Publications by authors named "Ana P Ligeiro-de-Oliveira"

Article Synopsis
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly affects global health, with factors such as smoking and immune cell profiles contributing to its severity; a deficiency in specific regulatory T cells can worsen respiratory issues.
  • Researchers employed Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy to investigate its effects on immune response in a COPD mouse model by analyzing various immune cell types and cytokine production.
  • The findings indicated that PBM therapy alleviated COPD symptoms by reducing inflammatory immune cell counts, lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ, and boosting the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, suggesting a potential treatment avenue for COPD.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Canine Alopecia X is a hair loss disorder primarily affecting German Spitz dogs, with treatment options like hormone supplements and melatonin, which is known to aid hair growth and is generally safe for dogs.
  • - Photobiomodulation (PBM), a treatment popular in humans for hair loss, hasn't been tested on dogs with Alopecia X, highlighting a gap in current research.
  • - In a study involving 60 dogs, participants will be split into three treatment groups—melatonin only, PBM only, and a combination of both—to evaluate their effectiveness in promoting hair regrowth over 90 days using specialized imaging techniques.
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It is largely known that photobiomodulation (PBM) has beneficial effects on allergic pulmonary inflammation. Our previous study showed an anti-inflammatory effect of the PBM in an acute experimental model of asthma, and we see that this mechanism is partly dependent on IL-10. However, it remains unclear whether the activation of regulatory T cells is mediated by PBM in a chronic experimental model of asthma.

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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a critical illness complication that is associated with high mortality. ARDS is documented in severe cases of COVID-19. No effective pharmacological treatments for ARDS are currently available.

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Aims: The aim of this study was to verify the impact of periodontitis in the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in C57Bl/6J mice.

Main Methods: The animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): Basal, Periodontitis (P), COPD and COPD+P. COPD was induced by orotracheal instillation of 30 μl of cigarette extract 3 times/week for 7 weeks.

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Background: The association of Periodontitis (P) with several systemic diseases, among them asthma (A), has been previously studied. As periodontal treatment (TTO) associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) is able to treat P, the aim of this study is to verify whether periodontitis exerts systemic effects on asthma, and whether TTO, associated or not with PDT, is capable of altering the systemic course of both pathologies.

Methods: 64 male Balb/c mice were divided into 8 groups (n = 8): Basal (B), P, P + TTO, P + TTO + PDT, Asthma, A + P, A + P + TTO, A + P + TTO + PDT.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA) concentration and solvent content of dental adhesives on cell viability and cytokine (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) release by human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). HDPCs were obtained from fresh extracted human third molars. Experimental adhesives were prepared containing different concentrations of HEMA (0%, 10%, and 20%) with and without solvent (ethanol 10%).

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Asthma is characterized by chronic inflammation in the airways. Several models have been proposed for the discovery of new therapies. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is relatively new and effective, very low cost, with no side effects.

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Purpose: We have previously shown that domperidone-induced short-term hyperprolactinemia reduces the lung's allergic inflammatory response in an ovalbumin antigenic challenge model. Since purinergic receptor P2X7R activity leads to proinflammatory cytokine release and is possibly related to the pathogenesis of allergic respiratory conditions, the present study was designed to investigate a possible involvement of purinergic and prolactin receptors in this phenomenon.

Methods: To induce hyperprolactinemia, domperidone was injected intraperitoneally in rats at a dose of 5.

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Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PS) infection results in severe morbidity and mortality, especially in immune-deficient populations. Aerobic exercise (AE) modulates the immune system, but its effects on the outcomes of pulmonary PS infection in elderly mice are unknown.

Methods: BALB/c mice (24 weeks old) were randomized to sedentary, exercise (EX), PS, and PS + EX groups for the acute experimental setting, and PS and PS + EX groups for the chronic setting.

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Article Synopsis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious, progressive illness causing irreversible airflow issues and is one of the top causes of death globally, creating significant economic burdens.
  • Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has emerged as a potential treatment option, known for its cost-effectiveness and lack of side effects, prompting researchers to explore its effectiveness in reducing lung damage from COPD.
  • In experimental studies with mice exposed to cigarette smoke, LLLT showed promising results in lowering inflammation and improving lung function by reducing harmful cytokines and collagen buildup while increasing beneficial IL-10 levels.
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Purpose: Evaluate the participation of STAT3 in the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) in a model of smoke-induced COPD.

Methods: C57Bl/6 male mice were divided into control, Exe, COPD, and COPD+Exe groups. Smoke were administered during 90 days.

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Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is an option for emphysematous patients who are awaiting lung transplantation. LVRS reduces nonfunctional portions of lung tissues and favors the compensatory lung growth (CLG) of the remaining lobes. This phenomenon diminishes dyspnea and improves both the respiratory mechanics and quality of life for the patients.

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Since asthma is a multifactorial disease where treatment sometimes is not effective, new therapies that improve the respiratory discomfort of patients are of great importance. Phototherapy as Light-emitting diode (LED) has emerged as a treatment that presents good results for diseases that are characterized by inflammation. Thus, our objective was to investigate the effects of LED on lung inflammation, by an evaluation of lung cell infiltration, mucus secretion, oedema, and the production of cytokines.

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Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise (AE) in reducing bleomycin-induced fibrosis in mice of a Th2-dominant immune background (BALB/c).

Methods: BALB/c mice were distributed into: sedentary, control (CON), Exercise-only (EX), sedentary, bleomycin-treated (BLEO) and bleomycin-treated+exercised (BLEO+EX); (n = 8/group). Following treadmill adaptation, 15 days following a single, oro-tracheal administration of bleomycin (1.

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Aims: To evaluate the influence of lactation on lung immune function during allergic inflammation.

Main Methods: Female rats, 60-90days old, were divided into three groups: no lung allergy virgins (N group), ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized and sensitized virgins (V group), and OVA-immunized and sensitized lactating females (L group). On gestation day (GD) 10, all animals in L group received a subcutaneous injection of 0.

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Lung diseases constitute an important public health problem and its growing level of concern has led to efforts for the development of new therapies, particularly for the control of lung inflammation. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been highlighted as a non-invasive therapy with few side effects, but its mechanisms need to be better understood and explored. Considering that pollution causes several harmful effects on human health, including lung inflammation, in this study, we have used formaldehyde (FA), an environmental and occupational pollutant, for the induction of neutrophilic lung inflammation.

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Aims: Prolactin is a major immunomodulator. The present study evaluated the effects of short-term hyperprolactinemia induced by domperidone before ovalbumin antigenic challenge on the lung's allergic inflammatory response.

Main Methods: To induce hyperprolactinemia, domperidone was injected in rats at a dose of 5.

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Background: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are deposited into the respiratory tract and are thought to be a risk factor for the development of diseases of the respiratory system. In healthy individuals, the timing and mechanisms of respiratory tract injuries caused by chronic exposure to air pollution remain to be clarified.

Methods: We evaluated the effects of chronic exposure to DEP at doses below those found in a typical bus corridor in Sao Paulo (150 μg/m3).

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease characterized by chronic airflow limitation that leads beyond the pulmonary changes to important systemic effects. COPD is characterized by pulmonary and systemic inflammation. However, increases in the levels of inflammatory cytokines in plasma are found even when the disease is stable.

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The present study aimed to investigate the effects low level laser therapy (LLLT) in a LPS-induced pulmonary and extrapulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in BALB/c mice. Laser (830nm laser, 9J/cm(2), 35mW, 80s per point, 3 points per application) was applied in direct contact with skin, 1h after LPS administration. Mice were distributed in control (n=6; PBS), ARDS IT (n=7; LPS orotracheally 10μg/mouse), ARDS IP (n=7; LPS intra-peritoneally 100μg/mouse), ARDS IT+Laser (n=9; LPS intra-tracheally 10μg/mouse), ARDS IP+Laser (n=9; LPS intra-peritoneally 100μg/mouse).

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Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is a hallmark of asthma and many factors modulate bronchoconstriction episodes. A potential correlation of formaldehyde (FA) inhalation and asthma has been observed; however, the exact role of FA remains controversial. We investigated the effects of FA inhalation on Ovalbumin (OVA) sensitisation using a parameter of respiratory mechanics.

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It is well established that female sex hormones have a pivotal role in inflammation. For instance, our group has previously reported that estradiol has proinflammatory actions during allergic lung response in animal models. Based on these findings, we have decided to further investigate whether T regulatory cells are affected by female sex hormones absence after ovariectomy.

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Glutamate acts as a neurotransmitter within the Central Nervous System (CNS) and modifies immune cell activity. In lymphocytes, NMDA glutamate receptors regulate intracellular calcium, the production of reactive oxygen species and cytokine synthesis. MK-801, a NMDA receptor open-channel blocker, inhibits calcium entry into mast cells, thereby preventing mast cell degranulation.

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Asthma is an allergic lung disease can be modulated by drugs that modify the activity of central nervous system (CNS) such as amphetamine (AMPH). AMPH is a highly abused drug that exerts potent effects on behavior and immunity. In this study we investigated the mechanism involved in the effects of long-term AMPH treatment on the increased magnitude of allergic lung response.

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