Experimental chemotherapy in paracoccidioidomycosis using ruthenium NO donor

Mycopathologia. 2011 Aug;172(2):95-107. doi: 10.1007/s11046-011-9416-8. Epub 2011 Mar 25.

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous disease caused by a dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). To determine the influence of nitric oxide (NO) on this disease, we tested cis-[Ru(bpy)2(NO)SO3](PF6), ruthenium nitrosyl, which releases NO when activated by biological reducing agents, in BALB/c mice infected intravenously with Pb 18 isolate. In a previous study by our group, the fungicidal activity of ruthenium nitrosyl was evaluated in a mouse model of acute PCM, by measuring the immune cellular response (DTH), histopathological characteristics of the granulomatous lesions (and numbers), cytokines, and NO production. We found that cis-[Ru(bpy)2(NO)SO3](PF6)-treated mice were more resistant to infection, since they exhibited higher survival when compared with the control group. Furthermore, we observed a decreased influx of inflammatory cells in the lung and liver tissue of treated mice, possibly because of a minor reduction in fungal cell numbers. Moreover, an increased production of IL-10 and a decrease in TNF-α levels were detected in lung tissues of infected mice treated with cis-[Ru(bpy)2(NO)SO3](PF6). Immunohistochemistry showed that there was no difference in the number of VEGF- expressing cells. The animals treated with cis-[Ru(bpy)2(NO)SO3](PF6) showed high NO levels at 40 days after infection. These results show that NO is effectively involved in the mechanism that regulates the immune response in lung of Pb-infected mice. These data suggest that NO is a resistance factor during paracoccidioidomycosis by controlling fungal proliferation, influencing cytokine production, and consequently moderating the development of a strong inflammatory response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nitric Oxide / administration & dosage*
  • Paracoccidioides / drug effects
  • Paracoccidioides / isolation & purification
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / drug therapy*
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / pathology
  • Rodent Diseases / drug therapy
  • Ruthenium Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Ruthenium Compounds
  • Nitric Oxide