title: Homeopathic medicine Cantharis modulates uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC)-induced cystitis in susceptible mice.
abstract: This is a random blinded placebo controlled murine experimental model to study the effects of Cantharis 6 CH, a homeopathic medicine, on E coli-induced cystitis.
  
  
  
  24 adult susceptible female BALB/c mice were inoculated with E coli - UPEC O4:K-:H5 by a transurethral catheter. Cantharis 6cH or vehicle (placebo) was offered to mice by free access into the drinking water (1:100), during 24 h after infection. Spleen, bladder and kidneys were processed for quantitative histopathology after immunohistochemistry, using anti-CD3, CD79, MIF, NK and VEGF antibodies; the cytokines present in the bladder washing fluid were measured using a LUMINEX-Magpix KIT. Mann-Whitney and Fisher exact test were used as statistical analysis.
  
  
  
  Cantharis 6 CH increased IL12p40, IFN-γ and decreased IL10 concentrations in the bladder fluid (p⩽0.05); in the bladder mucosa, it increased the ratio between B and T lymphocytes (31%) and between B lymphocytes and MIF+ macrophages (57%, p⩽0.05). In the pelvis, instead, it decreased the B/T cells ratio (41%, p⩽0.05) and increased the M1/M2 macrophage ratio (42%, p⩽0.05). No differences were seen in the kidney and spleen analysis.
  
  
  
  The inverted balance of inflammatory cells and cytokines in bladder and pelvis mucosa shows specific local immune modulation induced by Cantharis 6cH.
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil; University of Santo Amaro (UNISA), Rua Professor Enéas de Siqueira Neto, 340, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cidéli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Paula Coelho
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscilla Dias
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrillo
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Iovine
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciane Costa
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Dalboni
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Rodrigues
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michelle Sanchez Freitas
authors.initials: MSF
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato Corrêa Viana
authors.initials: RCV
authors.lastname: Casarin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87-Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vania Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Paulista University (UNIP), Research Center, Av José Maria Whitaker, 290, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: leonibonamin@unip.br.
authors.forename: Leoni Villano
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Bonamin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003556:Cystitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D056689:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008419:Materia Medica
keywords: Cantharis; Cytokines; Escherichia coli; Homeopathy; UPEC