title: Thymic alterations induced by Plasmodium berghei: expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors.
abstract: The thymus plays a crucial role in the generation of T-cells, and so our laboratory has been interested in the study of the intrathymic events that occur during infection diseases and may cause disruption in its functions. Previously, we showed that thymus from experimentally Plasmodium berghei-infected mice present histological alterations with high levels of apoptosis, changes in cell migration-related molecules, and premature egress of immature thymocytes to periphery. In addition, parasites were found inside the thymus. In this work we investigated alterations in the expression pattern and activity of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and -9, and their tissue inhibitors, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Our results show enhanced expression and widespread distribution of these molecules in thymus from infected animals. Also, the presence of active MMP-2 was detected. These data are suggestive of MMPs and TIMPs importance in the earlier observed changes in the extracellular matrix during thymic alterations after plasmodium infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alliny Carolina Dionete
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francelin
authors.forename: Danilo Lopes
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ferrucci
authors.forename: Dagmar Ruth
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Stach-Machado
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verinaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008288:Malaria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9