Immunomodulatory Effects of Pterocarpanquinone LQB-118 in Murine Peritoneal Macrophages.

Background: Phagocytosis is an important function of macrophages. However, when it's dysregulated, it could compromise homeostasis. Thus, this study aimed to assess the inhibitory activity of pterocarpanquinone LQB 118 on murine macrophage phagocytosis.

Leptin, NK cells, and the weight of immunity: Insights into obesity.

Obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide and is associated with various metabolic and physiological dysfunctions, directly impacting the dynamics of the immune response, partly due to elevated leptin levels. Leptin is an important peptide hormone that regulates neuroendocrine function and energy homeostasis, with its blood levels reflecting energy reserves, fat mass, or energy deprivation. This hormone also plays a fundamental role in regulating immune function, including the activity of NK cells, which are essential components in antiviral and antitumor activity.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of ouabain against congenital Zika syndrome model.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus associated with neurological disorders accompanying congenital infections. With no vaccine or antiviral approved, there is an urgent need for the development of effective antiviral agents against ZIKV infection. We evaluated the anti-ZIKV and immunomodulatory activity of ouabain, a Na/K-ATPase inhibitor known to have immunomodulatory and antiviral activities, using human neural stem and progenitor cells (hNS/PCs) and a murine model of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS).

Predominance of CD137 And TNF-α Expressing CD8 Central Memory T Cells in Mild COVID-19 Recovered Patients Upon SARS-CoV-2 Re-Exposure.

Introduction: Memory CD8 T cells are essential for long-term immune protection in viral infections, including COVID-19.

Methods: This study examined the responses of CD8 TEM, TEMRA, and TCM subsets from unvaccinated individuals who had recovered from mild and severe COVID-19 by flow cytometry.

Results And Discussion: The peptides triggered a higher frequency of CD8 TCM cells in the recovered mild group.

MiR-9-3 hypermethylation is associated with stages of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the potential relation between methylation of miR-9-3 and stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Additionally, we explored whether miR-9-3 methylation impacts the serum levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 170 participants with type 2 diabetes, including a control group ( = 64) and a diabetes retinopathy group ( = 106), which was further divided into NPDR ( = 58) and PDR ( = 48) subgroups.

New phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors present airways relaxant activity in a guinea pig acute asthma model.

Asthma is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and hyper responsiveness of airways. We aimed to assess the relaxant potential of phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors N-sulfonilhidrazonic derivatives on non-asthmatic and asthmatic guinea pig trachea. Firstly, guinea pigs were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin, and then morphological, and contractile changes were evaluated resulting from asthma, followed by evaluation of relaxant effect of derivatives on guinea pig trachea and the cAMP levels measurement by ELISA.

T Cell Response in Tuberculosis-Infected Patients Vaccinated against COVID-19.

Many studies have focused on SARS-CoV-2 and () co-infection consequences. However, after a vaccination plan against COVID-19, the cases of severe disease and death are consistently controlled, although cases of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 still happen together with tuberculosis (TB) cases. Thus, in this context, we sought to compare the T cell response of COVID-19-non-vaccinated and -vaccinated patients with active tuberculosis exposed to SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

COVID-19 vaccination: Effects of immunodominant peptides of SARS-CoV-2.

T-cell immunity plays a critical role in controlling viral infections, making it essential to identify specific viral targets to develop effective vaccines. In this study, we focused on identifying and understanding the potential effects of different SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides, including spike, nucleocapsid, and ORFs, that have the potential to serve as T-cell epitopes. Assessing T cell response through flow cytometry, we demonstrated that PBMC collected from vaccinated individuals had a significantly higher expression of important biomarkers in controlling viral infection and proper regulation of immune response mediated by T CD4 and T CD8 cells stimulated with immunodominant peptides.

in a Trap: The Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Tuberculosis.

complex causes tuberculosis (TB), a disease that causes pulmonary inflammation but can also affect other tissues. Despite macrophages having a defined role in TB immunopathogenesis, other innate immune cells, such as neutrophils, are involved in this process. These cells have high phagocytic ability and a microbial-killing machine comprised of enzymes, antimicrobial peptides, and reactive oxygen species.

Leishmaniasis: Immune Cells Crosstalk in Macrophage Polarization.

Leishmaniasis is a complex infectious parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus , belonging to a group of neglected tropical diseases. It establishes significant global health challenges, particularly in socio-economically disadvantaged regions. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in initiating the inflammatory response against the pathogens responsible for this disease.

Leishmanicidal Activity of Guanidine Derivatives against .

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical infectious disease with thousands of cases annually; it is of great concern to global health, particularly the most severe form, visceral leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis treatments are minimal and have severe adverse effects. As guanidine-bearing compounds have shown antimicrobial activity, we analyzed the cytotoxic effects of several guanidine-bearing compounds on in their promastigote and amastigote forms in vitro, their cytotoxicity in human cells, and their impact on reactive nitrogen species production.

Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct 2-(3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acrylonitrile (ISACN) modulates the inflammatory process during LPS-induced acute lung injury.

Background: Despite its homeostatic role, inflammation is involved in several pathologies, such as acute lung injury. Morita-Ballys-Hilman adducts (MBHA) are a group of synthetic molecules and present a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory action. Thus, this study aimed to assess whether ISACN, an MBHA, modulates inflammation during acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Ouabain modulates airway remodeling caused by Th2-high asthma in mice.

Objective: Ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+/K+-ATPase, is a type of endogenous hormone synthesized in the adrenal cortex and hypothalamus. Previous studies found that ouabain potently inhibited acute inflammatory reactions such as type 2 inflammation and regulated immunological processes. In this study, we aimed to investigate ouabain effect on allergic asthma.

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the crude ethanolic extract and alkaloid fraction of Waltheria viscosissima A. St. - Hil. (Malvaceae).

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The Waltheria viscosissima A. St.- Hil (Malvaceae) is also known as 'Malva branca', has been reported as ethnopharmacologically useful plant containing antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties, but scientific evidence is absent.

Neuroinflammation and Neutrophils: Modulation by Ouabain.

Cardiotonic steroids are natural compounds that present many physiological and pharmacological functions. They bind Na/K-ATPase (NKA) modifying cellular ion concentration and trigger cell signaling mechanisms without altering ion balance. These steroids are known to modulate some immune responses, including cytokine production, neutrophil migration, and inflammation (peripherally and in the nervous system).

Leishmanicidal activity of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people, mostly in developing countries. Although this disease has a high impact on public health, there are few drug options to treat the different leishmaniasis forms. Additionally, these current therapies have various adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, pancreatitis, and hepatotoxicity.

Patulin inhibits LPS-induced nitric oxide production by suppressing MAPKs signaling pathway.

Patulin (PAT) is a natural product isolated from several species of fungi. Here, we evaluated the effect of PAT (62.5-4,000 ng/ml) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated murine peritoneal macrophages.

Ouabain inhibits p38 activation in mice neutrophils.

Ouabain is a cardiac steroid hormone with immunomodulatory effects. It inhibits neutrophils migration induced by different stimuli, but little is known about the mechanisms involved in this effect. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ouabain effect on chemotactic signaling pathways in neutrophils.

Relation between ABCB1 overexpression and COX2 and ALOX5 genes in human erythroleukemia cell lines.

This study aimed to characterize the relationship between the COX2 and ALOX5 genes, as well as their link with the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype in sensitive (K562) and MDR (K562-Lucena and FEPS) erythroleukemia cells. For this, the inhibitors of 5-LOX (zileuton) and COX-2 (acetylsalicylic acid-ASA) and cells with the silenced ABCB1 gene were used. The treatment with ASA caused an increase in the gene expression of COX2 and ABCB1 in both MDR cell lines, and a decrease in the expression of ALOX5 in the FEPS cells.

Neutrophils and COVID-19: The road so far.

The SARS-Cov2 infection triggers a multisystem inflammatory disorder, knowing as COVID-19, a pandemic disease. This disease is characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome, cytokine-driven hyperinflammation, and leukocytes count changes. The innate immune response has been linked to COVID-19 immunopathogenesis (e.

The pterocarpanquinone LQB 118 inhibits inflammation triggered by zymosan in vivo and in vitro.

LQB 118, a hydride molecule, has been described as an antineoplastic and antiparasitic drug. Recently, LQB118 was also shown to display anti-inflammatory properties using an LPS-induced lung inflammation model. However, LQB 118 effects on the inflammatory response induced by zymosan has not been demonstrated.

Marinobufagenin Inhibits Neutrophil Migration and Proinflammatory Cytokines.

Cardiotonic steroids, such as ouabain and digoxin, are known to bind to Na/K-ATPase and to promote several biological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity. However, there are still no reports in the literature about inflammation and marinobufagenin, a cardiotonic steroid from the bufadienolide family endogenously found in mammals. Therefore, the aim of this work was to analyze, and , the role of marinobufagenin in acute inflammation.

Ouabain reduces the expression of the adhesion molecule CD18 in neutrophils.

Ouabain, a hormone that inhibits Na/K-ATPase, modulates many aspects of the inflammatory response. It has been previously demonstrated that ouabain inhibits neutrophil migration in several inflammation models in vivo, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying this effect. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of ouabain on molecules related to neutrophil migration.

2-Allylphenol Reduces IL-1 and TNF-, Promoting Antinociception through Adenosinergic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Mechanisms.

2-Allylphenol (2-AP) is a synthetic phenylpropanoid, structurally related to cardanol, thymol, and ortho-eugenol. Phenylpropanoids are described in the literature as being capable of promoting biological activity. Due to the similarity between 2-AP and other bioactive phenylpropanoids, the present research aims at evaluating the antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory potential of 2-AP in silico, , and .

Author Correction: Ouabain attenuates ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation.

In the original publication, author missed to include the financial support from CAPES/PROCAD-2013. The complete funding text should read as follows.