir para um melhor entendimento na etiopatogenia da doença periodontal, um análise imuno-histoquímica da densidade das células inflamatórias mononucleares e da quantidade das células dendríticas foi realizada utilizando os anticorpos anti-CD4, anti-CD20, anti-CD25, anti-CD68 and anti-proteína S-100 em 17 casos de gengivite crônica (GC) e 25 casos de periodontite crônica (PC). As células CD4+ e CD68+ exibiram distribuição difusa no tecido conjuntivo, enquanto que a distribuição das células CD20+ foi predominantemente em grupos, e as CD25+ exibiram distribuição ora difusa ora focal. As células S-100+ foram identificadas no epitélio e na lamina própria, exibindo morfologia e números distintos. A análise estatística não demonstrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação a densidade das células CD4+ e CD20+ e no número de células S-100+ entre os casos de CG e PC. Entretanto, houve diferenças em relação a densidade das células CD25+ e CD68+ entre os grupos (p<0,05). A densidade dos macrófagos foi maior em GC e o nível de ativação celular do infiltrado linfocítico foi maior em PC, não havendo diferenças em relação a densidade de linfócitos T e B, bem como no número de células dendríticas entre as condições anteriormente mencionadas.

Contribute to understand the effect of chemicals on immunological responding capacity of people having frequent and long contact

Study on 48 people, of whom 16 are male and 32 are female, from 23 to 44 years old. They were long exposed with poly-chemicals, such as organic and iso-organic acids: benzene, toluene and their coequals. The parameters have been used: phagocyte capablity and phagocyte index of neutrophils; E, rossett formed T cells. The results showed that: Phagocyte capability and phagocyte index of neutrophils decreased significantly comparing with control group (p<0.001)

Effects of Gwe (an active ingridient derived from Chinese herb)on immunological responses / 中国免疫学杂志

Gwe, an active ingridient derived from Chinese herb, possess profound effects on immune functions in mice in vivo and human peripheral lymphocytes (PBL)in vitro. The mitogenesis stim ulated with ConA or LPS, LAK cytotoxicity, spontaneous proliferation of thymocytes and prodution of IL-2 may all be increased markedly after treatment with Gwe in mice, but the CIC (circulating immune complexes) in sera decreased conpared to saline controls. The results shows that GWe influence preferentially on T-cell in a dose-dependent manner.

HPLC-ECD assay central monoamine transmitters and kinetic change of central monoamine transmitters during immunological response / 中国免疫学杂志

A rapid and simple chromatographic procedure using HPLC-ECD is described for simultaneousdetermination of NE. E. DA. 5-HT with their precursor amino acid (Tyr. Trp) and their main metabolites (HVA. 5-HIAA). Using this assay,eight substrates are measured in cortex, diencephalon and brain stem of mice duing immunological response challenged by SRB6 3 days after challenged, the DA HVA in cortex, NE in diencephalon decrease obviously (p