These results support the use of anti-sulfated glycosaminoglycan antibody-based immunotherapy as a potential tool to prevent atherosclerosis.

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The presence of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-Entamoeba histolytica antibodies in the saliva of patients with intestinal amebiasis was demonstrated by immunoblot assay, and the capacity of these antibodies to inhibit amebic adherence to a monolayer of MDCK cells was analyzed. Inhibition was due to IgA antiamebic antibodies and in part to anti-Gal-binding-lectin antibodies, as demonstrated by absorption experiments with total amebic extract and with the fraction of Gal-binding lectin. These results emphasize the relevance of secretory IgA antibodies in the phenomenon of E. histolytica adherence to epithelial cells.

Retained low-density lipoproteins (LDL) by arterial glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are more susceptible to reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidation, contributing to oxidative stress and atherosclerosis. Recently, we reported the properties of the chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody chP3R99-LALA to bind sulfated GAG, to inhibit LDL-chondroitin sulfate binding, and to avoid LDL oxidation in vitro. Here, we hypothesized that chP3R99-LALA treatment might reduce aortic oxidative stress in a therapeutic setting. Redox biomarkers and serum lipids were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Subcutaneous administration of five doses (100 μg) of chP3R99-LALA, after Lipofundin administration (2 mL/kg/day, i.v.) during 8 days, reduced atherosclerotic lesion development, which was not associated with a serum lipid modulation. In contrast, the treatment with chP3R99-LALA reduced (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde and protein oxidation, induced a restoration of reduced glutathione level, of the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and of endothelial nitric oxide level. Thus, the antiatherogenic effect of chP3R99-LALA treatment seems to be associated with a reduction of aortic oxidative stress. These results contribute in understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with chP3R99-LALA atheroprotection and support the use of anti-GAG antibody-based immunotherapy as a potential tool to treat the atherosclerosis.

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To identify the Entamoeba histolytica antigens capable of inducing secretory IgA (sIgA) responses in humans, a cDNA library from the strain HM1:IMSS was immuno-screened with saliva from patients with intestinal amebiasis or amebic liver abscess. Clones isolated with sIgA antibodies from patients with intestinal amebiasis corresponded to the known serine-rich protein isoform, a 29 kDa cysteine-rich protein and 1-alpha elongation factor. Clones corresponding to enolase, cyclophilin, ribosomal protein L23a, and an Hsp70 family protein were isolated with sIgA from a patient with amebic liver abscess. A glutamic acid-rich peptide (EhGARP) positive with sIgA from a patient with amebic liver abscess was also isolated; for EhGARP, no homologs were found in the protein databases. The antigens isolated are potentially useful in the development of an oral vaccine or new diagnostic tools for amebiasis.

IgG antibodies to antigens of Taenia solium metacestodes were detected in saliva samples from patients with intracerebral cysticercosis by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When compared for IgG antibody activity, saliva samples from patients with various nonparasitic neurological disorders and from clinically healthy individuals yielded significantly lower (p less than 0.001) absorbance values than saliva samples from patients with neurocysticercosis. However, no differences were observed in IgA anti-T. solium activity between patients with neurocysticercosis and controls. These results indicate that the detection of anticysticercus IgG antibodies in saliva by means of ELISA may be of value in the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis. Moreover, collection of saliva provides a noninvasive sampling method for immunoepidemiological surveys on this disease.