American cutaneous leishmaniasis: In situ immune response of patients with recent and late lesions

TNF­α, IFN­Î³, IL­10, IL­17, CD68 and CD57 were evaluated in biopsies of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis living in Sorocaba, Brazil. The analyses were performed considering the time of lesions from 23 patients with recent lesions (Group I) and 19 patients with late lesions (Group II). All patients were infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Immunostaining cells for CD68, CD57, TNF­ α, IFN­Î³, IL­10 and IL­17 were performed by immunohistochemistry. Except for CD68 and IL­17, the distribution of in situ for CD57, IL­10, TNF­α and IFN­Î³ showed that patients with recent lesions expressed higher levels than those with late lesions. The comparison of cytokine expression/group showed that IL­10 was significantly higher than IL­17 and IFN­Î³ (similar data were shown in IL­17 compared with TNF­α), suggesting an immunological balance between inflammatory­anti­inflammatory agents. This balance was similar for two groups of patients. In conclusion, these data suggested that (i) patients from Group I had recent lesions (in the beginning of chronic phase) compared to those from Group II and (ii) the modulation of inflammatory response in patients with recent American cutaneous leishmaniasis was correlated with IL­10 expression in skin lesions preventing the development of mucosal forms. The parasite treatment also prevented the evolution of severe forms.

TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17, CD68 e CD57 foram avaliados em biópsias de pacientes com leishmaniose tegumentar americana residentes em Sorocaba, Brasil. As análises foram realizadas considerando o tempo de lesão de 23 pacientes com lesões recentes (Grupo I) e 19 pacientes com lesões tardias (Grupo II). Todos os pacientes foram infectados com Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. As células de imunocoloração para CD68, CD57, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 e IL-17 foram realizadas por imuno-histoquímica. Exceto para CD68 e IL-17, a distribuição in situ de CD57, IL-10, TNF-α e IFN-γ mostrou que pacientes com lesões recentes expressavam níveis mais altos do que aqueles com lesões tardias. A comparação da expressão / grupo de citocinas mostrou que a IL-10 foi significativamente maior que a IL-17 e IFN-γ (dados semelhantes foram mostrados na IL-17 em comparação com o TNF-α), sugerindo um equilíbrio imunológico entre agentes inflamatórios e anti-inflamatórios . Esse equilíbrio foi semelhante para dois grupos de pacientes. Em conclusão, esses dados sugeriram que (i) pacientes do grupo I apresentavam lesões recentes (no início da fase crônica) em comparação com os do grupo II e (ii) a modulação da resposta inflamatória em pacientes com leishmaniose tegumentar americana recente estava correlacionada com Expressão da IL - 10 em lesões cutâneas impedindo o desenvolvimento de formas mucosas. O tratamento do parasita também impediu a evolução de formas graves.

Pathology of congenital Zika syndrome in Brazil: a case series

Zika virus is an arthropod-borne virus that is a member of the family Flaviviridae transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Although usually asymptomatic, infection can result in a mild and self-limiting illness characterised by fever, rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis. An increase in the number of children born with microcephaly was noted in 2015 in regions of Brazil with high transmission of Zika virus. More recently, evidence has been accumulating supporting a link between Zika virus and microcephaly. Here, we describe findings from three fatal cases and two spontaneous abortions associated with Zika virus infection.