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.

and evaluation of the anti-leishmania activity of synthetic chalcones.

Leishmaniasis is a group of neglected, vector-borne infectious diseases that affect millions of people around the world. The medications available for its treatment, especially in cases of visceral leishmaniasis, are old, outdated and have serious side effects. In this work, 10 chalcones were synthesised and evaluated against promastigotes and axenic amastigotes of .

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.

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.

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.

Differential regulatory T cell signature after recovery from mild COVID-19.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is characterized by a range of symptoms in which host immune response have been associated with disease progression. However, the putative role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in determining COVID-19 outcomes has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we compared peripheral Tregs between volunteers not previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (healthy control [HC]) and volunteers who recovered from mild (Mild Recovered) and severe (Severe Recovered) COVID-19.

Characterization of Regulatory T Cells in Patients Infected by .

High IL-10 levels are pivotal to parasite survival in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Antigenic stimuli induce IL-10 expression and release of adenosine by CD39/CD73. Due their intrinsic ability to express IL-10 and produce adenosine from extracellular ATP, we evaluated the IL-10, CD39, and CD73 expression by Regulatory T cells (Treg) correlated with VL pathology.

Is IFN expression by NK cells a hallmark of severe COVID-19?

Natural Killer cells (NK) are crucial in host defense against viruses. There are many unanswered questions about the immune system in COVID-19, especially the mechanisms that contribute to the development of mild or severe forms of the disease. Although NK cells may have an essential role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, the mechanisms involved in this process are not yet fully elucidated.

Apoptotic and antioxidant effects in HCT-116 colorectal carcinoma cells by a spiro-acridine compound, AMTAC-06.

Background: Acridine compounds have been described as promising anticancer agents. Previous studies showed that (E)-1'-((4-chlorobenzylidene)amino)-5'-oxo-1',5'-dihydro-10H-spiro[acridine-9,2'-pyrrole]-4'-carbonitrile (AMTAC-06), a spiro-acridine compound, has antitumor activity on Ehrlich tumor and low toxicity. Herein, we investigated its antitumor effect against human cells in vitro.

Downregulation of CD73 on CD4+ T cells from patients with chronic Chikungunya infection.

Chikungunya is an important mosquito-borne disease caused by the arthritogenic chikungunya virus, characterized by sporadic outbreaks all around the world. Although CD4+ T cells seem to have an important role in the pathogenesis of chikungunya, the mechanisms involved in this process are not yet fully elucidated. The ectoenzymes CD39 and CD73, also expressed by CD4 T lymphocytes, are involved in the hydrolysis of pro-inflammatory extracellular ATP and generation of immunosuppressive adenosine and seem to be modulated in some arthritogenic pathologies.

Regulatory T cells in acute and chronic human Chikungunya infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection generates strong immune responses that are associated with the disease pathophysiology. Regulatory T cells (Treg-cluster of differentiation (CD)-4CD25forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)) are essential for the induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Thus, they play key roles in determining the patient prognosis by preventing excessive immune responses via different suppression immune mechanisms.

Phenotypical characterization of regulatory T cells in acute Zika infection.

Zika virus (ZIKV), alongside Dengue virus (DENV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) are prevalent arboviruses in the Americas. Each of these infections is associated with the development of associated disease immunopathology. Immunopathological processes are an outcome of counter-balancing impacts between effector and regulatory immune mechanisms.

In vitro anti-Leishmania activity and molecular docking of spiro-acridine compounds as potential multitarget agents against Leishmania infantum.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease with several limitations regarding treatment schemes. This work reports the anti-Leishmania activity of spiroacridine compounds against the promastigote (IC = 1.1 to 6.

Human CD8 T-cell activation in acute and chronic chikungunya infection.

There is a need for more detailed elucidation of T-cell immunity in chikungunya infection. CD8 T cells are one of main actors against viruses. Here, we analysed CD8 T lymphocytes from patients in the acute and chronic phases of chikungunya disease (CHIKD).

Correlation of dengue incidence and rainfall occurrence using wavelet transform for João Pessoa city.

Dengue, a reemerging disease, is one of the most important viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. In this study, 55,680 cases of dengue between 2007 and 2015 were reported in Paraíba State, among which, 30% were reported in João Pessoa city, with peaks in 2015, 2011 and 2013. Weather is considered to be a key factor in the temporal and spatial distribution of vector-transmitted diseases.

Anti- and cytotoxic activities of perillaldehyde epoxide synthetic positional isomers.

Leishmaniasis belongs to a complex of zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus and is considered a major public health problem. Several essential oil chemical components have inhibitory effect against protozoa, including . Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the anti- activity of two -menthane monoterpene isomers (EPER-1: perillaldehyde 1,2-epoxide and EPER-2: perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide) against promastigotes as well as evaluating cytotoxic effect on mononuclear peripheral blood cells.

Molecular and clinical epidemiological surveillance of dengue virus in Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.

Introduction:: Despite being the most prevalent arboviral disease worldwide, dengue has been neglected lately. However, recent epidemics of arboviruses such as Zika and chikungunya in locations throughout the world have alerted health authorities to these diseases. This study evaluated the incidence pattern of dengue, its clinical characteristics, and co-circulation of serotypes from 2007 to 2015 in Paraiba State, Northeast Brazil.

Synthesis and In Vitro Anti Leishmania amazonensis Biological Screening of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts Prepared from Eugenol, Thymol and Carvacrol.

Leishmaniasis represents a series of severe neglected tropical diseases caused by protozoa of the genus and is widely distributed around the world. Here, we present the syntheses of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHAs) prepared from eugenol, thymol and carvacrol, and their bioevaluation against promastigotes of . The new MBHAs are prepared in two steps from essential oils in moderate to good yields and present IC values in the range of 22.

Synthesis and activity of novel homodimers of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts against Leishmania donovani: A twin drug approach.

It is reported here the synthesis of novel Homodimers 12-19 of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHA) from one-pot Morita-Baylis-Hillman Reaction (MBHR) between aromatic aldehydes as eletrophiles and ethylene glycol diacrylate as Michael acceptor (35-94% yields) using cheap and green conditions. The bioactivities were evaluated against promastigote form of Leishmania donovani. All homodimers showed to be more potent than corresponding monomers.

Methanolic extracts from brown seaweeds Dictyota cilliolata and Dictyota menstrualis induce apoptosis in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells.

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the second most common female tumor worldwide, surpassed only by breast cancer. Natural products from seaweeds evidencing apoptotic activity have attracted a great deal of attention as new leads for alternative and complementary preventive or therapeutic anticancer agents. Here, methanol extracts from 13 species of tropical seaweeds (Rhodophytas, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta) collected from the Northeast of Brazil were assessed as apoptosis-inducing agents on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa).