Neoliberalismo, conservadorismo religioso e opressões de gênero e sexualidade no Brasil / Neoliberalism, religious conservatism and oppressions based on gender and sexuality in Brazil

Resumo: O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar as confluências entre a agenda neoliberal capitalista e o conservadorismo moralista religioso, sobretudo as alianças de ocasião travadas por ambos, observadas por Vaggione et al. (2020). Com ênfase nas opressões de gênero e sexualidade fomentadas pelo conservadorismo de matriz cristã, são traçadas perspectivas de resistência pelo Serviço Social brasileiro, em especial considerando a profunda relação entre este e os Movimentos Sociais.

Abstract: This article aims to analyze the confluences between the neoliberal capitalist agenda and religious moralist conservatism, especially the occasional alliances made by both, observed by Vaggione et al. (2020). Emphasizing the oppression of gender and sexuality fostered by conservatism of Christian origin, perspectives of resistance by the Brazilian Social Service are outlined, especially considering the deep relationship between it and the Social Movements.

Diversidade e liberdade sexual: Defensoria Pública, movimentos sociais e a PrEP no SUS / Diversity and sexual freedom: Public Defense, social movements and PrEP in the Brazilian Public Health System

Resumo: O artigo analisa a defesa da liberdade sexual, da diversidade e dos direitos sexuais pela Defensoria Pública do Estado de São Paulo e pelos movimentos sociais no processo de inclusão da Profilaxia Pré-Exposição (PrEP) nos protocolos clínicos e diretrizes terapêuticas do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS para HIV/Aids, enfatizando o contraponto feito nas atuações contra discursos e práticas institucionalizados heteronormativas e tecnocráticas.

Abstract: This article is a brief analysis on sexual freedom, diversity and sexual rights as sustained arguments by Brazilian Public Defense (Defensoria Pública do Estado de São Paulo) and social movements during the process of public consultation and further approval of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Brazilian Public Health System, emphasizing a substancial critique on technocracy and heteronormativity.

The anti-oestrogen fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) reduces the androgen receptor expression, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation in the rat ventral prostate.

This study proposed to investigate further the role of oestrogens during pubertal growth of rat ventral prostate, by analysing the effect of anti-oestrogen fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) on the expression of androgen (AR) and oestrogen receptors (ESR1 and ESR2), mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, and expression of Ki-67, a biomarker for cell proliferation. Ventral prostates were obtained from 90-day-old rats treated once a week for 2 months with vehicle (control) or ICI 182,780 (10 mg/rat, s.c.). Transcripts for AR, ESR1 and ESR2 were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Expression of AR, ESR1, ESR2, total and phospho-ERK1/2 was analysed by Western blot or immunofluorescence. Ki-67-positive cells and myosin heavy chain were detected by immunohistochemistry. Cylindrical epithelial cells slightly taller, epithelial dysplasia and an increase in smooth muscle layer were observed in the ventral prostate from ICI 182,780-treated rats. ICI 182,780 did not change the mRNA, but decreased the protein levels for AR in the ventral prostate. The expression of ESR1 (mRNA and protein) was upregulated by ICI 182,780, but no changes were observed on ESR2 expression (mRNA and protein). ICI 182,780 decreased the phosphorylation state of ERK1/2, with no changes in total ERK1/2 levels. Ki-67-positive cells in the ventral prostate were also decreased by ICI 182,780. In conclusion, ICI 182,780 induces downregulation of AR expression and may block the translocation of ESR1 and ESR2 from the nucleus to the plasma membrane, decreasing ERK1/2 phosphorylation and prostatic epithelial cell proliferation. These findings provide a basis for physiological roles of oestrogen in the ventral prostate. Further studies with fulvestrant are necessary in benign prostate hyperplasia and prostatic cancer models.

Oestrogen imprinting causes nuclear changes in epithelial cells and overall inhibition of gene transcription and protein synthesis in rat ventral prostate.

Oestrogen exposure during the early post-natal period affects male growth, physiology, and susceptibility to disease in adult life. The prostate gland is susceptible to this oestrogen imprinting, showing a reduced expression of the androgen receptor and inability to respond to androgen stimulus. In this context, we decided to study key signalling regulators of ventral prostate (VP) functioning after early postnatal exposure to high-dose oestrogen. Our results showed a decrease of mTOR phosphorylation and its direct downstream target 4EBP. It is known that mTOR-induced signalling is a pivotal pathway of cell metabolism, which is able to control gene transcription and protein synthesis. We then decided to investigate other indicators of a reduced metabolism in the oestrogenized prostate, and found that the luminal epithelial cells were shorter, less polarized and had smaller nuclei containing more compacted chromatin, suggesting that a general mechanism of regulating gene expression and protein synthesis could be installed in the epithelium of the oestrogenized VP. To evaluate this idea, we analysed nucleolar morphology, and measured the amount of ribosomes and the level of methylation of the 45S ribosomal RNA promoter region. These data indicated that the nucleolus was dismantled and that the methylation at the 45S promoter was increased ( approximately five-fold). Taken together, the results support the idea that the oestrogenized prostate maintains a very low transcriptional level and protein turnover by affecting canonical signalling pathways and promoting nuclear and nucleolar changes.

Stromal remodelling is required for progressive involution of the rat ventral prostate after castration: identification of a matrix metalloproteinase-dependent apoptotic wave.

Prostate epithelial-cell apoptosis occurs in response to androgen deprivation. We have hypothesized that continued regression would require stromal changes. Studying apoptosis kinetics up to the 14th day after castration, we identified successive waves of apoptosis, with a prominent peak on day 11. This peak was associated with caspase-3 activity, nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor and clusterin expression. The apoptosis peak on day 11 was preceded by increased MMP-2 and MMP-7 activation, and MMP-9 expression on days 9 and 10. Treatment with the matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors doxycyclin, hydrocortisone, or GM6001 caused significant reduction in the apoptosis rate on day 11. The present data demonstrate that prostatic epithelial-cell deletion at the 11th day after castration was induced by focal degradation of the extracellular matrix associated with stromal remodelling.