Review
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Mariana Caldas Waghabi, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva, Tania C. Araujo-Jorge
Summary: The anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta plays a crucial role in Chagas disease, affecting the infection of Trypanosoma cruzi and the immune response and inflammation in the host. Inhibitors of the TGF-beta signaling pathway show promise as a potential therapeutic approach, and the level of TGF-beta in serum can serve as a biomarker of clinical relevance. Furthermore, TGF-beta polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Chagas disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Elen Mello de Souza, Glaucia Vilar-Pereira, Wim M. S. Degrave, Rayane da Silva Abreu, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Nilma Valeria Caldeira Ferreira, Steve Ledbeter, Robert H. Barker, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Tania C. De Araujo-Jorge, Mariana Caldas Waghabi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-beta neutralization on T. cruzi infection. The results showed that treatment with the 1D11 antibody greatly reduced cardiomyocyte invasion by T. cruzi and the number of parasites per infected cell. 1D11 treatment also reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac performance.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Genetics & Heredity
Yizhen Liu, Shuaikun Liu, Xing Jia, Ruiping Liu
Summary: In a recent meta-analysis, He et al. examined the association between transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) gene polymorphisms and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are some debatable points that need to be addressed in this analysis.
Article
Immunology
Melissa D. Klein, Freddy Tinajeros, Maria Del Carmen Menduina, Edith Malaga, Beth J. Condori, Manuela Verastegui, Federico Urquizu, Robert H. Gilman, Natalie M. Bowman
Summary: The study found that older maternal age, family history of Chagas disease, home conditions, lower educational level, and history of living in a rural area were significantly associated with higher odds of maternal infection. Protective factors against transmission included cesarean delivery and family history of Chagas disease, while twins were significantly more likely to be congenitally infected than singleton births.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Alicia Grijalva, Lucia Gallo Vaulet, Roberto Nicolas Aguero, Analia Toledano, Marikena Guadalupe Risso, Juan Quarroz Braghini, David Sosa, Paula Ruybal, Silvia Repetto, Catalina Dirney Alba Soto
Summary: This study explored the association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and CCC through a case-control study and meta-analysis. The results showed that the TT genotype of -819 rs1800871 was associated with an increased risk of CCC, suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker for disease progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Damian Malinowski, Oliwia Bochniak, Katarzyna Luterek-Puszynska, Michal Puszynski, Andrzej Pawlik
Summary: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and has a heritable component. Recent research has made progress in uncovering the genetic factors involved, offering potential for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Numerous genes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, endothelial and smooth muscle function, coagulation, and the immune system have been identified as playing a role in CAD. Inflammation, mediated in part by TGF beta 1, is important in the development of CAD.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Bogacz, Marlena Wolek, Jerzy Sienko, Boguslaw Czerny, Boguslaw Machalinski, Piotr Olbromski, Maciej Kotowski
Summary: The study investigated the impact of CTLA4 and TGF-beta 1 gene polymorphisms on immunosuppressive drug therapy and the risk of acute rejection in renal transplant patients. The results suggest that the TGF-beta 1 -800 G>A polymorphism may influence the TAC dose, while the CTLA4 gene +49A>G polymorphism does not correlate with the dose of CsA or TAC. Analysis of biochemical parameters showed no impact of these polymorphisms on the risk of organ rejection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Anna Zaninoni, Bruno Fattizzo, Loredana Pettine, Cristina Vercellati, Anna P. Marcello, Wilma Barcellini
Summary: This study investigated cytokine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and serum levels in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), and found complex interplay between genetic factors and disease features.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Eduardo G. Bruneto, Miguel M. Fernandes-Silva, Cristina Toledo-Cornell, Silvia Martins, Joao M. B. Ferreira, Valeria R. Correa, Joicely M. da Costa, Ana Yece das N. Pinto, Dilma do S. M. de Souza, Maria Carmelinda G. Pinto, Jose Albuquerque de F Neto, Alberto N. Ramos, James H. Maguire, Odilson M. Silvestre
Summary: Orally-transmitted acute Chagas disease is emerging as a significant public health problem, with considerable lethality in the first year after infection but a declining mortality rate over the years. Symptomatic cases have a similar lethality rate to those from other routes of infection.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tsutomu Imaizumi, Ryuhei Hayashi, Yuji Kudo, Xiaoqin Li, Kaito Yamaguchi, Shun Shibata, Toru Okubo, Tsuyoshi Ishii, Yoichi Honma, Kohji Nishida
Summary: The conditioned medium of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSC-CM) has been found to suppress cytotoxicity and inflammation in human corneal epithelial cells (hCECs), improve barrier dysfunction, and serve as a potential therapeutic agent for dry eye syndrome (DES).
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Minghui Zheng, Jing Li, Weizhen Fang, Ling Luo, Rui Ding, Hua Zeng, Hong Luo, Xianghua Lin, Chaohui Duan
Summary: A meta-analysis explored the association between specific polymorphisms in the IFN-γ and TNF-α genes and the incidence of LC. The results showed that rs361525 is associated with LC in alcoholic liver cirrhosis and HBV-related cirrhosis, while rs2430561 is associated with LC in the Asian population and in the context of HBV-related cirrhosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Mahima Kapoor, Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
Summary: Tau protein is involved in Alzheimer's disease due to its detachment from microtubules and formation of insoluble intracellular aggregates. Recent studies indicate the expulsion of Tau seeds in the extracellular domain and their prion-like spread between neurons. The cytokine Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) plays a role in immunomodulation and neuroprotection in the brain and is also involved in cytoskeletal reorganization. Targeting extracellular Tau using TGF-beta-triggered microglia-mediated approach could be a strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yujia Li, Weiguo Fan, Frederik Link, Sai Wang, Steven Dooley
Summary: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important factor in the liver that plays a role in various processes initiated by liver injury. It affects different types of liver cells and the response depends on the specific context. In the healthy liver, TGF-beta is stored in the extracellular matrix as latent TGF-beta (L-TGF-beta), and the protein ECM1 is critical for maintaining its latency. Activation of L-TGF-beta has detrimental effects on liver structure and function. This review article presents current knowledge on the formation, secretion, matrix deposition, and activation of L-TGF-beta, and highlights the potential therapeutic benefits of reducing L-TGF-beta activation in liver fibrosis and liver cancer.
Article
Pathology
Calen A. Steiner, Samuel D. Koch, Tamara Evanoff, Nichole Welch, Rachael Kostelecky, Rosemary Callahan, Emily M. Murphy, Tom T. Nguyen, Caroline H. T. Hall, Sizhao Lu, Edwin F. de Zoeten, Mary C. M. Weiser-Evans, Ian M. Cartwright, Sean P. Colgan
Summary: This study found that the TNF & DEG;ARE mouse is a viable and highly tractable model of ileal fibrosis. This model and the techniques used herein can be leveraged for both mechanistic studies and therapeutic development for the treatment of intestinal fibrosis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Masaki Takahashi, Yoshifumi Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Nakamura
Summary: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine that plays important roles in various diseases, and inhibiting the TGF-beta 1 isoform using RNA aptamer may be a promising approach for cancer therapy.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Aline Xavier Frota, Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha Mendes, Marcelo Carvalho Vieira, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva, Henrique Horta Veloso, Paula Simplicio da Silva, Gilberto Marcelo Sperandio da Silva, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa, Flavia Mazzoli-Rocha, Henrique Silveira Costa, Luiz Fernando Rodrigues Junior, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano
Summary: The study evaluated the hemodynamic responses and perception of effort in CCC patients under different IMT protocols. The results showed no differences in hemodynamic responses between the MIP60 and MIP30 protocols, despite a higher perception of effort in the MIP30 protocol.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Deborah Antunes, Paloma Rezende Correa, Antonio Jose da Silva-Goncalves, Wladimir Malaga, Ernesto Raul Caffarena, Christophe Guilhot, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Tuberculosis is a widespread disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study on fumarate reductase in this organism reveals different isoforms and potential evolutionary mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Bianca Gallart Cinelli Luzes, Paloma Rezende Correa, Antonio Jose da Silva-Goncalves, Lucas de Almeida Machado, Ana Carolina Ramos Guimaraes, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Tuberculosis remains a global health concern, with ongoing research focusing on Mycobacterium tuberculosis for new preventive and therapeutic strategies. The BCG Moreau vaccine strain in Brazil has a single nucleotide polymorphism in a gene, potentially affecting its protein characteristics, resulting in slightly lower thermostability compared to the M. tuberculosis counterpart.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Agnes Desroches-Castan, Emmanuelle Tillet, Claire Bouvard, Sabine Bailly
Summary: BMPs are a group of cytokines that play diverse roles in the body. In humans, there are 15 BMP ligands that initiate cellular signaling by forming complexes with specific receptors. Certain receptors have been directly linked to rare vascular diseases.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Joao Bosco de Figueiredo Santos, Ilan Gottlieb, Eduardo Marinho Tassi, Gabriel Cordeiro Camargo, Jacob Atie, Sergio Salles Xavier, Roberto Coury Pedrosa, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva
Summary: The study revealed that patients with CHD at an initial stage also exhibit an increase in myocardial fibrosis over time, and the presence of LV fibrosis at baseline is associated with a decrease in left ventricular systolic function.
ARQUIVOS BRASILEIROS DE CARDIOLOGIA
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Aline Maria Nunes Viana, Marcelo Carvalho Vieira, Flavia Mazzoli-Rocha, Rudson Santos Silva, Aline Xavier Frota, Henrique Silveira Costa, Juliana Pereira Borges, Gilberto Marcelo Sperandio da Silva, Paula Simplicio da Silva, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa, Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha Mendes, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano
Summary: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cardiovascular rehabilitation on the functional capacity of patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), and to compare the responses between CCC patients without and with heart failure (HF). The results showed that cardiovascular rehabilitation significantly improved the functional capacity of patients with CCC, and the responses were similar between patients without and with HF, indicating the importance of including it as a standard treatment strategy for CCC.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tania C. Araujo-Jorge, Maria Teresa Rivera, Jean Vanderpas, Luciana R. Garzoni, Anna Cristina C. Carvalho, Mariana C. Waghabi, Marcelo T. Holanda, Mauro F. F. Mediano, Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno, Maria da Gloria Bonecini-Almeida, Roberto M. Saraiva, Roberto R. Ferreira
Summary: This review presents recent studies on the potential use of selenium as a complementary therapy for chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), showing evidence of its benefits in preventing heart failure and improving heart function. The review also discusses the complex pathophysiology of CCC and the role of selenium in immune response and fibrosis regulation.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Luciana F. Portela, Maira B. Mesquita, Juliana M. Giraldes, Margareth C. Varela, Pedro Emmanuel A. A. Brasil, Andrea R. Costa, Mauro F. F. Mediano, Luiz Henrique C. Sangenis, Roberto C. Pedrosa, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva
Summary: This study analysed the association between socio-epidemiological factors and comorbidities with clinical manifestations of Chagas disease (CD). The results showed that age and Brazilian birth state were associated with the cardiac form of CD. Men and older individuals were more likely to have the digestive form, while patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes were less likely to have the digestive form. Men had a greater likelihood of having a more severe cardiac presentation.
TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
L. Chomette, E. Hupkens, M. Romitti, L. Dewachter, J. L. Vachiery, S. Bailly, S. Costagliola, G. Smits, E. Tillet, Antoine Bondue
Summary: This study describes a pediatric case of PAH with a novel GDF2 mutation, resulting in the absence of circulating mature BMP9 and mature BMP9-10 heterodimers in the patient's plasma. Further in vitro studies showed that the mutation hampers the correct processing of BMP9, leading to the secretion of inactive pro-BMP9. Heterozygous carriers of the variant were asymptomatic, similar to previous reports.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Veronica G. Mendes, Lorena Rimolo, Ana Carolina B. de Lima, Roberto R. Ferreira, Luciano S. Oliveira, Lindice M. Nisimura, Samuel I. M. Horita, Andrea R. Costa, Gilberto Marcelo S. da Silva, Luiz Henrique C. Sangenis, Fernanda S. N. S. Mendes, Andrea S. Sousa, Henrique H. Veloso, Marcelo T. Holanda, Mauro F. F. Mediano, Mariana C. Waghabi, Luciana R. Garzoni, Otacilio C. Moreira, Constanca Britto, Ademir B. Cunha, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva
Summary: This study investigated the prognostic value of biomarkers and new echocardiogram parameters in predicting outcomes of patients with chronic Chagas disease. The results showed that LV end-diastolic volume, strain analyses, 3-dimensional analyses, brain natriuretic peptide, and positive T cruzi polymerase chain reaction were independent predictors of cardiovascular events in CD patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Flavia Mazzoli-Rocha, Clara Pinto Diniz, Daniel Pereira Redes de Rezende, Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha Mendes, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva, Audrey Borghi-Silva, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano, Dangelo Jose de Andrade Alexandre
Summary: This review analyzed the relationship between the increase in inflammatory markers associated with chronic fibrosing myocarditis and the reduction in inspiratory muscle strength in patients with chronic Chagas disease. However, there is limited literature in this field. More randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate inspiratory muscle strength and the effects of training in order to better understand the prevalence and risk of inspiratory muscle weakness in patients with Chagas disease.
REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Paloma Rezende Correa, Paula Silva Lacerda Almeida, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Dodecin is a protein involved in flavin homeostasis with interesting temperature and osmolarity endurance features in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite a single nucleotide polymorphism that leads to a shortened protein in BCG, dodecin is still produced and potentially plays a role in oxidative stress response.
Letter
Parasitology
Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Sergio Salles Xavier, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa
REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva, Gilberto Marcelo Sperandio da Silva, Sergio Salles Xavier, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa, Andrea Rodrigues da Costa, Fernanda de Souza Nogueira Sardinha Mendes, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality rates were higher in patients with Chagas disease, and comorbidities were associated with a poorer prognosis in Chagas disease and COVID-19.
REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Joao Bosco de Figueiredo Santos, Ilan Gottlieb, Eduardo Marinho Tassi, Gabriel Cordeiro Camargo, Jacob Atie, Sergio Salles Xavier, Roberto Coury Pedrosa, Josep Brugada, Roberto Magalhaes Saraiva
Summary: High-resolution contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance can identify border zone channels in patients with Chagas heart disease, and the extension of these channels is independently associated with clinical events.
REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL
(2022)
