Murine experimental leprosy: evaluation of immune response by analysis of peritoneal lavage cells and footpad histopathology

This study evaluated the immune response of nude and BALB/c mice inoculated in the footpads (FP) with Mycobacterium leprae after 3, 5 and 8 months. At each timepoint peritoneal cells, peripheral blood, FP and popliteal lymph nodes (PLN) were collected. Peritoneal cell cultures were performed to measure the H2O2, O2−, NO, IL­2, IL­4, IL­10, IL­12, IFN­Î³ and TNF levels. Serum levels of anti­PGL­I antibodies were also quantified. The results showed that the infection was progressive in nude mice with bacterial multiplication, development of macroscopic lesions in the FP and presence of bacilli in the PLN at 8 months. In BALB/c mice, the infection reached a plateau of bacillary multiplication at 5 months and regressed at 8 months. Histopathological analysis of FP revealed a mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate with a large number of neutrophils at 5 months, with a higher number in nude mice. At 8 months, the number of neutrophils decreased and the infiltrate was predominantly mononuclear in both mouse strains. There was no H2O2, O2−, IL­2, IL­4, IL­10 and IFN­Î³ production in the course of infection in nude mice; however, in BALB/c, O2− and IL­12 production was higher at 5 months and NO, IFN­Î³ and TNF production was higher at 8 months when there was a decrease in the number of bacilli. The level of anti­PGL­I antibodies was higher in BALB/c mice. Thus, nude and BALB/c mice can be used as experimental models for the study of various aspects of leprosy(AU).

In vitro and in situ activation of the complement system by the fungus Lacazia loboi / Ativação in vitro e in situ do sistema complemento pelo fungo Lacazia loboi

Since there are no studies evaluating the participation of the complement system (CS) in Jorge Lobo's disease and its activity on the fungus Lacazia loboi, we carried out the present investigation. Fungal cells with a viability index of 48% were obtained from the footpads of BALB/c mice and incubated with a pool of inactivated serum from patients with the mycosis or with sterile saline for 30 min at 37 ºC. Next, the tubes were incubated for 2 h with a pool of noninactivated AB+ serum, inactivated serum, serum diluted in EGTA-MgCl2, and serum diluted in EDTA. The viability of L. loboi was evaluated and the fungal suspension was cytocentrifuged. The slides were submitted to immunofluorescence staining using human anti-C3 antibody. The results revealed that 98% of the fungi activated the CS by the alternative pathway and no significant difference in L. loboi viability was observed after CS activation. In parallel, frozen histological sections from 11 patients were analyzed regarding the presence of C3 and IgG by immunofluorescence staining. C3 and IgG deposits were observed in the fungal wall of 100% and 91% of the lesions evaluated, respectively. The results suggest that the CS and immunoglobulins may contribute to the defense mechanisms of the host against L. loboi

Considerando que não existe nenhum estudo avaliando a participação do sistema complemento (SC) na doença de Jorge Lobo e sua atividade sobre o fungo Lacazia loboi, realizamos o presente trabalho. Os fungos foram obtidos dos coxins plantares de camundongos BALB/c com índice de viabilidade de 48% e, em seguida, foram incubados com pool de soro inativado de pacientes ou com solução salina estéril (SSE) por 30 min, a 37 ºC. Os tubos foram incubados, por 2 h, com pool de soro AB+ sem inativar, inativado, diluído em EGTA-MgCl2 e EDTA. A viabilidade do L. loboi foi avaliada e a suspensão fúngica foi citocentrifugada. As lâminas foram submetidas à técnica de imunofluorescência empregando o anticorpo anti-C3 humano. Os resultados revelaram que 98% dos fungos ativaram o SC pela via alternativa e que não houve diferença significante na viabilidade do L. loboi após ativação do SC. Em paralelo, cortes histológicos congelados de 11 pacientes foram avaliados quanto à presença de C3 e IgG, pela técnica de imunofluorescência. Foram encontrados depósitos de C3 e de IgG na parede dos fungos em 100% e 91% das lesões avaliadas, respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que o SC e as imunoglobulinas poderiam contribuir nos mecanismos de defesa do hospedeiro contra o L. loboi