title: E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities in rats experimental infected by Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiological agent of cryptococcosis, is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activities of E-NTPDase and E-ADA in rats experimentally infected by C. neoformans var. grubii. Adult rats (35) were divided in two groups: 18 for the control group (uninfected) (A), and 17 for the infected group (B). Each group was separated into three sub-groups (A1, A2, A3-B1, B2, B3), and samples were collected on 10, 20, and 30 days post-infection (PI). Leukocyte counts, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IgM, IgG levels, and E-NTPDase and E-ADA activities were analyzed. It was possible to observe that IgG and IgM seric levels of infected rats were significantly elevated (P<0.01) on days 10, 20 and 30 PI, as well as the levels of TNF-α and INF-γ when compared to uninfected rodents. Regarding E-NTPDase activity in lymphocytes, it was possible to observe that the ATP hydrolysis was significantly decreased on days 20 (P<0.01) and 30 PI (P<0.05), while ADP hydrolysis was significantly reduced only on day 20 PI (P<0.01) when compared with uninfected group. Seric E-ADA activity had a significant reduction (P<0.01) during all three evaluated periods when compared to the control group, while E-ADA activity in lymphocytes increased significantly (P<0.01) when compared to the group A on day 10 PI; however on days 20 and 30 PI, its activity was considerable reduced in lymphocytes of infected animals (P<0.01). Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the infection caused by C. neoformans in immunocompetent rats leads to changes in the purinergic signaling (NTPDase and E-ADA), concomitantly with an inflammatory response (increased levels of cytokines and immunoglobulins) associated with inflammatory infiltrates and histological lesions in the lung.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Patologia e Clinica Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Patologia e Clinica Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laerte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferreiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciência Animal, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pequenos Animais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tonin
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jader B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ruchel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: João F P
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rezer
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raqueli T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carine E P
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela B R
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Universidade Luterana do Brasil, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta M M F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pequenos Animais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fighera
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: janio.santurio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Janio M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Santurio
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001081:Apyrase / Q000378:metabolism*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen
keywords: Cryptococcosis; Enzyme activity; Lymphocytes; Purinergic signaling