title: Pulmonary cryptosporidiosis: role of COX2 and NF-kB.
abstract: In the present study we investigated whether the pathological changes induced by Cryptosporidium in the lungs are mediated through the activation of COX-2, and whether the pathway employed for this activation involves NF-kB. 70 albino rats were submitted for this work. They were categorized into 3 groups: 30 immunocompetent (IC) rats infected with Cryptosporidium oocysts, 30 immunosuppressed (IS) rats infected with Cryptosporidium oocysts, and 10 IC, non-infected rats. Immunohistochemical expression of COX2 and NF-kB in lung tissues of the rats was examined. 43.3% of IC rats showed chronic pneumonia and fibrosis, 40% COX2 positivity, and 36.67% NF-kB positivity. 96.7% of IS rats showed chronic pneumonia and fibrosis, 56.7% non-caseating granuloma with Cryptosporidium oocysts, and 66.7% positivity for both COX2 and NF-kB. Density of inflammatory infiltration was statistically correlated with quickscore of both COX2 and NF-kB in both IC and IS groups. An association between quickscores of COX2 and NF-kB was found in our studied material. These data could demonstrate that Cryptosporidium infection induces upregulation of COX2 possibly through the NF-kB pathway, which suggests the events that contribute to the pathogenesis of Cryptosporidium. These findings could indicate potential therapeutic pharmacological target-mediating treatment of lesions caused by Cryptosporidium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-kom, Egypt. nancyasaad@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nancy Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Asaad
authors.forename: Gehan S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sadek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003458:Cryptosporidium; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D003907:Dexamethasone; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C489691:Ptgs2 protein, rat