Chemokine receptor 7 implications of spleen dendritic cells in multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome in mice / Implicaciones del receptor de la quimiocina de tipo 7 de las células dendríticas del bazo en el síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple en ratones

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) expression of spleen dendritic cells (DCs) and their role in the changes of migration and activity of spleen DCs in multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: The MODS model of mice was reproduced. The mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: normal, three-hour to six-hour, 24-hour to 48-hour, and 10-day to 12-day postzymosan injection. CD11c and CD205 were analysed by immunohistochemistry; the expressions of CD86 and CCR7 of DCs were studied using flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS: In normal mice, many DCs were found at the margin between the red and white pulp. In the three-hour to six-hour and 24- to 48-hour group, DC effectively upregulated CD86 and CCR7, and they were distributed in T-cell areas. In the 10-day to 12-day group, DCs were distributed at the margin by the immature form. CONCLUSION: The CCR7 expression level of DCs had close correlations with the migration of DCs. Chemokine receptor 7 can be used to evaluate the migration and functional activity of DCs in MODS.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio persigue explorar la expresión del receptor de la quimiocina 7 (CCR7) de células dendríticas del bazo (CD), y su papel en los cambios de la migración y la actividad del las células DC del bazo en el síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple (SDOM). MÉTODOS: Se reprodujo el modelo SDOM de los ratones. Los ratones fueron asignados aleatoriamente a los siguientes grupos de inyección de post-zymosan: hora normal, tres a seis horas, 24 horas a 48 horas, y de 10 a 12 días. CD11c y CD205 fueron analizados mediante inmunohistoquímica. Las expresiones de CD86 y CCR7 de CD se estudiaron mediante análisis de citometría de flujo. RESULTADOS: En los ratones normales, muchas células CD fueron encontradas en el margen entre la pulpa roja y la blanca. En el grupo de tres a seis horas y el grupo de 24 a 48 horas, CD86y CCR7 fueron efectivamente sobre-regulados en CD, y distribuidos en las áreas de células T. En el grupo de 10 a 12 días, las CDs fueron distribuidas en el margen por la forma inmadura. CONCLUSIÓN: El nivel de expresión CCR7 de las CDs tuvo estrecha correlación con la migración de las CDs. El receptor de la quimiocina de tipo 7 puede utilizarse para evaluar la migración y la actividad funcional de las CDs en SDOM.

Chemokines and chemokine receptors expression in the lesions of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) presents distinct active clinical forms with different grades of severity, known as localised (LCL), intermediate (ICL) and diffuse (DCL) cutaneous leishmaniasis. LCL and DCL are associated with a polarised T-helper (Th)1 and Th2 immune response, respectively, whereas ICL, or chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis, is associated with an exacerbated immune response and a mixed cytokine expression profile. Chemokines and chemokine receptors are involved in cellular migration and are critical in the inflammatory response. Therefore, we evaluated the expression of the chemokines CXCL10, CCL4, CCL8, CCL11 and CXCL8 and the chemokine receptors CCR3, CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR7 in the lesions of patients with different clinical forms of ACL using immunohistochemistry. LCL patients exhibited a high density of CXCL10+, CCL4+ and CCL8+ cells, indicating an important role for these chemokines in the local Th1 immune response and the migration of CXCR3+ cells. LCL patients showed a higher density of CCR7+ cells than ICL or DCL patients, suggesting major dendritic cell (DC) migration to lymph nodes. Furthermore, DCL was associated with low expression levels of Th1-associated chemokines and CCL11+ epidermal DCs, which contribute to the recruitment of CCR3+ cells. Our findings also suggest an important role for epidermal cells in the induction of skin immune responses through the production of chemokines, such as CXCL10, by keratinocytes.

Seric chemokines and chemokine receptors in eosinophils during acute human schistosomiasis mansoni

The recruitment of circulating eosinophils by chemokines and chemokine receptors plays an important role in the inflammation process in acute human schistosomiasis. Our main focus has been on the plasma chemokines (CXCL8/CCL2/CCL3/CCL24) and chemokine receptors (CCR2/CCR3/CCR5/CXCR1/CXCR2/CXCR3/CXCR4) expressed by circulating eosinophils from acute Schistosoma mansoni infected patients (ACT). Our studies compared ACT patients and healthy individuals as a control group. Our major findings demonstrated a plethora of chemokine secretion with significantly increased secretion of all chemokines analysed in the ACT group. Although no differences were detected for beta-chemokine receptors (CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5) or alpha-chemokine receptors (CXCR3 and CXCR4), a significantly lower frequency of CXCR1+ and CXCR2+ eosinophils in the ACT group was observed. The association between chemokines and their chemokine receptors revealed that acutely infected schistosome patients displaying decreased plasma levels of CCL24 are the same patients who presented enhanced secretion of CCL3, as well as increased expression of both the CCR5 and CXCR3 chemokine receptors. These findings suggest that CCL24 may influence the kinetics of chemokines and their receptors and eosinophils recruitment during human acute schistosomiasis mansoni.

Back to the future in Chagas disease: from animal models to patient cohort studies, progress in immunopathogenesis research

Despite the wealth of information generated by trans-disciplinary research in Chagas disease, knowledge about its multifaceted pathogenesis is still fragmented. Here we review the body of experimental studies in animal models supporting the concept that persistent infection by Trypanosoma cruzi is crucial for the development of chronic myocarditis. Complementing this review, we will make an effort to reconcile seemingly contradictory results concerning the immune profiles of chronic patients from Argentina and Brazil. Finally, we will review the results of molecular studies suggesting that parasite-induced inflammation and tissue damage is, at least in part, mediated by the activities of trans-sialidase, mucin-linked lipid anchors (TLR2 ligand) and cruzipain (a kinin-releasing cysteine protease). One hundred years after the discovery of Chagas disease, it is reassuring that basic and clinical research tends to converge, raising new perspectives for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease.

Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi-elicited cardiomyopathy: from the discovery to the proposal of rational therapeutic interventions targeting cell adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors: how to make a dream come true

One hundred years ago, Carlos Chagas discovered a new disease, the American trypanosomiasis. Chagas and co-workers later characterised the disease's common manifestation, chronic cardiomyopathy, and suggested that parasitic persistence coupled with inflammation was the key underlying pathogenic mechanism. Better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms leading to clinical heart afflictions is a prerequisite to developing new therapies that ameliorate inflammation and improve heart function without hampering parasite control. Here, we review recent data showing that distinct cell adhesion molecules, chemokines and chemokine receptors participate in anti-parasite immunity and/or detrimental leukocyte trafficking to the heart. Moreover, we offer evidence that CC-chemokine receptors may be attractive therapeutic targets aiming to regain homeostatic balance in parasite/host interaction thereby improving prognosis, supporting that it is becoming a non-phantasious proposal.

The pattern of immune cell infiltration in chromoblastomycosis: involvement of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha/CCL3 and fungi persistence

Chromoblastomycosis (CR) is a subcutaneous chronic mycosis characterized by a granulomatous inflammatory response. However, little is known regarding the pattern of leukocyte subsets in CR and the pathways involved in their recruitment. The objective of this study was to assess the cellular subsets, chemokine, chemokine receptors and enzymes in CR. The inflammatory infiltrate was characterized by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against macrophages (CD68), Langerhans'cells (S100), lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CD20 and CD56) and neutrophils (CD15). The expression of MIP-1alpha (Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha), chemokine receptors (CXCR3 and CCR1) and enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD and nitric oxide synthase-iNOS) was also evaluated by the same method. We observed an increase in all populations evaluated when compared with the controls. Numbers of CD15+ and CD56+ were significantly lower than CD3+, CD4+, CD20+ and CD68+ cells. Statistical analysis revealed an association of fungi numbers with CD3, CD45RO and iNOS-positive cells. Furthermore, MIP-1alpha expression was associated with CD45RO, CD68, iNOS and CXCR3. Our results suggest a possible role of MIP-1alpha and fungi persistence in the cell infiltration in CR sites.

A cromomicose é micose subcutânea crônica sistêmica caracterizada por resposta inflamatória crônica granulomatosa. No entanto, existem poucos dados a respeito do padrão de subtipos de leucócitos na cromomicose e sobre as vias envolvidas no recrutamento destas células. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os tipos celulares, bem como a expressão de quimiocinas, receptores de quimiocinas e enzimas em lesões de cromomicose. O infiltrado inflamatório foi caracterizado por meio de técnica imuno-histoquímica utilizando os seguintes marcadores CD68 (macrófagos), S100 (células de Langerhans), CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CD20 e CD56 (linfócitos) e CD15 (neutrófilos). A expressão de MIP-1alfa (Proteína Inflamatória do Macrófago-1alfa), receptores de quimiocinas (CXCR3 e CCR1) e enzimas (superóxido dismutase-SOD e óxido nítrico sintase induzida-iNOS) foi avaliada pelo mesmo método. Observou-se um aumento de todas as populações celulares avaliadas em relação às amostras controle. As populações de células CD15+ e CD56+ foram significativamente menores que células CD3+, CD4+, CD20+ e CD68+. A análise estatística revelou uma correlação positiva entre o número de fungos com as células CD3, CD45RO e iNOS-positivas. A expressão de MIP-1alfa foi também associada às populações de células CD45RO, CD68, iNOS e CXCR3 positivas. Nossos resultados apontam para um possível papel de MIP-1alfa e da persistência fúngica na infiltração de células inflamatórias nos sítios de cromomicose.

The role of chemokines in Schistosoma mansoni infection: insights from human disease and murine models

Chemokines are a superfamily of low-molecular-weight cytokines that were initially described for their chemoattractant activity. It is now clear chemokines have several other activities that modulate immune processes. More than 50 chemokines ligands and at least 19 receptors have been described to date. Depending on the number of N-terminal cysteine residues, chemokines are grouped in the subfamilies CXC, CC, C or CX3C. A growing body of evidence suggests a role for chemokines in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases. Our studies involving mice and humans infected with Schistosoma mansoni suggest an important role of the chemokine CCL3 and its receptors (CCR1 and CCR5) in the pathogenesis of severe schistosomiasis. We suggest that the differential activation of CCR1 or CCR5 during the course of schistosomiasis may dictate the outcome of the disease.

Anergy and chemokine receptors.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) induces a spectrum of immune abnormalities in the host by binding to CD4 molecules and chemokine receptors. Anergy, apoptosis, and immune activation are among the diverse immunological changes observed in the host. Chemokines, being the natural ligands for the chemokine receptors, block the entry of a retroviral strain, which exhibits tropism for the given receptor. This opens new therapeutic strategies and intervention possibilities for treating HIV infected individuals.