Tissue apoptosis in mice infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae

Abstract Background: This investigation aimed to evaluate the occurrence of some apoptotic features induced by Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae infection in young BALB/c mice during 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi). Methods: The animals were euthanized and lung, liv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
Main Authors: Márcia Marinho, Cilene Vidovix Táparo, Itamar S. Oliveira Júnior, Silvia Helena Venturoli Perri, Tereza Cristina Cardoso
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SciELO 2015
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40409-015-0022-y
https://doaj.org/article/2d846f12c8474826801ac567e964a9a1
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Summary:Abstract Background: This investigation aimed to evaluate the occurrence of some apoptotic features induced by Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae infection in young BALB/c mice during 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi). Methods: The animals were euthanized and lung, liver and kidneys were harvested to histopathology analysis and immunohistochemistry to caspase-3 antigen detection was performed. Results: Chromatin condensation in kidney and liver tissues, but not in lung tissue, was observed. Caspase-3 reactive cells, mainly characterized as renal epithelial cells, were detected in the days 14 and 21 at high levels when compared to days 2,4 and 7 (p = 0.025; p <0.05). Lung sections revealed caspase-3 labeled alveolar cells in 10 and 14 days post-infection was higher than observed at 7 days (p = 0.0497; p < 0.05). Liver sections demonstrated reactive cells at a highest level at 14 and 21 days post-infection when comparison to 2,4, 7 and 10 days (p = 0.0069; p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that infection of L interrogans induce in kidney, liver and lung an activation of apoptosis mediated by caspase-3 dependent pathway in later phases of infectious process.