The endocannabinoid system has been implicated in several neurobiological processes, including neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neuronal plasticity. The CB1 cannabinoid receptors are abundantly expressed in the basal ganglia, the circuitry that is mostly affected in Parkinson's Disease (PD). Some studies show variation of CB1 expression in basal ganglia in different animal models of PD, however the results are quite controversial, due to the differences in the procedures employed to induce the parkinsonism and the periods analyzed after the lesion. The present study evaluated the CB1 expression in four basal ganglia structures, namely striatum, external globus pallidus (EGP), internal globus pallidus (IGP) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) of rats 1, 5, 10, 20, and 60 days after unilateral intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine injections, that causes retrograde dopaminergic degeneration. We also investigated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), parvalbumin, calbindin and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) expression to verify the status of dopaminergic and GABAergic systems. We observed a structure-specific modulation of CB1 expression at different periods after lesions. In general, there were no changes in the striatum, decreased CB1 in IGP and SNpr and increased CB1 in EGP, but this increase was not sustained over time. No changes in GAD and parvalbumin expression were observed in basal ganglia, whereas TH levels were decreased and the calbindin increased in striatum in short periods after lesion. We believe that the structure-specific variation of CB1 in basal ganglia in the 6-hydroxydopamine PD model could be related to a compensatory process involving the GABAergic transmission, which is impaired due to the lack of dopamine. Our data, therefore, suggest that the changes of CB1 and calbindin expression may represent a plasticity process in this PD model.

α-Thalassemia (α-thal) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by microcytic anemia due to impaired production of α chains of human globin. Brazilian studies show that the most common genotype is an -α(3.7) deletion with the loss of one or two α genes. As the production of α chains is not as accentuated in these cases, the correct diagnosis can only be achieved through molecular analysis that is not usually routinely performed by laboratories. We investigated the occurrence of α-thal babies born between September 2011 to January 2013 at the hospital of the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, Brazil, and blood donors of the Uberaba Regional Blood Center, Hemominas Foundation, Uberaba, Brazil, correlating it with ethnicity and differences between hematological parameters of donors, α-thal and iron deficiency patients. α-Thalassemia was investigated for the most common deleted alleles (-α(3.7), -α(4.2), - -(SEA), - -(FIL), - -(THAI), -(α)(20.5) and - -(MED)). The incidence in newborns was 13.16% with a predominance of heterozygosity for the -α(3.7) genotype (12.35%), followed by the -α(3.7)/-α(3.7) (0.46%) and αα/-α(4.2) genotypes (0.35%). In blood donors, the prevalence of α-thal was 14.89%, with all cases being heterozygous for the -α(3.7) deletion. There was an association of the α-thal genotype with African ancestors for both groups, thereby confirming published data and showing the strong influence of Blacks on the composition of the population of Brazil's southeastern region. Minor changes were found between hematological parameters of blood donors with iron deficiency and α-thal that did not contribute to the differential diagnosis between the two types of anemia.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Hemoglobinopathies are among the commonest and most widespread genetic disorders worldwide. Their prevalence varies according to ethnic composition and/or geographical region. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hemoglobinopathies and their association with ethnicity among 1,004 newborns, to confirm the guideline of the Brazilian National Neonatal Screening Program. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in a public referral hospital in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: Qualitative assessment of hemoglobin was performed through electrophoresis on cellulose acetate: at alkaline pH to identify the hemoglobin (Hb) profile and at acid pH to differentiate Hb S from Hb D and Hb C from Hb E and others that migrate to similar positions at alkaline pH. Neutral pH was used to detect Hb Bart's identified in alpha thalassemia (α-thal). The elution method after electrophoresis was used to quantitatively assess hemoglobins. RESULTS: There was predominance of α-thal, with 105 cases (10.46%), followed by Hb S with 61 cases (6.08%, comprising 46 Hb AS, 2 Hb SS and 13 Hb S/α-thal), 9 cases (0.9%) of Hb AC and 6 cases (0.6%) suggestive of beta thalassemia (β-thal). The frequency of hemoglobinopathies was significantly higher among Afro-descendants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings corroborated of the National Neonatal Screening Program for diagnosing sickle cell disease and Hb C, Hb D, Hb E and β-thal hemoglobinopathies. RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO:As hemoglobinopatias estão entre as alterações genéticas mais comuns e mundialmente difundidas, variando conforme a composição étnica e/ou geográfica. Nosso objetivo foi verificar a incidência de hemoglobinopatias por métodos de triagem laboratorial e sua associação com a etnia em 1.004 recém-nascidos. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo transversal; realizado em um hospital público de referência do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Avaliação qualitativa das hemoglobinas foi realizada por eletroforese em acetato de celulose: em pH alcalino para identificação do perfil hemoglobínico, em pH ácido para diferenciação das Hb S da Hb D e Hb C da Hb E, e outras que migrem em posições semelhantes em pH alcalino e em pH neutro para detecção de Hb Bart's, identificada na talassemia alfa (α-thal); e avaliação quantitativa das hemoglobinas pelo método de eluição após eletroforese. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio da α-thal, com 105 (10,46%) casos, seguida da Hb S, com 61 casos (6,08% -46 Hb AS, 2 Hb SS e 13 Hb S/α-thal), 9 casos (0,9%) de Hb AC e 6 (0,6%) sugestivos de betatalassemia (β-thal). A incidência de hemoglobinopatias foi significantemente maior em afrodescendentes. CONCLUSÕES: Esses achados reforçam a importância do Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal para o diagnóstico das síndromes falciformes e hemoglobinopatias C, D, E e β-thal e robustecem os dados da literatura sobre a necessidade da pesquisa da α-thal em sangue de cordão (não identificada pelo Programa Nacional) e em pacientes com anemia ...

This study showed that the values of haematological parameters, especially haematocrit, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), are lower in patients with IDA, especially when associated with α-thal and therefore it may be useful to discriminate between the different types of microcytic anaemia.

This study quantified the perforin and granzyme B in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at the time of diagnosis. Protein quantification was performed by flow cytometry. NHL patients had a higher number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) expressing perforin as well as a greater number of activated CTLs than the control group. However, intracellular perforin levels in natural killer cells were lower in the NHL patients compared to the control group. Quantitative real time PCR showed that patients had more expression of perforin and granzyme B transcripts compared to the control group. In addition, patients who had expression of both genes below the median found for the NHL group had lower survival rates. Considering this, we believe that perforin and granzyme B are potential prognostic markers in NHL and thus it is fundamental to pay attention to their expressions in these patients.

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We describe a 58-year-old man diagnosed with IgG/Kappa multiple myeloma (International Staging System III) treated for eight years with polychemotherapy (VAD schee) and autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient studied was homozygous C272T polymorphism (PRF1272T/T) by analysis of perforin gene by direct sequencing. This SNP is considered pathogenic and leads to the substitution of the amino acid alanine for valine in codon 91 of the perforin protein. The cytotoxic lymphocytes (CLs) of the patient and of the healthy wild homozygous individual were evaluated for their cytotoxic capacity. Our results show that PRF1272T/T effector cells had significantly reduced ability to induce specific lysis of K562 cells. The NK cells of the patient had three times less intracellular perforin than observed in the wild-type individual. The gene expression of PRF1 and FAS did not differ between the individuals, however the expression of GZMB was approximately 2.5 times higher in the patient. It was also observed that the T-BET expression was approximately 1.7-fold higher and IFN-γ expression was 4.5-fold higher in the PRF1272T/T patient. In conclusion, functional analysis of the CLs of the patient revealed a significant decrease in their cytolytic capacity as well as the amount of perforin present in NK cell granules.

Objectives: Perforin and granzyme B are essential proteins for protective immune responses mediated by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) and Natural Killer cells (NK) against cancers, especially those of hematological origin. Our study investigated polymorphisms in the perforin gene (PRF1) and quantified the levels of the perforin and granzyme B proteins in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: The PRF1 coding region was evaluated in 58 patients with MM and 78 healthy individuals using direct sequencing. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to quantify gene expression, and flow cytometry was used to determine the intracellular protein levels. Results: We did not observe differences in the allele frequencies of polymorphisms in the PRF1 gene as well as in perforin and granzyme B protein expression between patients with MM and healthy individuals. However, reduced expression of perforin or granzyme B genes was associated with a shorter survival time. In addition, patients with MM had significantly more CTLs expressing perforin and granzyme B, and had an increased number of NK cells. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the gene expression profile of perforin and granzyme B is a potential prognostic marker for MM.