Atorvastatin attenuates intestinal mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil in mice by modulating the epithelial barrier and inflammatory response

Chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis is a major side effect of cancer treatment. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme reductase inhibitors used to treat hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that atorvastatin (ATV) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and resulting from the regulation of different molecular pathways. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ATV on intestinal homeostasis in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced mucositis. Our results showed that ATV protected the intestinal mucosa from epithelial damage caused by 5-FU mainly due to inflammatory infiltrate and intestinal permeability reduction, downregulation of inflammatory markers, such as Tlr4, MyD88, NF-κB, Tnf-a, Il1β, and Il6 dose-dependent. ATV also improved epithelial barrier function by upregulating the mRNA transcript levels of mucin 2 (MUC2), and ZO-1 and occludin tight junction proteins. The results suggest that the ATV anti-inflammatory and protective effects on 5-FU-induced mice mucositis involve the inhibition of the TLR4/MYD88/NPRL3/NF-κB, iNos, and caspase 3.

Growth differentiation factor 11 delivered by dairy Lactococcus lactis strains modulates inflammation and prevents mucosal damage in a mice model of intestinal mucositis

Mucositis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa that debilitate the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. In this context, antineoplastic drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil, provokes ulcerations in the intestinal mucosa that lead to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activating the NF-κB pathway. Alternative approaches to treat the disease using probiotic strains show promising results, and thereafter, treatments that target the site of inflammation could be further explored. Recently, studies reported that the protein GDF11 has an anti-inflammatory role in several diseases, including in vitro and in vivo results in different experimental models. Hence, this study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of GDF11 delivered by Lactococcus lactis strains NCDO2118 and MG1363 in a murine model of intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU. Our results showed that mice treated with the recombinant lactococci strains presented improved histopathological scores of intestinal damage and a reduction of goblet cell degeneration in the mucosa. It was also observed a significant reduction of neutrophil infiltration in the tissue in comparison to positive control group. Moreover, we observed immunomodulation of inflammatory markers Nfkb1, Nlrp3, Tnf, and upregulation of Il10 in mRNA expression levels in groups treated with recombinant strains that help to partially explain the ameliorative effect in the mucosa. Therefore, the results found in this study suggest that the use of recombinant L. lactis (pExu:gdf11) could offer a potential gene therapy for intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU.

Disjunção palatina através de uma expansão mais vagarosa aplicada na fase precoce da dentadura mista: apresentação de um caso clínico

The authors show a clinical case of a patient in her mixed dentition, with maxillary deficient that was used a modified Haas appliance, with a slower expansion than e rapid maxillary expansion.

Intake of Lactobacillus delbrueckii (pExu:hsp65) Prevents the Inflammation and the Disorganization of the Intestinal Mucosa in a Mouse Model of Mucositis

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antineoplastic drug that causes, as a side effect, intestinal mucositis, acute inflammation in the small bowel. The Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) are highly expressed in inflammatory conditions, developing an important role in immune modulation. Thus, they are potential candidates for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In the mucositis mouse model, the present study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of oral administration of milk fermented by Lactobacillus delbrueckii CIDCA 133 (pExu:hsp65), a recombinant strain. This approach showed increased levels of sIgA in the intestinal fluid, reducing inflammatory infiltrate and intestinal permeability. Additionally, the histological score was improved. Protection was associated with a reduction in the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tnf, Il6, Il12, and Il1b, and an increase in Il10, Muc2, and claudin 1 (Cldn1) and 2 (Cldn2) gene expression in ileum tissue. These findings are corroborated with the increased number of goblet cells, the electronic microscopy images, and the reduction of intestinal permeability. The administration of milk fermented by this recombinant probiotic strain was also able to reverse the high levels of gene expression of Tlrs caused by the 5-FU. Thus, the rCIDCA 133:Hsp65 strain was revealed to be a promising preventive strategy for small bowel inflammation.

P1G10, the Proteolytic Fraction from Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis, Stimulates Tissue Repair after Acute Exposure to Ultraviolet B Radiation

BACKGROUND

P1G10 is a cysteine proteolytic fraction from Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis latex, obtained by chromatographic separation on Sephadex-G10 and ultrafiltration. This fraction enhances healing in different models of skin lesions, and displays a protective/healing effect against gastric ulcers, where it was suggested an antioxidant role.

METHODS

We evaluated here the effect of topical treatment with P1G10, in mice lesions induced by UVB.

RESULTS

After single exposure to 2.4 J cm-2 UVB, P1G10 reduced erythema, increased cellularity of hypodermis, enhanced MPO activity and IL1β, and inhibited COX2 levels. These results point to an anti-inflammatory effect by P1G10. This fraction displayed antioxidant activity by reversing the depletion of glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reducing the catalase activity increased by UVB. These changes may be related to a reduction in MDA observed in groups treated with P1G10. P1G10 also inhibited MMP-9, caspase-3 and pkat while increasing p53 levels.

Frontline Science: Abnormalities in the gut mucosa of non-obese diabetic mice precede the onset of type 1 diabetes

Alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota have been associated with development of type 1 diabetes (T1D), but little is known about changes in intestinal homeostasis that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Here, we analyzed oral tolerance induction, components of the intestinal barrier, fecal microbiota, and immune cell phenotypes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice during disease progression compared to non-obese diabetes resistant (NOR) mice. NOD mice failed to develop oral tolerance and had defective protective/regulatory mechanisms in the intestinal mucosa, including decreased numbers of goblet cells, diminished mucus production, and lower levels of total and bacteria-bound secretory IgA, as well as an altered IEL profile. These disturbances correlated with bacteria translocation to the pancreatic lymph node possibly contributing to T1D onset. The composition of the fecal microbiota was altered in pre-diabetic NOD mice, and cross-fostering of NOD mice by NOR mothers corrected their defect in mucus production, indicating a role for NOD microbiota in gut barrier dysfunction. NOD mice had a reduction of CD103⁺ dendritic cells (DCs) in the MLNs, together with an increase of effector Th17 cells and ILC3, as well as a decrease of Th2 cells, ILC2, and Treg cells in the small intestine. Importantly, most of these gut alterations precede the onset of insulitis. Disorders in the intestinal mucosa of NOD mice can potentially interfere with the development of T1D due the close relationship between the gut and the pancreas. Understanding these early alterations is important for the design of novel therapeutic strategies for T1D prevention.

Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Long-Circulating and pH-Sensitive Liposomes Containing Ursolic Acid in Animal Models of Breast Tumor and Gliosarcoma

Background Ursolic acid (UA) is a triterpene found in different plant species, possessing antitumor activity, which may be a result of its antiangiogenic effect. However, UA has low water solubility, which limits its use because the bioavailability is impaired. To overcome this inconvenience, we developed long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes containing ursolic acid (SpHL-UA). We investigated the antiangiogenic effect of free UA and SpHL-UA in murine brain cancer and human breast tumor models by means of determination of the relative tumor volume, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), and histopathological analysis. Methods The animals were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide in 0.9% (w/v) NaCl, free UA, long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes without drug (SpHL), or SpHL-UA. The animals were submitted to each treatment by intraperitoneal injection for 5 days. The dose of free UA or SpHL-UA was equal to 23 mg/kg. Results Tumor growth inhibition was not observed in human breast tumor-bearing animals. For murine gliosarcoma-bearing animals, a slight tumor growth inhibition was observed in the groups treated with free UA or SpHL-UA (9% and 15%, respectively). No significant change in any of the parameters evaluated by DCE-MRI for both experimental models could be observed. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the mean values of magnetic resonance parameters of human breast tumor-bearing animals showed evidence of a possible antiangiogenic effect induced by SpHL-UA. Histopathological analysis did not present significant change for any treatment. Conclusion SpHL-UA did not show antiangiogenic activity in a gliosarcoma model and seemed to induce an antiangiogenic effect in the human breast tumor model.

Inner nuclear membrane localization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in spontaneous canine model of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the mammary gland

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been described in the nucleus of primary tumors. Accumulation of EGFR at the nucleus is linked to DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, but the pathological significance of nuclear EGFR is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the nuclear localization of EGFR in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) that is an aggressive neoplasm of canine mammary gland. Confocal immunofluorescence of formalin and paraffin-embedded tissue was used to access the subcellular localization of EGFR. Our results demonstrated that EGFR co-localizes with the inner nuclear envelope marker, Lamin B1 in IMPC. Furthermore, EGFR was not localized within the nucleus or at the inner nuclear envelope membrane in mammary carcinoma in mixed tumor (CMT) that is associated with a better prognosis than other malignant histological types. This finding could be useful as a predictive biomarker of therapeutic response for IMPC.