The use of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) has been shown as a putative efficient therapy for stroke. However, the mechanisms of therapeutic action are not yet completely known. Mannose receptor (MR) is a subgroup of the C-type lectin receptor superfamily involved in innate immune response in several tissues. Although known primarily for its immune function, MR also has important roles in cell migration, cell debris clearance and tissue remodeling during inflammation and wound healing. Here we analyzed MR expression in brains of rats one week after induction of unilateral focal cortical ischemia by thermocoagulation in blood vessels of sensorimotor cortex. Additionally, we evaluated possible changes in such expression in cortices of rats subjected to ischemia plus treatment with BMMCs. Our results showed high expression of MR in an unknown GFAP(+) cell type and in phagocytic macrophages/microglia within the lesion boundary zone whereas in the non-injured (contralateral) cortical parenchyma, low levels of MR expression were observed. Moreover, therapy with BMMCs induced overexpression of MR in ipsilateral (injured) cortex. Previous studies from our group have shown functional recovery and decreased neurodegeneration in BMMC-treated rats in the same model of focal cortical ischemia. Thus, we suggest that ischemic injury induces large increase in MR expression as part of a mechanism for clearance of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In addition, induction of MR overexpression by BMMCs might increase the efficiency of clearance, being one of the protective mechanisms of these cells.

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Since 2006, meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) conjugate (MCC) vaccines have been supplied by the Brazilian government for HIV-infected children under 13 years old. For measuring protection against MenC, the serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) assay is the method of choice. The characterization of T follicular helper cells (TFH) cells has been an area of intensive study because of their significance in multiple human diseases and in vaccinology. The objective of this study was to characterize the phenotype of peripheral TFH cells and B cells and how they associated with each other and with SBA levels induced by vaccination as well as with serum cytokine levels of HIV-infected and non-infected children and adolescents. We found that CD27−IgD−CD21−CD38+ (exhausted B cells) as well as short-lived plasmablasts (CD27+IgD−CD21−CD38+) are increased in cART treated HIV patients and negatively associated with MCC vaccine induced SBA levels. Baseline frequency of activated peripheral TFH cells was a negative correlate for SBA response to MCC vaccine but positively correlated with circulating plasmablast frequency. Baseline IL4-levels positively associated with SBA response but showed a negative correlation with activated peripheral TFH cells frequency. The increased frequency of activated peripheral TFH cells found in non-responders to the vaccine implies that higher activation/differentiation of CD4 T cells within the lymph node is not necessarily associated with induction of vaccine responses.