Evaluation of matrix metalloproteinases in blood from buck naturally infected with Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis in Semiarid region of Brazil / Avaliação das metaloproteinases de matriz no sangue de reprodutores caprinos naturalmente infectados com Artrite Encefalite Caprina na Região Semiárida do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Background: Studies have attempted to understand the importance of metalloproteinase (MMPs) in the pathogenesis ofdiseases caused by lentiviruses, being the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the most investigated. Despite advancesin studies with MMPs in others diseases, research correlating the presence and activity of gelatinases in animals affectedby caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV), a lentiviruses, are incipient and there is a need for research aiming to understand the dynamic of these enzymes in animals infected and its relation to pathological condition. The aim of this studywas to evaluate the presence and activity of the MMPs in blood serum of chronically infected bucks by CAEV.Materials, Methods & Results: The experiment was constituted by two groups (n = 5 each group). The first one wascomposed of five naturally infected bucks (4-5 years) and second group constituted of five seronegative bucks (3-4 years)for CAE. Serology was performed using the Western Blotting (WB) and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).These bucks belong to the experimental flock at Embrapa Goats and Sheep and the seropositive bucks were confirmed forCAE in the first two years. Blood samples were collected by puncturing the jugular vein from animals and evaluated byzymography (SDS-PAGE) using gelatin as substratum. Clinical examination was performed by evaluating the temperature (T), cardiac frequency (FC), respiratory frequency (FR) and clinical articular index (IAC). The IAC was calculatedby measuring the circumference of carpal joint and metacarpal bone height (difference between greater extent carpal andmetacarpal lesser extent). In infected and control groups were found molecular mass bands of 66 kDa (MMP-2), 72 kDa(pro-MMP-2), 86 kDa (MMP-9) and 92 kDa (pro-MMP-9). The correlation...(AU)