No abstract

SummaryThe effects of capsular polysaccharides, galactoxylomannan (GalXM) and glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), from acapsular (GXM negative) and encapsulate strains of Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated in RAW 264.7 and peritoneal macrophages. Here, we demonstrate that GalXM and GXM induced different cytokines profiles in RAW 264.7 macrophages. GalXM induced production of TNF-a, NO and iNOS expression, while GXM predominantly induced TGF-b secretion. Both GalXM and GXM induced early morphological changes identified as autophagy and late macrophages apoptosis mediated by Fas/FasL interaction, a previously unidentified mechanism of virulence. GalXM was more potent than GXM at induction of Fas/FasL expression and apoptosis on macrophages in vitro and in vivo. These findings uncover a mechanism by which capsular polysaccharides from C. neoformans might compromise host immune responses.

The role of albumin overload in proximal tubules (PT) in the development of tubulointerstitial injury and, consequently, in the progression of renal disease has become more relevant in recent years. Despite the importance of leukotrienes (LTs) in renal disease, little is known about their role in tubulointerstitial injury. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible role of LTs on tubulointerstitial injury induced by albumin overload. An animal model of tubulointerstitial injury challenged by bovine serum albumin was developed in SV129 mice (wild-type) and 5-lipoxygenase-deficient mice (5-LO–/–). The changes in glomerular morphology and nestin expression observed in wild-type mice subjected to kidney insult were also observed in 5-LO–/– mice. The levels of urinary protein observed in the 5-LO–/– mice subjected or not to kidney insult were lower than those observed in respective wild-type mice. Furthermore, the increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity, a marker of tubule damage, observed in wild-type mice subjected to kidney insult did not occur in 5-LO–/– mice. LTB4 and LTD4, 5-LO products, decreased the uptake of albumin in LLC-PK1 cells, a well-characterized porcine PT cell line. This effect correlated with activation of protein kinase C and inhibition of protein kinase B. The level of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-6, increased in mice subjected to kidney insult but this effect was not modified in 5-LO–/– mice. However, 5-LO–/– mice subjected to kidney insult presented lower macrophage infiltration and higher levels of IL-10 than wild-type mice. Our results reveal that LTs have an important role in tubulointerstitial disease induced by albumin overload.

High concentrations of free heme found during hemolytic events or cell damage leads to inflammation, characterized by neutrophil recruitment and production of reactive oxygen species, through mechanisms not yet elucidated. In this study, we provide evidence that heme-induced neutrophilic inflammation depends on endogenous activity of the macrophage-derived lipid mediator leukotriene B4 (LTB4). In vivo, heme-induced neutrophil recruitment into the peritoneal cavity of mice was attenuated by pretreatment with 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors and leukotriene B4 receptor 1 (BLT1) receptor antagonists as well as in 5-LO knockout (5-LO−/−) mice. Heme administration in vivo increased peritoneal levels of LTB4 prior to and during neutrophil recruitment. Evidence that LTB4 was synthesized by resident macrophages, but not mast cells, included the following: 1) immuno-localization of heme-induced LTB4 was compartmentalized exclusively within lipid bodies of resident macrophages; 2) an increase in the macrophage population enhanced heme-induced neutrophil migration; 3) depletion of resident mast cells did not affect heme-induced LTB4 production or neutrophil influx; 4) increased levels of LTB4 were found in heme-stimulated peritoneal cavities displaying increased macrophage numbers; and 5) in vitro, heme was able to activate directly macrophages to synthesize LTB4. Our findings uncover a crucial role of LTB4 in neutrophil migration induced by heme and suggest that beneficial therapeutic outcomes could be achieved by targeting the 5-LO pathway in the treatment of inflammation associated with hemolytic processes.

Postsepsis lung injury is a common clinical problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Leukotrienes (LTs) are important lipid mediators of infection and inflammation derived from the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) metabolism of arachidonate with the potential to contribute to lung damage after sepsis. To test the hypothesis that LTs are mediators of lung injury after sepsis, we assessed lung structure, inflammatory mediators, and mechanical changes after cecal ligation and puncture surgery in wild-type (WT) and 5-LO knockout (5-LO 2/2 ) mice and in WT mice treated with a pharmacologic LT synthesis inhibitor (MK886) and LT receptor antagonists (CP105,696 and montelukast). Sixteen hours after surgery, WT animals exhibited severe lung injury (by histological analysis), substantial mechanical impairment (i.e., an increase in static lung elastance), an increase in neutrophil infiltration, and high levels of LTB 4 , cysteinyl-LTs (cys-LTs), prostaglandin E 2 , IL-1b, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, KC (CXCL1), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (CCL2) in lung tissue and plasma. 5-LO 2/2 mice and WT mice treated with a pharmacologic 5-LO inhibitor were significantly protected from lung inflammation and injury. Selective antagonists for BLT1 or cys-LT1, the high-affinity receptors for LTB 4 and cysLTs, respectively, were insufficient to provide protection when used alone. These results point to an important role for 5-LO products in sepsis-induced lung injury and suggest that the use of 5-LO inhibitors may be of therapeutic benefit clinically.