Cytotoxic and Phytotoxic Activities of Native Brazilian Forest Gabiroba ( Berg.), Fruits, and Flour against Shrimp ( L.) and Lettuce ( L.).

Gabiroba, a native fruit in Brazil's Atlantic Forest region, has significant nutritional and therapeutic properties. However, due to its seasonality, consumption by the population is limited. Thus, the development of gabiroba byproducts would add significant value to the food and therapeutic industries.

Bioactive Secondary Plant Metabolites from Euphorbia umbellata (PAX) BRUYNS (Euphorbiaceae).

The species Euphorbia umbellata has been used to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer, and ulcers. Biological activities reported in the literature, including antiproliferative, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory, are attributed to the chemical constituents present in its composition as terpenes and polyphenolic compounds. The most recurrently verified metabolites in the Euphorbiaceae family plant species are terpenes, of which euphol is a major constituent with broadly reported cytotoxic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects; it frequently appears in various extracts obtained from the plant.

Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Burdock (Arctium lappa L.) Extracts: A Review.

Arctium lappa L., also known as burdock, is an edible wild plant which has the ability to grow in distinct environments and is considered a weed in several parts of the world. This species has great value in the biological and medical fields with its major secondary components being phenolic compounds and terpenes, substances rich in desired biological activities as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory.

Gene Polymorphism and MASP-3 Serum Levels in Patients with Chronic Chagas Disease.

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD), caused by , is a major public health issue worldwide affecting 6-7 million people, mainly in Latin America. The complement system plays a crucial role in host immune defense against infection and during the chronic phase of CD; however, the role of the MBL-associated serine protease 1 () gene encoding MASP-1, MASP-3, and MAp44 complement proteins has not yet been reported in CD. This study investigated the possible association between gene polymorphisms and MASP-3 protein serum levels in chronic CD and its clinical forms.

The lectin pathway of complement and the initial recognition of Leishmania infantum promastigotes.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected and highly lethal disease. VL is endemic in South American countries, with Brazil being responsible for 96% of the cases. In this continent, VL is caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (L.

Ficolin-1 and ficolin-3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which compromises the synovial membrane resulting in chronic inflammation. Ficolins are key proteins of the lectin pathway of complement able to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, apoptotic cells, and cellular debris mediating the clearance by phagocytes. High ficolin-1 and ficolin-3 levels have been observed in RA patients, however, the influence of polymorphisms in the gene in RA is not completely established, while no study evaluated gene polymorphisms in RA to date.

Gene Functional Polymorphisms and C3 Serum Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The complement system is a key component of the innate immunity that plays a significant role in the development and clinical presentation of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Complement protein C3 is a central molecule in the activation of complement with a significant role in the inflammatory processes of RA. Nevertheless, the impact of C3 gene polymorphisms in the development of RA is still unknown.

Pharmacokinetics and cytotoxic study of euphol from Euphorbia umbellata (Bruyns) Pax latex.

Background: Medicinal plants are an important source to identify new active pharmaceutical compounds. Traditionally, the sap of Euphorbia umbellata is widely used to treat cancer and inflammatory conditions. These effects have been attributed to the presence of terpenes and phenolic compounds in the extracts of this plant.

Autoimmunity in Chronic Chagas Disease: A Road of Multiple Pathways to Cardiomyopathy?

Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan , affects around six million individuals in Latin America. Currently, CD occurs worldwide, becoming a significant public health concern due to its silent aspect and high morbimortality rate. presents different escape strategies which allow its evasion from the host immune system, enabling its persistence and the establishment of chronic infection which leads to the development of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC).

Complement activation in acute myocardial infarction: An early marker of inflammation and tissue injury?

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a potentially fatal condition, being a major cause of death worldwide. Ischemia suffered during AMI causes tissue damage, leading to an inflammatory process. Moreover, myocardial injury can generate damage-associated molecular patterns that activate pattern recognition molecules including some complement proteins.

Human complement receptor type 1 (CR1) protein levels and genetic variants in chronic Chagas Disease.

Complement is an essential element in both innate and acquired immunity contributing to the immunopathogenesis of many disorders, including Chagas Disease (CD). Human complement receptor 1 (CR1) plays a role in the clearance of complement opsonized molecules and may facilitate the entry of pathogens into host cells. Distinct CR1 exon 29 variants have been found associated with CR1 expression levels, increased susceptibility and pathophysiology of several diseases.

The Complement System: A Prey of .

is a protozoan parasite known to cause Chagas disease (CD), a neglected sickness that affects around 6-8 million people worldwide. Originally, CD was mainly found in Latin America but more recently, it has been spread to countries in North America, Asia, and Europe due the international migration from endemic areas. Thus, at present CD represents an important concern of global public health.

Association of a new FCN3 haplotype with high ficolin-3 levels in leprosy.

Leprosy is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nervous system, leading to a high disability rate and social stigma. Previous studies have shown a contribution of genes encoding products of the lectin pathway of complement in the modulation of the susceptibility to leprosy; however, the ficolin-3/FCN3 gene impact on leprosy is currently unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate if FCN3 polymorphisms (rs532781899: g.

Evaluation of rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies in relation to rheumatological manifestations in patients with leprosy from Southern Brazil.

Background: Leprosy patients may present several osteoarticular complaints, which require further evaluation of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, an adequate clinical assessment in addition to testing for rheumatoid factors (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), can be useful in order to establish the correct diagnosis.

Method: In this study, the relation of RF and anti-CCP with rheumatological manifestations was evaluated in 97 leprosy patients from Southern Brazil.

Mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis: A short review and meta-analysis.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a pattern recognition receptor of the lectin pathway of complement system. MBL binds to carbohydrates on microorganism's surfaces leading to complement activation, opsonization and phagocytosis. Polymorphisms in the MBL gene (MBL2) are associated with variations on MBL serum levels and with the susceptibility to various infectious and autoimmune diseases.

The lectin pathway of complement and rheumatic heart disease.

The innate immune system is the first line of host defense against infection and is comprised of humoral and cellular mechanisms that recognize potential pathogens within minutes or hours of entry. The effector components of innate immunity include epithelial barriers, phagocytes, and natural killer cells, as well as cytokines and the complement system. Complement plays an important role in the immediate response against microorganisms, including Streptococcus sp.

Association of MASP2 polymorphisms and protein levels with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

MASP-2 is a key protein of the lectin pathway of complement system. Several MASP2 polymorphisms were associated with MASP-2 serum levels or functional activity. Here we investigated a possible association between MASP2 polymorphisms and MASP-2 serum levels with the susceptibility to rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

A comparison of molecular markers to detect Lutzomyia longipalpis naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum.

The aim of the present study was to detect natural infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Lutzomyia longipalpis captured in Barcarena, state of Pará, Brazil, through the use of three primer sets. With this approach, it is unnecessary to previously dissect the sandfly specimens. DNA of 280 Lu.

Leprosy association with low MASP-2 levels generated by MASP2 haplotypes and polymorphisms flanking MAp19 exon 5.

Background: The gene MASP2 (mannan-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine protease 2) encodes two proteins, MASP-2 and MAp19 (MBL-associated protein of 19 kDa), bound in plasma to MBL and ficolins. The binding of MBL/MASP-2 and ficolin/MASP-2 complexes to microorganisms activates the lectin pathway of complement and may increase the ingestion of intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium leprae.

Methods: We haplotyped 11 MASP2 polymorphisms with multiplex sequence-specific PCR in 219 Brazilian leprosy patients (131 lepromatous, 29 borderline, 21 tuberculoid, 14 undetermined, 24 unspecified), 405 healthy Brazilians and 291 Danish blood donors with previously determined MASP-2 and MAp19 levels.

Relevance of the lectin pathway of complement in rheumatic diseases.

Due to its importance both in the clearance of pathogens that contribute as rheumatic etiological agents and in the disposal of apoptotic bodies and potential autoimmune initiators, deficiencies of the components of the lectin pathway of complement have been found to increase susceptibility and modulate the severity of most rheumatic disorders. This chapter introduces the general aspects of the structure, function, and genetics of lectin pathway components and summarizes current knowledge of the field regarding rheumatic diseases predisposition and modulation.

MASP2 gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a major public health issue and is prevalent in most countries. We examined several MASP2 functional polymorphisms in 104 Brazilian patients with moderate and severe chronic hepatitis C using the primers set to amplify the region encoding the first domain (CUB1), a critical region for the formation of functional mannan-binding lectin (MBL)/MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP)-2 complexes, and the fifth domain (CCP2), which is essential for C4 cleavage of the MASP2 gene. We identified five single nucleotide polymorphisms in patients and controls: p.

Group a streptococcus antibiotic resistance in southern Brazil: a 17-year surveillance study.

Background: Scarce data are available about the antimicrobial resistance of Group A Streptococcus in South America.

Methods: This study evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of 1,112 isolates of Group A Streptococcus during the period from 1993 to 2009 in Curitiba city, Brazil. Macrolide-resistant isolates were characterized by emm typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Mannan-binding lectin and ficolin deposition in skin lesions of pemphigus.

Pemphigus is characterized by circulating autoantibodies directed against desmossomal antigens that, once bound to target antigens, induce disruption in the cell-cell adhesion of the epidermis and mucosal epithelium, leading to blister formation. Evidence has indicated a role for complement in the physiopathology of pemphigus, with complement deposition in intercellular spaces of skin and mucous membrane lesions. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and Ficolin-2 are recognition proteins of innate immunity, which by binding to specific molecular patterns on pathogens surfaces trigger the activation of complement, leading to phagocytosis and lyses of target cells and inflammation.

Serological and clinical follow-up of relatives of celiac disease patients from southern Brazil.

Background/aims: In this study, a clinical and serological follow-up of 8-10 years was performed in relatives of celiac disease (CD) patients from southern Brazil. The occurrence of new CD cases in the families and the use of two different IgA-tTG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were also evaluated.

Methods: Serum samples of 233 relatives, 186 recruited between 1997 and 2000 (phase I) and 138 between 2006 and 2007 (phase II: 91 of the follow-up group and 47 newly tested), were analyzed.