title: Lithothamnion muelleri controls inflammatory responses, target organ injury and lethality associated with graft-versus-host disease in mice.
abstract: Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae) is a marine red alga, which is a member of a group of algae with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. The present study evaluated the effects of treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri extract (LM) in a model of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), using a model of adoptive splenocyte transfer from C57BL/6 donors into B6D2F1 recipient mice. Mice treated with LM showed reduced clinical signs of disease and mortality when compared with untreated mice. LM-treated mice had reduced tissue injury, less bacterial translocation, and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5)). The polysaccharide-rich fraction derived from LM could inhibit leukocyte rolling and adhesion in intestinal venules, as assessed by intravital microscopy. LM treatment did not impair the beneficial effects of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL). Altogether, our studies suggest that treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri has a potential therapeutic application in GVHD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Resolution of Inflammatory Response, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil. babirez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Priscila T T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.forename: Carolina B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Rosa M E
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: Danielle G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Fernão C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Marina G M
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Castor
authors.forename: Mauro M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pinho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines