Publications by authors named "Raphael Fagnani Sanchez Molina"
Article Synopsis
- Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a serious fungal disease characterized by excessive inflammation and granuloma formation, leading researchers to propose using hydroxyproline (HYP) levels as a marker for assessing disease severity.
- In an experiment with infected mice, histopathological analysis showed significant granuloma and collagen deposits, correlating with high HYP levels, while uninfected controls displayed minimal signs of the disease.
- The findings suggest that measuring HYP could provide an effective method for tracking disease progression and severity not only in PCM but potentially in other conditions involving fibrous tissue degradation.
The important role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in protective immunity in mycosis is well established, except for its participation in fungal granulomas. Herein, we employ immunohistochemical reactions to describe the in situ localization of IFN-γ in granulomas of susceptible (B10.A) and resistant (A/J) mice to infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) modulate extracellular matrix turnover, inflammation and immunity. We studied MMP-9 and MMP-2 in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. At 15 and 120 days after infection (DAI) with virulent Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, MMP-9 was positive by immunohistochemistry in multinucleated giant cells, in mononuclear cells with macrophage and lymphocyte morphologies and also in fungal cells in the lesions of susceptible and resistant mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of nitric oxide (NO) in granulomas of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis-infected inducible NO synthase-deficient C57BL/6 mice (iNOS KO) and their wild-type counterparts and its association with osteopontin (OPN) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was studied. At 15 days after infection (DAI), iNOS KO mice showed compact and necrotic granulomas with OPN+ macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, whereas wild-type mice developed loose granulomas with many fungi and OPN+ cells distributed throughout the tissue. In addition, high OPN levels and fungal load were observed in iNOS KO mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates the role of osteopontin (OPN) in mice infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, focusing on its impact on granuloma formation, infection severity, and nitric oxide levels.
- OPN was found to be highly present in macrophages at the center of lesions, suggesting it helps recruit these immune cells to the infection sites.
- Susceptible mice displayed higher fungal loads and lower NO levels compared to resistant mice, with OPN levels correlating with the disease severity and immune response over time.