Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

About: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais is a education organization based out in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 41631 authors who have published 75688 publications receiving 1249905 citations.

Endometriosis: hormone regulation and clinical consequences of chemotaxis and apoptosis

Abstract: BACKGROUND The recruitment of immune cells by chemokines and the regulation of endometrial cell apoptosis are critical aspects of endometriosis biology. Here, we review the local (paracrine) and systemic hormone (endocrine) modulation of these two specific, but highly related phenomena.

Pivotal Role of Interleukin-12 and Interferon-γ Axis in Controlling Tissue Parasitism and Inflammation in the Heart and Central Nervous System during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

Abstract: The role of cytokines in the control of tissue parasitism and pathogenesis of experimental Chagas’ disease was investigated. Wild-type and different cytokine as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout mice were infected with the Colombian strain of Trypanosoma cruzi, and the kinetics of tissue parasitism, inflammatory reaction, parasitemia, and mortality were determined. We demonstrate the pivotal role of the interleukin (IL)-12/interferon (IFN)-γ/iNOS axis and the antagonistic effect of IL-4 in controlling heart tissue parasitism, inflammation, and host resistance to acute infection with T. cruzi. Further, the heart and central nervous system were shown the main sites of reactivation of T. cruzi infection in mice lacking functional genes for IFN-γ and IL-12, respectively. Our results also show that in contrast to IFN-γ knockout (KO) mice, splenocytes from IL-12 KO mice infected with T. cruzi produced low levels of IFN-γ upon stimulation with antigen. Consistently, high levels of anti-T. cruzi IgG2a antibodies were detected in the sera from IL-12 KO, but not from IFN-γ KO mice, infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi. Thus, our results suggest that the level of IFN-γ deficiency is a major determinant of the site of reactivation of T. cruzi infection in immunocompromised host.

Properties and biocompatibility of chitosan films modified by blending with PVA and chemically crosslinked

Abstract: In the present work we report the synthesis, characterization, and preliminary biocompatibility of polymer blends based on Chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with low degree of hydrolysis and chemically crosslinked by glutaraldehyde for potential application on skin tissue repairing. The microstructure and morphology of the blended hydrogels were characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX) analysis. Hydrogels were investigated by swelling as preliminary in vitro test using simulated body fluid. In addition, biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and cell viability were assessed via MTT assay with VERO cell culture and cell spreading-adhesion analysis. It was found that by increasing the chitosan to PVA ratio, simulated body fluid uptake of the material was significantly altered. All the tested hydrogels have clearly presented adequate cell viability, non-toxicity, and suitable properties which can be tailored for prospective use in skin tissue engineering.