Frequency of Toxocara canis antibodies in Mexican paediatric patients with epilepsy

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.d.L. Caballero-García ◽  
J. Simón-Salvador ◽  
J.C. Hernández-Aguilar ◽  
A. Reyes-Lopez ◽  
B. Nogueda-Torres ◽  
...  

Abstract The relationship between epilepsy and the presence of visceral larva migrans caused by Toxocara canis in Mexican children remains uncertain; however, this relationship needs to be elucidated because these parasite larvae can invade the human central nervous system. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine the frequency and specificity of anti-T. canis antibodies in the sera of children with epilepsy to determine the relationship between this parasite and epilepsy. The sera samples of 214 children were examined: 111 children diagnosed with epilepsy and 103 clinically healthy children without neurological disorders. In the sera of each group, the presence and specificity of anti-T. canis and anti-Ascaris lumbricoides antibodies, as well as the cross-reactivity between them, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting analysis. Among the children with epilepsy, 25.2% exhibited seropositivity to T. canis. Cross-reactivity against the A. lumbricoides antigen was present in 46.8% of the children with epilepsy, whereas 11.7% of the children with epilepsy and anti-T. canis antibodies did not exhibit cross-reactivity against this antigen. The Western blotting analysis of the sera from the children with epilepsy demonstrated the presence of T. canis proteins, with molecular weights of 24, 35, 55, 70, 120 and 210 kDa, and A lumbricoides proteins with molecular weights of 70, 80 and 110 kDa. Our results revealed the presence of anti-T. canis antibodies in the children with epilepsy; furthermore, cross-reactivity tests with A. lumbricoides showed the importance of the presence of anti-T. canis antibodies in revealing the relationship between this parasite and epilepsy in children.

1997 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 253-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cáris Maroni NUNES ◽  
Regina Nardini TUNDISI ◽  
José Fernando GARCIA ◽  
Marcos Brayan HEINEMANN ◽  
Saemi OGASSAWARA ◽  
...  

Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is a clinical syndrome caused by infection of man by Toxocara spp, the common roundworm of dogs and cats. Tissue migration of larval stages causes illness specially in children. Because larvae are difficult to detect in tissues, diagnosis is mostly based on serology. After the introduction of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the larval excretory-secretory antigen of T. canis (TES), the diagnosis specificity was greatly improved although cross-reactivity with other helminths are still being reported. In Brazil, diagnosis is routinely made after absorption of serum samples with Ascaris suum antigens, a nematode antigenicaly related with Ascaris lumbricoides which is a common intestinal nematode of children. In order to identify T. canis antigens that cross react to A. suum antigens we analyzed TES antigen by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting techniques. When we used serum samples from patients suspected of VLM and positive result by ELISA as well as a reference serum sample numerous bands were seen (molecular weight of 210-200 kDa, 116-97 kDa, 55-50 kDa and 35-29 kDa). Among these there is at least one band with molecular weight around 55-66 kDa that seem to be responsible for the cross-reactivity between T. canis e A. suum once it disappears when previous absorption of serum samples with A. suum antigens is performed


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1563-1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam ◽  
Kevin R. Kazacos

ABSTRACT Baylisascaris procyonis and Toxocara species are two important causes of larva migrans in humans. Larva migrans caused by Toxocara spp. is well known and is diagnosed serologically by enzyme immunoassay. Over a dozen cases of larva migrans and associated eosinophilic encephalitis caused by B. procyonis have also been reported, and at least a dozen additional cases are known. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the excretory-secretory (ES) antigen of B. procyonis larvae is currently being used in our laboratory as an aid in the diagnosis of this infection in humans. Clinically affected individuals show very high reactivity (measured as the optical density) on this ELISA; however, a one-way cross-reactivity with Toxocara spp. has been observed. As an approach to differentiate these two infections based on serology, we performed Western blots, wherein the B. procyonis ES antigen was reacted with serum samples from individuals known to be positive for either Toxocara spp. or B. procyonis larva migrans. Western blot results showed that B. procyonis antigens of between 30 and 45 kDa were specifically identified only by the sera from individuals with Baylisascaris larva migrans, thus allowing for differentiation between the two infections. This included human patient serum samples submitted for serologic testing, as well as sera from rabbits experimentally infected with B. procyonis. When used in conjunction with the ELISA, Western blotting could be an efficient tool for diagnosis of this infection in humans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yufang Xiang ◽  
Yuanyuan Zheng ◽  
Shaobo Liu ◽  
Gang Liu ◽  
Zhi Li ◽  
...  

AbstractWestern blotting (WB) is one of the most widely used techniques to identify proteins as well as post translational modifications of proteins. The selection of electroblotted membrane is one of the key factors affecting the detection sensitivity of the protein which is transferred from gel to membrane in WB. The most common used membranes are polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nitrocellulose (NC) membranes. Which membrane of these two is more suitable for WB has not been reported so far. Here, by incubating proteins which were transferred to PVDF or NC membranes with a series of antibodies and different types of lectins, we investigated the relationship between the binding ability of these two membranes to proteins or glycoproteins and the molecular weight of the target protein. The antibody re-probed ability of the two membranes was also explored. Moreover, we verified the above results by directly incubating proteins having different molecular weights onto PVDF or NC membranes. Bound proteins were stained with direct blue-71, and the staining intensity was quantitated by scanning and densitometry.


Acta Tropica ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Perteguer ◽  
C. Cuéllar ◽  
J.L. Guillén ◽  
C. Águila ◽  
S. Fenoy ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Cristiane Gennari Bianchi ◽  
Eduardo Rochete Ropelle ◽  
Carlos Kiyoshi Katashima ◽  
José Barreto Campello Carvalheira ◽  
Luiz Roberto Lopes ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To study if the pre-radiotherapy physical activity has radio-protective elements, by measuring the radio-induced activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines as interleukin-6 (il-6), transforming growth factor -β (tgf -β), tumor necrosis factor -α (tnf-α) and protein beta kinase β (ikkβ), through western blotting analysis. METHODS: A randomized study with 28 Wistar hannover rats, males, with a mean age of 90 days and weighing about 200 grams. The animals were divided into three groups: (GI, GII and GIII). GIII group were submitted to swimming for eight weeks (zero load, three times a week, about 30 minutes). Then, the groups (except the control group) were submitted to irradiation by cobalt therapy, single dose of 3.5 gray in the whole body. All animals were sacrificed by overdose of pentobarbital, according to the time for analysis of cytokines, and then a fragment of the lower lobe of the right lung went to western blotting analysis. RESULTS: The cytokines IKK β, TNF-α and IL-6 induced by radiation in the lung were lower in the exercised animals. However, exercise did not alter the radiation-induced increase in tgf-β. CONCLUSION: The results show a lower response in relation to inflammatory cytokines in the group that practiced the exercise pre-radiotherapy, showing that exercise can protect tissues from tissue damage due to irradiation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
haiyan huang ◽  
Chaochao Zhang ◽  
Haijun Gao ◽  
Ziqiang Liu ◽  
Jiacheng Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Toosendanin (TSN) is a triterpenoid compound mainly used as an ascaris repellant. Recent studies have shown that it possesses antitumor effects in many types of tumor cells. However, the effects of TSN on glioma cells have rarely been reported. Methods: Different assays were performed to investigate the effects of TSN on the different glioma cell lines including U87MG and LN18. The assays included colony formation, wound healing, and transwell assays. Furthermore, Hoechst 3342 staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting analysis were performed to investigate the apoptotic activities of TSN. Finally, the results were confirmed using a xenograft tumor model that comprised of nude mice. Results: In vitro, the CCK-8 and colony formation assays showed that TSN effectively inhibited glioma cell proliferation. Moreover, the inhibitory effects on glioma cell migration and invasion were demonstrated through the wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting assays demonstrated the significant effect of TSN in the apoptosis induction of glioma cells. Furthermore, the anti-glioma effect of TSN was exerted through the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways as demonstrated by western blotting analysis. In addition, the effects of TSN on glioma cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, migration, and invasion were reversed by 740Y-P, a PI3K activator. Finally, the mouse xenograft model confirmed the suppressive effect of TSN on tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion: Our results suggest that TSN is a promising chemotherapeutic drug for patients with glioma.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Mirim Jin ◽  
Sun Young Park ◽  
Hye Jin Choi ◽  
Younmin Shin ◽  
Eunho Chun ◽  
...  

So-ochim-tang-gamibang (SOCG) is a Korean traditional medicine; it has previously been shown to be safe and effective against depression. Persistently increased levels of circulating glucocorticoids have been considered as a pathological mechanism for depression and associated with decreased neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus. This study investigated whether SOCG controls the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects in vivo and in vitro. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were subjected to restraint stress, where SOCG was orally administered to the animals for 2 weeks. An open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT) were performed to explore the antidepressant activity of SOCG in WKY rats. Plasma levels of HPA axis hormones were measured by ELISA or western blotting analysis. The expression levels or activation of HPA axis-related signaling molecules such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the brain were determined by real-time PCR and western blotting analysis. Furthermore, a corticosterone- (CORT-) induced cell injury model was established using SH-SY5Y cells to explore the antidepressive effects of SOCG in vitro. The results of the OFT, FST, and SPT revealed that SOCG ameliorated depressive-like behaviors in the WKY rats. The blood plasma levels of HPA axis hormones such as CORT, CORT-releasing hormone (CRH), and adrenocorticotrophic hormone were downregulated by SOCG. On the other hand, SOCG upregulated the phosphorylation of CREB and ERK in both the rat hippocampus and CORT-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, it also increased the GR expression. These results suggested that SOCG may improve depression by controlling hyperactive glucocorticoid signaling via the downregulation of HPA axis hormones and upregulation of GR.


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