Publications (3)2.83 Total impact
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Article: Respiratory syncytial virus infection increases regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 levels in serum of patients with asthma and in human monocyte cultures.
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ABSTRACT: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is associated to episodic exacerbations of asthma involving alveolar macrophages and chemokine production. The aim of this study was to determine the circulating levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and substance P (SP) in patients with and without asthma with acute respiratory RSV infection and the chemokine profile in RSV- infected monocyte cultures from normal individuals and individuals with asthma. In this regard, 31 adult patients with acute respiratory infection (15 patients with asthma) were studied. MCP-1, RANTES and SP were measured in serum and in supernatants from monocyte cultures by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Increased levels of MCP-1 and RANTES were observed in serum from patients with asthma related to RSV infection. RSV-infected monocyte cultures from healthy individuals showed increased content of those chemokines, and monocyte cultures from patients with asthma showed increased expression of MCP-1. These data show that RSV infection induces increased circulating level of chemokines in patients with asthma, and this finding could be mediated in part by the interaction virus-monocyte.Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology: official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 05/2012; 108(5):316-20. · 2.83 Impact Factor -
Article: [Viral etiology of acute respiratory infections].
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ABSTRACT: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are pathologies that affect the respiratory tract from the proximal pharynx to the lungs, with an evolution of less than 15 days. They constitute the most frequent cause of morbimortality in the world. With the purpose of identifying the viral agents associated to this type of infections in patients of Zulia State, Venezuela, between February 2005 and July 2006, a total of 102 samples of the respiratory tract (oropharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal swab, nasopharyngeal washing, spit and bronchoalveolar lavage) were studied. Viral isolation was made through a cellular culture and the identification of the pathogenic agents by the technique of direct immunofluorescence. Forty six positive samples were obtained (45%). The greater incidence was found in the groups of 41 to 64 years old patients, followed by lactanting babies (1 to 23 months). There were no significant differences between sexes. Within the isolated viral pathogens, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) was the agent most frequently found (32.6% p < 0.05), followed by Adenovirus (28.2%), Parainfluenza (23.9%) and Influenza (15.2%). The respiratory infections of the low respiratory tract were the most frequent (67.4%). A high incidence of associated viral agents to ARI in Zulia State is demonstrated. A high incidence in adult patients and the greatest positivity was found for RSV.Investigación clínica 09/2009; 50(3):359-68. -
Article: [Increase of interleukin-1 beta, gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha in serum and brain of mice infected with the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus].
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ABSTRACT: Considerable efforts have been directed to clarify the main protective and recovery mechanisms in acute viral infections and, the possible role of the cytokines involved in the primary immune response induced by an epizootic strain of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) virus. This study examined the levels of TH1 cytokines Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), TH2 cytokines Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) in serum and brain of mice infected with the VEE virus during different post infection periods. NMRI albino male mice infected with a suspension (10 DL50) of the Guajira strain of the VEE virus, and a control group (without infection) were used. At one, 3 and 5 days post-infection, whole blood and brains were extracted to obtain sera and brain homogenates, respectively. IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-beta and TNF-alpha were determined by ELISA. A significant increment in the levels of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha was observed (p<0.01) in serum and brain homogenates at 1, 3 and 5 day post-infection, when compared with the control group. The levels of IL-2 and IL-4 did not show any significant statistical difference when compared to the controls. These results suggest that IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, could be involved in the early immunitary response to VEE virus during the primary infection.Investigación clínica 12/2008; 49(4):457-67.
