Hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of silibinin on experimental preeclampsia induced by L-NAME in rats.

AIMS: Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with N-omega-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) has been employed as an experimental model of human preeclampsia. This study determined the protective effect of silibinin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties on the deleterious effects observed in experimentally induced preeclampsia in rats. MAIN METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats were treated during gestation (days 10-20) with l-NAME (70-80mg/kg/day) in drinking water or with l-NAME plus silibinin (100mg/kg/day, orally) starting at day 0, day 7 or day 14 of pregnancy. Systolic blood pressure was recorded from gestation days 0 to 21. A control group of pregnant non-treated rats was analyzed similarly. On day 21 the rats were euthanized and the following parameters were evaluated: proteinuria, platelet count, liver histopathology and reproductive outcome. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1ß), IL-6, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were determined in liver homogenate by enzyme immunoassay. KEY FINDINGS: In comparison with the l-NAME group the silibinin treatment reduced the values of systolic blood pressure, proteinuria, TNF-α, IL-1ß and IFN-γ in liver, normalized the platelet count and improved fetal outcomes. Histopathological lesions in liver of the l-NAME group showed intense mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and thickening of muscle tunica of arterial vessel, mainly in the periportal area. Silibinin treatment induced attenuation of periportal inflammatory infiltrate, showing an association between inflammatory infiltrate and TNF-α, IL-1ß and IFN-γ levels in liver homogenate. SIGNIFICANCE: Silibinin administration to l-NAME-treated rats displays anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory actions that may contribute to its hepatoprotective effects and improve reproductive outcomes in experimental preeclampsia.

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhances the modulatory effect of cytokines on monocyte-derived multinucleated giant cell formation and fungicidal activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) are cells present in characteristic granulomatous inflammation induced by intracellular infectious agents or foreign materials. The present study evaluated the modulatory effect of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in association with other cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß1) on the formation of MGC from human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen (PbAg). The generation of MGC was determined by fusion index (FI) and the fungicidal activity of these cells was evaluated after 4 h of MGC co-cultured with viable yeast cells of P. brasiliensis strain 18 (Pb18). The results showed that monocytes incubated with PbAg and GM-CSF plus IFN-γ had a significantly higher FI than in all the other cultures, while the addition of IL-10 or TGF-ß1 had a suppressive effect on MGC generation. Monocytes incubated with both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines had a higher induction of foreign body-type MGC rather than Langhans-type MGC. MGC stimulated with PbAg and GM-CSF in association with the other cytokines had increased fungicidal activity and the presence of GM-CSF also partially inhibited the suppressive effects of IL-10 and TGF-ß1. Together, these results suggest that GM-CSF is a positive modulator of PbAg-stimulated MGC generation and on the fungicidal activity against Pb18.

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhances the modulatory effect of cytokines on monocyte-derived multinucleated giant cell formation and fungicidal activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) are cells present in characteristic granulomatous inflammation induced by intracellular infectious agents or foreign materials. The present study evaluated the modulatory effect of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in association with other cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) on the formation of MGC from human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen (PbAg). The generation of MGC was determined by fusion index (FI) and the fungicidal activity of these cells was evaluated after 4 h of MGC co-cultured with viable yeast cells of P. brasiliensis strain 18 (Pb18). The results showed that monocytes incubated with PbAg and GM-CSF plus IFN-γ had a significantly higher FI than in all the other cultures, while the addition of IL-10 or TGF-β1 had a suppressive effect on MGC generation. Monocytes incubated with both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines had a higher induction of foreign body-type MGC rather than Langhans-type MGC. MGC stimulated with PbAg and GM-CSF in association with the other cytokines had increased fungicidal activity and the presence of GM-CSF also partially inhibited the suppressive effects of IL-10 and TGF-β1. Together, these results suggest that GM-CSF is a positive modulator of PbAg-stimulated MGC generation and on the fungicidal activity against Pb18.

Interleukin-15 augments oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of human monocytes against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates the proliferation and survival of many cell types. IL-15 is produced by monocytes and macrophages against infectious agents and plays a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune responses. This study analyzed the effect of IL-15 on fungicidal activity, oxidative metabolism and cytokine production by human monocytes challenged in vitro with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18), the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis. Peripheral blood monocytes were pre-incubated with IL-15 and then challenged with Pb18. Fungicidal activity was assessed by viable fungi recovery from cultures after plating on brain-heart infusion-agar. Superoxide anion (O2⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-15 and IL-10 production by monocytes were also determined. IL-15 enhanced fungicidal activity against Pb18 in a dose-dependent pattern. This effect was abrogated by addition of anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody. A significant stimulatory effect of IL-15 on O2⁻ and H2O2 release suggests that fungicidal activity was dependent on the activation of oxidative metabolism. Pre-treatment of monocytes with IL-15 induced significantly higher levels of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-15 production by cells challenged with the fungus. These results suggest a modulatory effect of IL-15 on pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of monocytes during Pb18 infection.

Interleukin-15 augments oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of human monocytes against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates the proliferation and survival of many cell types. IL-15 is produced by monocytes and macrophages against infectious agents and plays a pivotal role in innate and adaptive immune responses. This study analyzed the effect of IL-15 on fungicidal activity, oxidative metabolism and cytokine production by human monocytes challenged in vitro with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18), the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis. Peripheral blood monocytes were pre-incubated with IL-15 and then challenged with Pb18. Fungicidal activity was assessed by viable fungi recovery from cultures after plating on brain-heart infusion-agar. Superoxide anion (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-15 and IL-10 production by monocytes were also determined. IL-15 enhanced fungicidal activity against Pb18 in a dose-dependent pattern. This effect was abrogated by addition of anti-IL-15 monoclonal antibody. A significant stimulatory effect of IL-15 on O2- and H2O2 release suggests that fungicidal activity was dependent on the activation of oxidative metabolism. Pre-treatment of monocytes with IL-15 induced significantly higher levels of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-15 production by cells challenged with the fungus. These results suggest a modulatory effect of IL-15 on pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative metabolism and fungicidal activity of monocytes during Pb18 infection.

Downregulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway by silibinin in human monocytes challenged with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

AIMS: Silibinin is the major active component of silymarin, a polyphenolic plant flavonoid that has anti-inflammatory effects. The modulatory effect of silibinin on monocyte function against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18) has not yet been demonstrated. The present study investigated whether the effect of silibinin on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathways may affect the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta1), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), nitric oxide (NO) and fungicidal activity of human monocytes challenged in vitro with Pb18. MAIN METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy individuals were treated with silibinin and challenged with Pb18 for 18h. TNF-alpha, IL-10, TGF-beta1 and PGE(2) expression were determined by immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and NO release was determined by the accumulation of nitrite in culture supernatants. Fungicidal activity of monocytes was analyzed after treatment with interferon-gamma plus silibinin and challenge with Pb18. NF-kappaB activation in cultured monocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry and ELISA. KEY FINDINGS: Silibinin partially inhibited p65NF-kappaB activation as the number of cells expressing this factor was reduced and the concentration of nuclear p65NF-kappaB was low, compared to untreated controls. The addition of silibinin also resulted in suppression of TNF-alpha, IL-10, TGF-beta1, PGE(2) and NO production but did not affect the fungicidal activity of monocytes against Pb18. SIGNIFICANCE: Silibinin exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects on CD14+/- human monocytes challenged by Pb18 by partial inhibition of p65NF-kappaB activation.