ANNA CLAUDIA CALVIELLI CASTELLO BRANCO
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
LIM/56 - Laboratório de Investigação em Dermatologia e Imunodeficiências, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
27 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 27
- Low CCL2 and CXCL8 Production and High Prevalence of Allergies in Children with Microcephaly Due to Congenital Zika Syndrome(2023) BEZERRA, Wallace Pitanga; SALMERON, Amanda Costa Ayres; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; MORAIS, Ingryd Camara; SALES, Valeria Soraya de Farias; MACHADO, Paula Renata Lima; SOUTO, Janeusa Trindade; ARAUJO, Joselio Maria Galvao de; GUEDES, Paulo Marcos da Matta; SATO, Maria Notomi; NASCIMENTO, Manuela Sales LimaCongenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is associated with an increased risk of microcephaly in affected children. This study investigated the peripheral dysregulation of immune mediators in children with microcephaly due to CZS. Gene expression quantified by qPCR in whole blood samples showed an increase in IFN gamma and IL-13 transcripts in children affected with microcephaly compared to the control group. The microcephaly group exhibited significantly decreased CCL2 and CXCL8 levels in serum, quantified by CBA assay. An allergic profile questionnaire revealed a high prevalence of allergies in the microcephaly group. In accordance, elevated serum IgE level measured by the Proquantum Immunoassay was observed in children affected with microcephaly compared to the control group. Altogether, these findings show a persistent systemic inflammation in children with microcephaly due to CZS and suggest a possible impairment in leukocyte migration caused by low production of CCL2 and CXCL8, in addition to high levels of IgE associated with high prevalence of allergies. The dysregulation of inflammatory genes and chemokines underscores the importance of understanding the immunological characteristics of CZS. Further investigation into the long-term consequences of systemic inflammation in these children is crucial for developing appropriate therapeutic strategies and tailored vaccination protocols.
- Outlining the skin-homing and circulating CLA+NK cells in patients with severe atopic dermatitis(2024) LIMA, Josenilson Feitosa de; TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio; RAMOS, Yasmim alefe Leuzzi; CARVALHO, Gabriel Costa de; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; PEREIRA, Naiura Vieira; SOTTO, Mirian Nacagami; AOKI, Valeria; SATO, Maria Notomi; ORFALI, Raquel LeaoAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, multifactorial skin disease, characterized by pruritus and predominant Th2 inflammation. Innate immune cells may play a role in AD development and are composed of granulocytes, macrophages, innate-like T cells, and innate lymphoid cells. This study investigates the phenotypic and functional profile of circulating CLA(+) natural killer (NK) cells and its role in the skin-homing to NK cells infiltrated in adults' skin with AD. We selected 44 AD patients and 27 non-AD volunteers for the study. The results showed increased frequencies of both CLA(+)CD56(bright) and CLA(+)CD56(dim) NK cell populations in the peripheral blood, mainly in severe AD patients. Upon SEB stimulation, we observed an augmented percentage of CLA(+)CD56(dim) NK cells expressing CD107a, IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TNF, reinforcing the role of staphylococcal enterotoxins in AD pathogenesis. Additionally, we demonstrated increased dermal expression of both NK cell markers NCAM-1/CD56 and pan-granzyme, corroborating the skin-homing, mostly in severe AD. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the potential role of NK cells in the chronification of the inflammatory process in AD skin, as well as their possible relationship with staphylococcal enterotoxins, and as practicable therapeutic targets.
- Enhanced immunogenicity and protective efficacy in mice following a Zika DNA vaccine designed by modulation of membrane-anchoring regions and its association to adjuvants(2024) TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio; OLIVEIRA, Luana de Mendonca; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; ALBERCA, Ricardo Wesley; SOUSA, Emanuella Sarmento Alho de; LEITE, Bruno Henrique de Sousa; ADAN, Wenny Camilla dos Santos; DUARTE, Alberto Jose da Silva; LINS, Roberto Dias; SATO, Maria Notomi; VIANA, Isabelle Freire TabosaZika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging pathogen with high morbidity associated to congenital infection. Despite the scientific advances since the last outbreak in the Americas, there are no approved specific treatment or vaccines. As the development of an effective prophylactic approach remains unaddressed, DNA vaccines surge as a powerful and attractive candidate due to the efficacy of sequence optimization in achieving strong immune response. In this study, we developed four DNA vaccine constructs encoding the ZIKV prM/M (pre-membrane/membrane) and E (envelope) proteins in conjunction with molecular adjuvants. The DNA vaccine candidate (called ZK_Delta STP), where the entire membrane-anchoring regions were completely removed, was far more immunogenic compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, inclusion of the tPA-SP leader sequence led to high expression and secretion of the target vaccine antigens, therefore contributing to adequate B cell stimulation. The ZK_Delta STP vaccine induced high cellular and humoral response in C57BL/6 adult mice, which included high neutralizing antibody titers and the generation of germinal center B cells. Administration of ZK-Delta STP incorporating aluminum hydroxide (Alum) adjuvant led to sustained neutralizing response. In consistency with the high and long-term protective response, ZK_Delta STP+Alum protected adult mice upon viral challenge. Collectively, the ZK_Delta STP+Alum vaccine formulation advances the understanding of the requirements for a successful and protective vaccine against flaviviruses and is worthy of further translational studies.
- Role of Histamine in Modulating the Immune Response and Inflammation(2018) BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; YOSHIKAWA, Fabio Seiti Yamada; PIETROBON, Anna Julia; SATO, Maria NotomiInflammatory mediators, including cytokines, histamine, bradykinin, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, impact the immune system, usually as proinflammatory factors. Other mediators act as regulatory components to establish homeostasis after injury or prevent the inflammatory process. Histamine, a biogenic vasoactive amine, causes symptoms such as allergies and has a pleiotropic effect that is dependent on its interaction with its four histamine receptors. In this review, we discuss the dualistic effects of histamine: how histamine affects inflammation of the immune system through the activation of intracellular pathways that induce the production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in different immune cells and how histamine exerts regulatory functions in innate and adaptive immune responses. We also evaluate the interactions between these effects.
- Immunological imbalance in microcephalic children with congenital Zika virus syndrome(2022) SALMERON, Amanda Costa Ayres; BEZERRA, Wallace Pitanga; SOUZA, Rafaela Lucia Lopes de; PEREIRA, Luanderson Cardoso; NASCIMENTO, Licia Maria do; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; SIMAS, Luiza Emilia Cavalcanti; ALMEIDA, Valeria Azevedo de; PALMEIRA, Pedro Henrique de Souza; BEZERRA, Christiane Medeiros; GUEDES, Paulo Marcos Matta; SATO, Maria Notomi; SALES, Valeria Soraya de Farias; FREITAS JUNIOR, Reginaldo Antonio de Oliveira; KEESEN, Tatjana de Souza Lima; NASCIMENTO, Manuela Sales LimaMicrocephalic children due congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) present neurological symptoms already well described. However, several other alterations can also be observed. Here, we aimed to evaluate the immune system of microcephaly CZS children. We showed that these patients have enlarged thymus, spleen and cervical lymph nodes, analysed by ultrasound and compared to the reference values for healthy children. In the periphery, they have an increase in eosinophil count and morphological alterations as hypersegmented neutrophils and atypical lymphocytes, even in the absence of urinary tract infections, parasitological infections or other current symptomatic infections. Microcephalic children due CZS also have high levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5 and type I IFNs, compared to healthy controls. In addition, this population showed a deficient cellular immune memory as demonstrated by the low reactivity to the tuberculin skin test even though they had been vaccinated with BCG less than 2 years before the challenge with the PPD. Together, our data demonstrate for the first time that CZS can cause alterations in primary and secondary lymphoid organs and also alters the morphology and functionality of the immune system cells, which broadens the spectrum of CZS symptoms. This knowledge may assist the development of specific therapeutic and more efficient vaccination schemes for this population of patients.
- Zika Virus Infects Newborn Monocytes Without Triggering a Substantial Cytokine Response(2019) YOSHIKAWA, Fabio Seiti Yamada; PIETROBON, Anna Julia; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; PEREIRA, Natalli Zanete; OLIVEIRA, Luanda Mara da Silva; MACHADO, Clarisse Martins; DUARTE, Alberto Jose da Silva; SATO, Maria NotomiZika virus (ZIKV) is a clinically important flavivirus that can cause neurological disturbances in newborns. Here, we investigated comparatively the outcome of in vitro infection of newborn monocytes by ZIKV. We observed that neonatal cells show defective production of interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 in response to ZIKV, although they were as efficient as adult cells in supporting viral infection. Although CLEC5A is a classical flavivirus immune receptor, it is not essential to the cytokine response, but it regulates the viral load only in adult cells. Greater expression of viral entry receptors may create a favorable environment for viral invasion in neonatal monocytes. We are the first to suggest a role for CLEC5A in human monocyte infectivity and to show that newborn monocytes are interesting targets in ZIKV pathogenesis, owing to their ability to carry the virus with only a partial triggering of the immune response, creating a potentially favorable environment for virus-related pathologies in young individuals.
- COVID-19 Disease Course in Former Smokers, Smokers and COPD Patients(2021) ALBERCA, Ricardo Wesley; LIMA, Julia Cataldo; OLIVEIRA, Emily Araujo de; GOZZI-SILVA, Sarah Cristina; RAMOS, Yasmim Alefe Leuzzi; ANDRADE, Milena Mary de Souza; BESERRA, Danielle Rosa; OLIVEIRA, Luana de Mendonca; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; PIETROBON, Anna Julia; PEREIRA, Natalli Zanete; TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio; FERNANDES, Iara Grigoletto; DUARTE, Alberto Jose da Silva; BENARD, Gil; SATO, Maria NotomiThe severe respiratory and systemic disease named coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic presents a huge social and health challenge worldwide. Many different risk factors are associated with disease severity, such as systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, older age, and other co-infections. Other respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking are common comorbidities worldwide. Previous investigations have identified among COVID-19 patients smokers and COPD patients, but recent investigations have questioned the higher risk among these populations. Nevertheless, previous reports failed to isolate smokers and COPD patients without other comorbidities. We performed a longitudinal evaluation of the disease course of smokers, former smokers, and COPD patients with COVID-19 without other comorbidities, from hospitalization to hospital discharge. Although no difference between groups was observed during hospital admission, smokers and COPD patients presented an increase in COVID-19-associated inflammatory markers during the disease course in comparison to non-smokers and former smokers. Our results demonstrated that smoking and COPD are risk factors for severe COVID-19 with possible implications for the ongoing pandemic.
- Impact of Inflammatory Immune Dysfunction in Psoriasis Patients at Risk for COVID-19(2021) YENDO, Tatiana Mina; SATO, Maria Notomi; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; PIETROBON, Anna Julia; TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio; RAMOS, Yasmim alefe Leuzzi; ALBERCA, Ricardo Wesley; VALENCIO, Cesar Giudice; ARRUDA, Vivian Nunes; ROMITI, Ricardo; ARNONE, Marcelo; HIRAYAMA, Andre Luis da Silva; DUARTE, Alberto Jose da Silva; AOKI, Valeria; ORFALI, Raquel LeaoPsoriasis is an immune-mediated dermatosis usually associated with comorbidities. Treatment varies from topicals to systemic drugs and data on susceptibility to viral infections in psoriatic patients are scarce. The objectives of this study were to analyze psoriatic patients on different therapies who were at risk for COVID-19 for seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2, pro-inflammatory cytokine profile, comorbidities and outcomes in order to unveil the immunological mechanisms involved in the anti-viral response in patients with psoriasis. Seventy-five patients with psoriasis were divided according to treatment: immunobiologics, methotrexate, topicals and acitretin. Twenty healthy controls were included. Plasma samples were collected for: IgG SARS-COV-2 (ELISA); IL-27, IL-29 and IL-18 (ELISA); and IL-1 beta, IL-17A, IL-6 and TNF (cytometric array). Seropositivity for SARS-COV-2 was detected in 24 out of 75 psoriasis patients and did not relate to COVID-19 symptoms and/or hospitalization, despite associated comorbidities. Psoriasis patients who were asymptomatic for SARS-COV-2 exhibited immune imbalance with high levels of IL-18, IL-17A and IL-6, and low levels of IL-27 compared to healthy controls. Psoriasis groups showed significant increased cytokine levels only in the group with immunobiologics. Despite immune deviations and lower IL-27, which has a potential antiviral impact, psoriatic patients did not exhibit complications related to COVID-19. An understanding of this kind of proinflammatory profile of psoriatic patients and of the lack of severe outcomes for COVID-19 is essential to establish novel therapeutic approaches and preventive measures, including with regard to the concomitance of viral infections.
- The Possible Dual Role of the ACE2 Receptor in Asthma and Coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) Infection(2020) BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; SATO, Maria Notomi; ALBERCA, Ricardo Wesley
- SARS-CoV-2 Infection and CMV Dissemination in Transplant Recipients as a Treatment for Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report(2021) GOZZI-SILVA, Sarah Cristina; BENARD, Gil; ALBERCA, Ricardo Wesley; YENDO, Tatiana Mina; TEIXEIRA, Franciane Mouradian Emidio; OLIVEIRA, Luana de Mendonca; BESERRA, Danielle Rosa; PIETROBON, Anna Julia; OLIVEIRA, Emily Araujo de; BRANCO, Anna Claudia Calvielli Castelo; ANDRADE, Milena Mary de Souza; FERNANDES, Iara Grigoletto; PEREIRA, Natalli Zanete; RAMOS, Yasmim Alefe Leuzzi; LIMA, Julia Cataldo; PROVENCI, Bruna; MANGINI, Sandrigo; DUARTE, Alberto Jose da Silva; SATO, Maria NotomiCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 has infected over 90 million people worldwide, therefore it is considered a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and/or organ failure. Individuals receiving a heart transplantation (HT) may be at higher risk of adverse outcomes attributable to COVID-19 due to immunosuppressives, as well as concomitant infections that may also influence the prognoses. Herein, we describe the first report of two cases of HT recipients with concomitant infections by SARS-CoV-2, Trypanosoma cruzi, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) dissemination, from the first day of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) until the death of the patients.
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