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Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) modulates inflammatory reactions, having beneficial or toxic effects depending on the concentration. Its elevation can cause proinflammatory effects amplifying the inflammatory process with the participation of cytokines. Smoking has a negative impact on health and is considered one of the risk factors that influence disease development facilitating inflammatory processes., Aim: To compare the serum concentration of NO and cytokines in smokers at baseline and after 4months of abstinence treatment., Methods: Blood samples which were collected to obtain the serum, at baseline and after 4months, were stored at -80°C until analysis. NO was measured by the total dose of nitrite determined by the Greiss method. CBA was the used technique to determine the concentration of cytokines in supernatants serum. The initial and final results of NO, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and IL-12 that remained after 4months treatment were compared. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the data and Spearman test for correlations between NO and other variables. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted., Results: The analysis of NO observed a significant reduction (p=0.001) of the initial median value of 18.80 (3.55-80.01) μmol/L to 8.10 (2.85-14.97) μmol/L after 4months of treatment. There were no significant differences in cytokines from baseline to the end of treatment., Conclusion: The results may not mean harm to the body, but an adaptive process, decreasing the metabolism of abstinents due to the reduction of the use of nicotine., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) shows distinct clinical courses. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model to study multiple sclerosis, can be induced by different protocols, which show distinct cytokine and antibody production. The factors involved in this heterogeneity remain unclear. The relevance of MOG concentration in triggering a regulatory response in the chronic model of EAE is imprecise. The aim of this study was investigate if 100 or 300 μg of MOG(35-55) could induce different EAE profiles. Modifications in the concentration of MOG were able to change the patterns of chemokines, cytokines, percentage of cells, inflammatory infiltrate and the development of a regulatory response. However, these changes were unable to modify the intensity of response, which explains the chronic progression of the disease in both concentrations. The results presented in this study contribute to understanding the intricate mechanisms that trigger EAE and provide insights into the pathogenesis of various forms of MS., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Schistosoma mansoni tegument interaction with the immune system plays a key role in disease establishment or elimination. We have recently demonstrated that S. mansoni schistosomula tegument (Smteg) is able to activate innate immune response and to induce protective immunity in a vaccine formulation with Freunds adjuvant. In this work, we evaluated the ability of Smteg to elicit protection in the absence of adjuvant. Smteg mice immunization resulted in significant antibody production, increased percentage of CD4+IFN-g+ and CD4+IL-10+ cells in spleen and increased production of IFN-g and IL-10 by spleen cells, but failed to reduce parasite burden, female fecundity and morbidity. We also demonstrated that BMDC stimulation with Smteg resulted in significant IL-10 production. Our results demonstrate that Smteg has immune modulatory proprieties., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A study by concentration-dependent Raman spectroscopy is presented for solutions of AlCl(3) in THF. The formation of small amounts of AlCl(4)(-) has been evidenced by the appearance of only one band at 348 cm(-1) in the most diluted salt solution. Another band at 330 cm(-1) starts rising with increasing salt concentration and it seems to belong to the [AlCl(3)(THF)(3)] complex. Indeed, this octahedral entity was confirmed by the quantitative analysis performed at the band envelope at 915 cm(-1). At this region, additional bands at 927 and 858 cm(-1) were observed and assigned to the C-C and C-O stretching modes, respectively, of THF molecules coordinated to the aluminum salt. Besides them, another band at 1042 cm(-1) clearly reveals the existence of this population of molecules. Although neutral octahedral complexes seem to be the major species in more concentrated salt solutions, the Raman spectra show the presence of complex ions in whole studied concentration range., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: A low ratio of omega-6/omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is associated with healthy bone properties. However, fatty diets can induce obesity. Our objective was to evaluate intra-abdominal adiposity, insulin, and bone growth in rats fed a high-fat diet containing low ratios of omega-6/omega-3 provided in canola oil., Methods: After weaning, rats were grouped and fed either a control diet (7S), a high-fat diet containing soybean oil (19S) or a high-fat diet of canola oil (19C) until they were 60 days old. Differences were considered to be significant if p<0.05., Results: After 60 days, the 19S and 19C groups showed more energy intake, body density growth and intraabdominal fat mass. However, the 19S group had a higher area (200%) and a lower number (44%) of adipocytes, while the 7S and 19C groups did not differ. The serum concentrations of glucose and insulin and the insulin resistance index were significantly increased in the 19C group (15%, 56%, and 78%, respectively) compared to the 7S group. Bone measurements of the 19S and 19C groups showed a higher femur mass (25%) and a higher lumbar vertebrae mass (11%) and length (5%). Computed tomography analysis revealed more radiodensity in the proximal femoral epiphysis and lumbar vertebrae of 19C group compared to the 7S and 19S groups., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the amount and source of fat used in the diet after weaning increase body growth and fat depots and affect insulin resistance and, consequently, bone health.

The high incidence of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae can be reduced by splenic autotransplantation. In this study the effect of splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation on the immune response to S. pneumoniae infection was investigated. Balb/c mice were divided into three groups: splenectomized (SP), splenectomized and autotransplanted (AT), and sham operated control (CT). Five days post-infection the serum antibody levels were measured and the number of S. pneumoniae CFU, neutrophil accumulation and IL-17 production in the liver and lungs were investigated. SP mice showed greater number of bacteria in both organs and lower serum levels of S. pneumoniae-specific IgM, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. IL-17 production and neutrophil recruitment to the liver and lungs were lower in SP mice, in comparison with both the CT and the AT groups. Levels of S. pneumoniae-specific IgM, CFU counts, neutrophil accumulation and IL-17 production did not differ significantly between the CT and AT groups. These results suggest that splenic autotransplantation restores the capacity of splenectomized mice to fight S. pneumoniae infection., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Unlabelled: Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid has been used extensively as a model for intestinal inflammatory disease. Colonic tissue lesions of intestinal inflammatory disease patients seem to be related to the increased local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma)., Purpose: To assess the cytokine expression pattern identified through immunohistochemistry in colonic mucosa after experimental colitis induced by acetic acid and establish the relationship between this pattern and the presence of macroscopic lesions., Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats (n = 39) were divided at random into 4 groups: NC45 and NC24 (control without colitis; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively); and WC45 and WC24 (with experimental colitis induced by acetic acid; sacrificed at 45 minutes and 24 hours, respectively). Macroscopic and microscopic alterations in colonic tissue were evaluated, and cytokine expression was assessed through immunohistochemistry., Results: After 24 hours, IL-1 expression was greater in the groups with colitis when compared to the groups without colitis. IL-4 expression was higher in the WC45 group. There was an increase in both INF-gamma and IL-6 related to the presence of necrosis of the colonic mucosa in the groups with colitis for both periods evaluated., Conclusion: The immunohistochemical technique was efficient for the analysis of various cytokine expressions in the colonic tissue. There was an increase in the IL-1 pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as in IL-6 and IFN-gamma associated with the presence of colonic necrosis. Experimental colitis induced by acetic acid is a useful model for the development of studies assessing the role of cytokines in the inflammation of mucosa as well as anti-cytokine therapies.