Serum interleukin-17 levels are associated with nephritis in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES: To determine the serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to evaluate the association between IL-17 and clinical manifestations, disease activity, laboratory findings and treatment. METHODS: We included 67 consecutive childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients [61 women; median age 18 years (range 11-31)], 55 first-degree relatives [50 women; median age 40 years (range 29-52)] and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls [42 women; median age 19 years (range 6-30)]. The childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients were assessed for clinical and laboratory systemic lupus erythematosus manifestations, disease activity [Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], cumulative damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index] and current drug use. Serum IL-17 levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercial kits. RESULTS: The median serum IL-17 level was 36.3 (range 17.36-105.92) pg/mL in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 29.47 (15.16-62.17) pg/mL in healthy controls (p=0.009). We observed an association between serum IL-17 levels and active nephritis (p=0.01) and migraines (p=0.03). Serum IL-17 levels were not associated with disease activity (p=0.32), cumulative damage (p=0.34), or medication use (p=0.63). CONCLUSION: IL-17 is increased in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and may play a role in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric and renal manifestations. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the role of IL-17 in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. .

Comparação da solução de histidina-triptofano-alfacetoglutarato com histidina-triptofano-glutamato como agentes cardioplégicos em corações isolados de ratos: estudo imuno-histoquímico / Comparison of the solution of histidine-tryptophan-alfacetoglutarate with histidine-tryptophan-glutamate as cardioplegic agents in isolated rat hearts: an immunohistochemical study

Introdução: A parada do coração durante a cirurgia cardíaca é procedimento comum e permite que o cirurgião realize os procedimentos cirúrgicos em ambiente isento de sangue e movimento. Os autores comparam, em modelo de coração isolado de rato, uma nova solução cardioplégica com histidina-triptofano-glutamato (grupo 2) com a histidina-triptofano-alfacetoglutarato (grupo 1) já utilizada de rotina por alguns cirurgiões cardíacos. Objetivo: Avaliar por análise imuno-histoquímica a caspase, a IL-8 e KI-67 em corações isolados de ratos. Métodos: 20 ratos machos de raça Wistar foram anestesiados e heparinizados. O tórax foi aberto, realizado cardiectomia e infundido 40 ml/kg de solução cardioplégica apropriada. Os corações foram mantidos por 2 horas na mesma solução a 4ºC e, após esse período, colocados em aparato de Langendorff por 30 minutos com solução de Ringer Locke. Foram feitas análises imuno-histoquímicas para caspase, IL-8 e KI-67. Resultados: A concentração de caspase estava menor no grupo 2 e da KI-67 estava mais elevada no grupo 2, ambos com P<0,05. Não houve diferença estatística entre os valores de IL-8 entre os grupos. Conclusão: A solução com histidina-triptofano-glutamato foi melhor que a com histidina-triptofano-cetoglutarato, pois reduziu a caspase (apoptose), aumentou o KI-67 (proliferação celular) e não apresentou valores diferentes de IL-8 (inflamação e necrose) que no grupo 1. Isso sugere que a solução histidina-triptofano-glutamato foi mais eficiente que a histidina-triptofano-cetoglutarato na preservação dos cardiomiócitos dos corações de ratos. .

Introduction: Cardiac arrest during heart surgery is a common procedure and allows the surgeon to perform surgical procedures in an environment free of blood and movement. Using a model of isolated rat heart, the authors compare a new cardioplegic solution containing histidine-tryptophan-glutamate (group 2) with the histidine-tryptophan-alphacetoglutarate (group 1) routinely used by some cardiac surgeons. Objective: To assess caspase, IL-8 and KI-67 in isolated rat hearts using immunohistochemistry. Methods: 20 Wistar male rats were anesthetized and heparinized. The chest was opened, cardioctomy was performed and 40 ml/kg of the appropriate cardioplegic solution was infused. The hearts were kept for 2 hours at 4ºC in the same solution, and thereafter, placed in the Langendorff apparatus for 30 minutes with Ringer-Locke solution. Immunohistochemistry analysis of caspase, IL-8, and KI-67 were performed. Results: The concentration of caspase was lower in group 2 and Ki-67 was higher in group 2, both P<0.05. There was no statistical difference between the values of IL-8 between the groups. Conclusion: Histidine-tryptophan-glutamate solution was better than histidine-tryptophan-alphacetoglutarate solution because it reduced caspase (apoptosis), increased KI-67 (cell proliferation), and showed no difference in IL-8 levels compared to group 1. This suggests that the histidine-tryptophan-glutamate solution was more efficient than the histidine-tryptophan-alphacetoglutarate for the preservation of hearts of rat cardiomyocytes. .

Modulation of murine blastocyst hatching in vitro by glutamine and tryptophan

Enrichment of culture media with amino acids improves embryo development. However, little is known about the specific action of each amino acid during embryogenesis. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of L-glutamine (Gln) and tryptophan (Trp) on mouse embryo hatching, expansion and viability in vitro. Blastocysts were collected from 6- to 8-week-old female BALB/c mice (N = 30) and cultured in M2 medium containing either 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 mM Trp, 1 mM Gln, or M2 alone. Gln significantly increased (100 percent; P < 0.05) blastocyst hatching at 24 h compared to M2 alone or Trp; moreover, Trp inhibited blastocyst hatching when compared to M2 alone (P < 0.05) at 72 h. In contrast, the percentage of embryos reaching the state of expanded blastocyst at 48 h was significantly higher in medium with 1 mM Gln (66.6 percent; P < 0.05) or with 0.125 mM Trp (61.1 percent; P < 0.05). Unexpectedly, Trp increased the percentage of degenerated blastocysts after 48 h (67.7 percent; P < 0.05), while Gln preserved blastocyst viability. These results suggest that Gln may enhance blastocyst hatching, expansion and viability in vitro.

Efeito do tratamento com triptofano sobre parâmetros do comportamento alimentar em ratos adultos submetidos à desnutrição neonatal / Effects of tryptophan on the eating behavior of adult rats with neonatal malnutrition

OBJETIVO: Investigou-se os efeitos do tratamento com triptofano sobre o consumo alimentar em ratos adultos, submetidos ou não a desnutrição precoce. MÉTODOS: Sessenta e quatro ratos Wistar machos foram divididos em nutridos (n=32, caseína=17 por cento) e desnutridos (n=32, caseína=8 por cento), de acordo com a dieta materna empregada no período de lactação. Após o desmame, todos os ratos receberam dieta com 23 por cento de proteína. Pesos corporais foram avaliados no sétimo, vigésimo primeiro e septuagésimo dias de vida. Aos setenta dias de idade, cada grupo nutricional foi dividido em subgrupos: Nutrido-Salina (n=16) e Nutrido-Triptofano (n=16), Desnutrido-Salina (n=16) e Desnutrido-Triptofano (n=16). Os grupos receberam diariamente 1,0mL/100g de triptofano, na dose de 50mg/kgP ou salina (0,9 por centoNaCl), durante 14 dias. Neste período foram realizados os estudos dos parâmetros do comportamento alimentar. Posteriormente obteve-se a média do consumo alimentar relativo e a média do ganho de peso relativo. As análises estatísticas foram feitas utilizando os testes t Student e ANOVA seguido de Tukey, com p<0,05. RESULTADOS: As ninhadas de mães alimentadas com dieta hipoproteica mantiveram pesos inferiores comparados com as ninhadas nutridas (p<0,01) até os setenta dias de vida. Os ratos nutridos tratados com triptofano (M=6,88, DP=0,05) reduziram a ingestão alimentar comparados aos nutridos salina (M=7,27, DP=0,08) (p<0,01). Contudo, não houve efeito sobre o ganho de peso. Entre os desnutridos nenhuma diferença foi encontrada. CONCLUSÃO: Nesse estudo, a restrição proteica neonatal alterou a evolução ponderal em ratos. Além disso, a desnutrição precoce tornou os ratos adultos resistentes aos efeitos inibitórios do triptofano sobre a ingestão alimentar.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of tryptophan on the eating behavior of adult rats submitted or not to early malnutrition. METHODS: Sixty-four male Wistar rats were divided into nourished (n=32, casein=17 percent) and malnourished (n=32, casein=8 percent) according to the diet given to the dam during lactation. After weaning, all rats were fed a diet with a protein content of 23 percent. The rats were weighed on day 7, day 21 and day 70 after birth. On day 70 after birth, each nutritional group was divided into 4 subgroups: nourished-saline (n=16), nourished-tryptophan (n=16), malnourished-saline (n=16) and malnourished-tryptophan (n=16). The tryptophan groups were given 1.0mL/100g of tryptophan for 14 days, at a dosage of 50mg/kgw of body weight and the saline groups were given 1.0mL/100g of 0.9 percent NaCl, also for 14 days. The eating behavior parameters were assessed during this period. The mean relative food intake and mean relative weight gain were then determined. The statistical analyses were done by the Student's t-test and ANOVA, followed by the Tukey test, with p<0.05. RESULTS: During the first 70 days of life, pups from protein-malnourished damns remained lighter than pups from well-nourished damns (p<0.01). Well-nourished rats treated with tryptophan (M=6.88, SD=0.05) ate less than those given saline (M=7.27, SD=0.08) (p<0.01) but weight was unaffected. No difference was found for the malnourished rats. CONCLUSION: In this study, neonatal protein restriction affected weight gain in rats. Furthermore, early malnutrition made adult rats resistant to the inhibitory effects of tryptophan on food intake.

Evidence indicating participation of the serotonergic system in controlling feeding behavior in Coturnix japonica (Galliformes: Aves)

Investigamos a participação do sistema serotonérgico cerebral no controle da ingestão de alimento em codornas (Coturnix japonica) por meio da administração oral e sistêmica de precursores da serotonina. A suplementação dietética com triptofano (0,1-50,0 g/kg de ração) provocou inibição dose-dependente da ingestão de alimento em 5 h de avaliação, que se manteve ao final de 24 h com doses de 30,0 e 50,0 g/kg. Codornas tratadas com hidroxitriptofano (12,5-50,0 mg/kg, via intracoelomática) exibiram aguda inibição da ingestão alimentar, tanto as normoalimentadas quanto as submetidas ao jejum. Nas aves em jejum, a resposta hipofágica foi efetiva apenas quando a administração do precursor foi feita imediatamente antes da oferta de alimento. Resposta similar foi alcançada com a administração de serotonina (0,125-2,5 mg/kg, sc). Nos minutos iniciais após a administração desenvolveu-se resposta hipnogênica, implicando assunção de que essa amina atravessa a barreira hemato-encefálica em codornas, diferentemente do observado em mamíferos. A administração de hidroxitriptofano em todas as doses utilizadas induziu intensa resposta dipsogênica, não obstante o desenvolvimento concomitante de resposta hipnogênica. Os resultados sugerem o envolvimento de vias serotonérgicas no controle da ingestão de alimento em codornas e mostram pela primeira vez as ações hipnógena, induzida pela serotonina e hiperdipsética, pelo hidroxitriptofano.

Aspectos da fisiologia do triptofano / Physiology aspects of Tryptophan

O triptofano e o aminoacido neutro precursor da sintese do neurotransmissor serotonina. Variacoes nos niveis sericos do triptofano podem alterar a concentracao de serotonina no cerebro. Desse modo, os niveis plasmaticos de triptofano tem sido manipulados como um meio de potencializar os efeitos de drogas antidepressivas e para auxiliar no entendimento da fisiopatologia da depressao. Essa revisao objetiva mostrar alguns aspectos relevantes do metabolismo do triptofano e a logica de utilizacao deste aminoacido como uma ferramenta no entendimento e tratamento da depressao

Reproductive phase dependent effects of dietary L-tryptophan on biochemical constituents of pineal gland in male Indian palm squirrel, Funambulus pennanti.

Tryptophan serves as the substrate for the synthesis of various hydroxy- and methoxyindoles in the pineal gland. In the present study L-tryptophan (L-Trp; 0.5 mg/animal/day) was given in drinking water to male Indian Palm Squirrel for 30 days during reproductive active and pineal inactive phase (April) as well as during reproductive inactive and pineal active phase (December). During reproductive active phase serotonin (5-HT) content of pineal gland increased while accessory sex organ's weight decreased without affecting testes weight. During reproductive inactive phase all the biochemical constituents (protein, cholesterol and serotonin) of pineal gland decreased while testes and accessory sex organ's weight increased. This indicates a reproductive phase dependent effect of L-Trp on the biochemistry of pineal gland including 5-HT synthesis/release which in turn (via melatonin) manipulates reproductive functions of this rodent.

Triptofano y su uso en medicina / Medical uses of tryptophan

Ha habido importantes avances en el conocimiento del metabolismo del triptofano, la síntesis de serotonina y los receptores serotoninérgicos encefálicos. Se ha determinado la efectividad terapéutica del 5-hidroxitriptofano en la depresión, insomnio, dolor crónico, mioclonías, etc. Eso sí, ha surgido inquietud al establecerse, como efecto adverso del tratamiento con L-triptofano, la producción del síndrome de mialgia-eosinofilia con compromiso importante de las fuerzas debido a una polineuropatía

Participation of the median raphe nucleus and central serotoninergic pathways in the control of water electrolyte excretion

1. The role of the median raphe nucleus (MRN) and of increased central serotonin (5HT) synthesis/release in the mediation of Na+ excretion (UNaV) and K+ excretion (UKV) and or urine output (UV) was evaluated for 120 min. 2. Male Wistar rats weighing 220-280g were used in each group of 12-13 animals. The rats implanted with a cannula in the MRN were injected with saline (0.5 µl) or with 5.0 and 15.0 ng/0.5 µl kainic acid (KA), an excitatory amino (EAA). Another group of rats was injected ip with 200 mg/Kg saline or tryptophan, the initial precursor of 5HT synthesis. 3. Injection of both kainic acid and tryptophan led to increased Na+ excretion, but the magnitude and time course were different for each treatment. Both KA doses were effective in increasing UNaV (0.061 ñ 0.08, mean ñ SEM, and 0.95 ñ 0.19 -Eq/min, respectively, vs 0.27 ñ 0.04 µEq/min for saline at 60 min). The effect on UKV was statistically significant with the 15.0 ng dose (0.44 ñ 0.05 µEq/min vs 0.25 ñ0.03 µEq/min for saline) at 20 min. 5. Tryptophan adminsitration caused an initial gradual increase in UNaV which became steady and significant after 60 min (1.02 ñ 0.15 µEq/min vs 0.36 ñ 0.06 µEq/min for saline), as well as an increase in UKV (0.58 ñ 0.06 µEq/min vs 0.26 ñ 0.04 µEq/min for saline) at 60 min and throught the remainder of the observation period. 6. KA-induced MRN stimulation and systemic tryptophan overload significantly increased UV at 60, 80 and 100 min (30 to 97% above control values). 7. These data show that kanic acid-mediated transmission at the MRN lellvel may play a modulatory role in hydromineral metabolism. The effects obtained after increased central availability of tryptophan suggest that the excretory response is associated with an increase in 5HT synthesis/release and with an increase in central transmission. 8. We conclude that the data obtained from CA-induced MRN stimulation and systemic tryptophan overload may possibly reflect an increased 5HT synaptic transmission at sites and efferent mechanisms that remain to be elucidated

Viabilidad de Bacillus subtilis auxotrofos en ausencia de sus metabolitos esenciales / Viability of Bacillus subtilis auxotrophs in the absence of their essential metabolites

Se estudió el efecto de la privación de triptofano y uracilo sobre la viabilidad del tansformante Bacillus subtilis BSA trp ura y de las cepas parentales Bacillus subtilis PB 168 trp-C y Bacillus subtilis PB 3308 ura. Los ensayos se llevaron a cabo en las condiciones descriptas para el desarrollo de competencia para transformación, durante 16 h. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que Bacillus subtilis BSA 170 trp ura es resistente a la muerte por carencia de triptofano durante el tiempo del ensayo y a la muerte por carencia de uracilo durante 3h. Luego ocurre una disminución de la recuperación de UFC, acompañada por una reduccción de las absorbancias de los cultivos. La muerte por carencia de uracilo es prevenida en ausencia de triptofano, sugiriendo que reuiere síntesis de proteínas. Las cepas parentales mostraron un comportamiento semejante. Bacillus subtilis PB 168 trp-C mostró ser resistente a la muerte por carencia de triptofano y Bacillus subtilis PB 3308 uta sufrió una reducción de la capacidad para formar colonias, debida a la privación de uracilo, comparable a la de la cepa transformante

Effect of exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine on pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica in experimental animals.

In an effort to find out the mechanism(s) operative in enhancing the pathogenicity of E. histolytica in hosts under heat stress reported earlier, effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the virulence of the parasite was examined in just weaned Charles Foster strain of albino rats. Pathogenicity of 10 strains of E. histolytica, from various forms of intestinal amoebiasis, grown in modified Boeck and Drbohlav's medium was assessed by caecal scoring. Administration of 5-HT in infected animals significantly enhanced the pathogenicity of all the seven strains tested. Treatment of the host with the 5-HT precursor L-tryptophan also increased the caecal scores examined with three strains of E. histolytica. Prior blocking of tissue 5-HT receptors by administration of methysergide almost completely abolished the pathogenicity enhancing effect of 5-HT treatment. This suggested that 5-HT itself and not any of its metabolites was responsible for the observed increase in pathogenicity of E. histolytica on 5-HT treatment of the host.

Effect of drugs influencing central 5-hydroxytryptamine mechanisms on amantadine-induced stereotyped behaviour in the rat.

Pretreatment with L-tryptophan, a precursor of 5-HT, was found to decrease the intensity of stereotyped behaviour induced by amantadine, while methysergide, a 5-HT antagonist, was found to increase the intensity of amantadine-induced stereotypy. These results suggest that the intensity of amantadine-induced stereotypy depends on the balance between central dopamine and 5-HT systems and that the central 5-HT systems may have an opposing, tonic effect upon central dopamine systems involved in the mediation of stereotypy. In contrast to L-tryptophan, however, pretreatment with quipazine, a 5-HT agonist, and clomipramine, a selective 5-HT neuronal reuptake blocker, was found to potentiate the stereotyped behaviour induced by amantadine.