Objective. To determine active TGF-β1 (aTGF-β1) levels in serum, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants and to understand their associations with clinical parameters in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Methods. We evaluated serum samples from 56 SSc patients and 24 healthy controls (HC). In 20 SSc patients, we quantified spontaneous or anti-CD3/CD28 stimulated production of aTGF-β1 by PBMC. The aTGF-β1 levels were measured by ELISA. Skin biopsies were obtained from 13 SSc patients and six HC, and TGFB1 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results. TGF-β1 serum levels were significantly higher in SSc patients than in HC (p < 0.0001). Patients with increased TGF-β1 serum levels were more likely to have diffuse subset (p = 0.02), digital ulcers (p = 0.02), lung fibrosis (p < 0.0001), positive antitopoisomerase I (p = 0.03), and higher modified Rodnan score (p = 0.046). Most of our culture supernatant samples had undetectable levels of TGF-β1. No significant difference in TGFB1 expression was observed in the SSc skin compared with HC skin. Conclusion. Raised active TGF-β1 serum levels and their association with clinical manifestations in scleroderma patients suggest that this cytokine could be a marker of fibrotic and vascular involvement in SSc.
Paullinia cupana (Guarana) is a native plant of Amazon region that has very traditional importance. Its seeds are rich in bioactive compounds, including tannins, which exhibit relevant properties. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial, antineoplastic, and immunomodulatory activity of P. cupana seeds crude extract (CE) and ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF). Methods. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). Antineoplastic activity was evaluated by MTT assays in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), ductal carcinoma (T47-D), non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma (Toledo), T cell leukemia (Jukart), and Acute Leukemia (HL-60) cell lines. BALB/c mice splenocytes were treated to assess IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-10 levels by sandwich ELISA. Results. CE and EAF were not toxic to peripheral blood cells and splenocytes. CE and EAF fractions showed a bacteriostatic activity (MIC = 250 μg/mL) and presented IC50 values of 70.25 μg/mL and 61.18 μg/mL in HL-60 leukemia cell line. All cytokines evaluated had their levels reduced after treatment, following dose-response model. Discussion and Conclusion. Different biological activities were observed for both CE and EAF, suggesting P. cupana as a source of bioactive substances, especially tannins that may be used for several diseases treatments.
Resumo -O melanoma é o tipo mais letal de câncer de pele, que vem mudando seu perfil de incidência no mundo nos últimos anos. Sua alta taxa de letalidade é devesse principalmente ao seu grande potencial metastático e por desenvolver resistência a tratamento. Dessa forma, a busca de novos tratamentos mais eficaz se faz necessário. Com o objetivo de procurar novas alternativas para o tratamento do melanoma foi realizado o presente estudo. Para atender esse objetivo foi realizada a síntese de nove derivados tiazolidinico e os mesmos foram avaliada a sua toxicidade nas concentrações de 5, 10 e 100 Mm frente três diferentes linhagens de melanoma UACC62, A375 e SK-MEL-28. Um dos derivados RI79 obteve o IC50 de 7,249658 Mm na linhagem de SK-MEL-28.
Palavras-chave: SK-MEL-28, Citotoxicidade, antineoplasicoAbstractmelanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer, which has been changing its incidence profile in the world in recent years. its high lethality rate is due mainly to its great metastatic potential and to develop resistance to treatment. in this way, the search for new treatments more effectively becomes necessary. in order to find new alternatives for the treatment of melanoma, the present study was carried out. in order to meet this objective, nine thiazolidinic derivatives were synthesized and their toxicity was evaluated at concentrations of 5, 10 and 100 mm against three different melanoma strains uacc62, a375 and sk-mel-28. one of the derivatives ri79 obtained the ic 50 of 7.249658 mm in the strain of sk-mel-28.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.