title: Effect of neonatal malnutrition on expression of nitric oxide synthase enzyme, production of free radicals and in vitro viability of alveolar macrophages infected with methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effects of neonatal malnutrition on the microbicidal response and viability of in vitro macrophages infected with Staphylococcus aureus sensitive/resistant to methicillin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were divided into two distinct groups: nourished (rats breast-fed by mothers undergoing diet with 17% casein) and malnourished (rats breast-fed by mothers undergoing diet with 8% casein). Macrophages were recovered after surgical tracheostomy procedure by collecting bronchoalveolar lavage. Four systems were established: negative control, composed only by phagocytes; positive control, macrophages plus lipopolysaccharide; and two test systems, macrophages plus Staphylococcus aureus sensitive and resistant to methicillin. Plates were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. After this period, tests for the analysis of cell viability and microbicidal response were performed. In the statistical analysis, the Student's t and ANOVA tests were used, accepting p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The neonatal malnutrition impaired the animals' body weight. There was a lower expression of the inducible nitric oxide enzyme (iNOS), nitric oxide production, and viability of macrophages infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. However, increased production of superoxide anion in the malnourished group was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neonatal malnutrition focusing on critical periods of development promoted lower expression of iNOS, nitric oxide production, cell viability, and exacerbated reactive oxygen species production. The high levels of reactive oxygen species may favor the onset of serious and systemic infections with fatal outcome if associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Center, Federal University of São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF), University Campus, Paulo Afonso, BA, 48608-170, Brazil. morais.ngm@gmail.com.|Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (LIKA-UFPE), Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil. morais.ngm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Natália Gomes
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), University Campus, University Town, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thacianna Barreto
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Scientific Initiation of the Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, University Campus, University Town, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Lúcia Farias
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
authors.affiliation: Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Campus UFPE, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.affiliation: Biosciences and Biotechnology for Health, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Campus UFPE, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Suênia Cunha
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: da Gonçalves de Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Campus UFPE, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria Rêgo Alves
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Campus UFPE, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Paiva Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, University Campus, University Town, Recife, PE, 50670-420, Brazil.
authors.forename: Célia Maria Machado Barbosa
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: de Castro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D002470:Cell Survival; D004032:Diet; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D008712:Methicillin
keywords: Index terms: malnutrition; Macrophages; Methicillin; Staphylococcus aureus