Cristina O Massoco

• University of São Paulo

Liquid biopsy for circulating tumour cell (CTC) detection is generally unexplored in veterinary medicine. Dogs with highly aggressive and heterogeneous tumours, such as oral malignant melanoma (OMM), could benefit from studies involving size‐based isolation methods for CTCs, as they do not depend on specific antibodies. This pilot study aimed to de...

Mammary tumors are the most frequent type of neoplasms in intact female dogs. New therapies that target neoplastic cells without affecting normal cells are highly sought. The Bacillus anthracis toxin has been reengineered to target tumor cells that express urokinase plasminogen activators and metalloproteinases. In previous studies carried out in o...

The indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme causes immunosuppressive consequences in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in the TME is under discussion. The current study evaluated the role of the IDO and AHR blockers on cell migration, clonogenic, and IDO expression of murine breast cancer ce...

Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a common neoplasm in canines, although it is rare in humans. Cancer cells present alterations in energetic metabolism, and the Warburg effect states that most cancer cells undergo aerobic glycolysis. This can be reversed by certain drugs, resulting in decreased cell viability and cell death. We sought to evaluate the...

Indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase is a rate-limiting enzyme in the tryptophan catabolism in kynurenine pathways that has an immunosuppressive effect and supports cancer cells to evade the immune system in different cancer types. Diverse cytokines and pathways upregulate the production of indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase enzymes in the tumor microenvironment a...

Cancer is classified into metabolic and/or genetic disorders; notably, the tryptophan catabolism pathway is vital in different cancer types. Here, we focused on the interaction and molecular connection between the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) receptor and indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme. To test the impact of the se...

Purpose BCG is the standard of care to treat high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), reducing recurrence. PD-L1 is a ligand of the co-inhibitory receptor PD1 that has been shown to be expressed by tumor cells of distinct origin related to unfavorable prognosis. The development of a new class of target drugs that inhibit PD-L1 and PD1...

Analysis of the expression of inflammatory markers before starting treatment in human patients with cancer helps to predict outcomes and prognosis; however, there have been few studies on this topic in veterinary medicine. The present study aimed to evaluate inflammatory indices before treatment with autologous antitumor vaccine alone or this vacci...

Phagocytosis is a primary and highly conserved mechanism for clearing the extracellular milieu from pathogens and debris. In amphibians, the lack of antibodies for characterizing the different phenotypes of phagocytic cells has impaired the study of the phagocytic process. We used conventional and flowsight cytometry to determine immune cells' phag...

Objective To evaluate the cyclooxygenases (COX) inhibition, adverse effects and analgesic efficacy of dipyrone or meloxicam in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. Study design Prospective, blinded, randomized, clinical study. Animals A total of 30 healthy young cats. Methods The cats were randomly assigned to three postoperative groups: D2...

Euphorbia tirucalli (E. tirucalli) is a tropical and subtropical plant that produces a latex which is used for several purposes. The components of E. tirucalli latex include triterpenes, diterpenes and steroids. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of diluted E. tirucalli latex on murine B16/F10 melanoma cells and lung metastasi...

Goats are frequently described as an intermediate host for the protozoan Neospora caninum, manifesting the disease mainly by recurrent abortions with placentitis and encephalitis in fetuses. Several reports of natural and experimental infections in cattle and mice show differences in the immune response, and the outcome of the infection can be vari...

Objective: To compare effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), autologous processed plasma (APP), and sodium hyaluronate treatments on synovial fluid cells in vitro and on synovial fluid obtained from osteochondrotic joints of horses. Sample: Synovial fluid cells from 8 healthy equine tibiotarsal j...

Information on the dynamics of the chicken immune system during bacterial or parasite challenge in the presence or absence of stressful situations may provide a better understanding of the complex mechanisms behind these diseases. Necrotic enteritis (NE) had been controlled previously by the proper use of antimicrobial agents; however, more recentl...

The hematological and immunological development of calves from birth to 6 months of age was performed by hemogram and cellular phenotype. Ten male Holstein calves were assessed in 13 moments: before colostrum intake (D0), every 2 days until the 10th day of life (D2 to D10), at the 15th day after birth (D15), and then monthly up to 6 months (D180)....

There are many factors which make canine cancer like cancer in humans. The occurrence of spontaneous mammary tumors in pet dogs, tumor genetics, molecular targets and exposure to the same environmental risk factors are among these factors. Therefore, the study of canine cancer can provide useful information to the oncology field. This study aimed t...

Supporting information: Cell cycle analysis. Cells were first gated in dot plot cytograms of size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter), excluding debris. Doublet discrimination was then performed in dot plots cytograms of PI fluorescence in FL2-A and FL2-W. Finally, using FL2-H linear histograms, FlowJo cell cycle tool w...

Supporting information: Ploidy analysis. Cells were firstly gated in dot plot cytograms of size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter), excluding debris. Then, doublet discrimination was performed in dot plots cytograms of PI fluorescence in FL2-A and FL2-W. Finally, using FL2-H linear histograms, cell lines geometric mean...

Supporting information: Representative images of NME cells proliferation analysis by flow cytometry. Dot plot cytogram depicts gating of viable and intact cells, excluding debris, by size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter). Histograms for green fluorescence (FL1 channel) demonstrate CFSE staining dilution due to prolif...

Supporting information: Representative images of SCa cells proliferation analysis by flow cytometry. Dot plot cytogram depicts gating of viable and intact cells, excluding debris, by size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter). Histograms for green fluorescence (FL1 channel) demonstrate CFSE staining dilution due to prolif...

Supporting information: Representative images of CCa1 cells proliferation analysis by flow cytometry. Dot plot cytogram depicts gating of viable and intact cells, excluding debris, by size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter). Histograms for green fluorescence (FL1 channel) demonstrate CFSE staining dilution due to proli...

Supporting information: Representative images of CCa2 cells proliferation analysis by flow cytometry. Dot plot cytogram depicts gating of viable and intact cells, excluding debris, by size (FSC—forward scatter) and internal complexity (SSC—side scatter). Histograms for green fluorescence (FL1 channel) demonstrate CFSE staining dilution due to proli...

Objectives: Cohabitation with Ehrlich tumor-bearing (ETB) mice induced behavioral, neurochemical, hormonal, and immune effects in the conspecifics as a consequence of stress-induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) with catecholamine release. In the current study, the nonspecific β-AR blocker d,l-propranolol and the specific β2-A...

Previous studies in a variety of vertebrates show stressed animals to exhibit acute increases in glucocorticoid levels, with consequences for immune modulation. Chronically elevated glucocorticoid levels are mostly associated with immunosuppression. However, there is still a paucity of knowledge regarding the amphibian physiological reaction to sho...

Reptiles are the unique ectothermic amniotes, providing the key link between ectothermic anamniotes fish and amphibians, and endothermic birds and mammals; becoming an important group to study with the aim of providing significant knowledge into the evolutionary history of vertebrate immunity. Classification systems for reptiles' leukocytes have be...

This study reports that short-term social instability stress in adolescence increases passive-coping in adulthood in male mice. Short-term SIS decreased the latency of immobility and increased the frequency and time of immobility in tail suspension test. These findings support the hypothesis that adolescent stress can induce a passive adaptation to...

On the cover: The cover image, by Vania Regina Assis et al., is based on the Research Article Corticosterone transdermal application in toads (Rhinella icterica): Effects on cellular and humoral immunity and steroid plasma levels, DOI: 10.1002/jez.2093. Photo Credit: Vania Regina Assis.

Adolescence is one of the critical periods of development and has great importance to health for an individual as an adult. Stressors or traumatic events during this period are associated with several psychiatric disorders as related to anxiety or depression and cognitive impairments, but whether negative experiences continue to hinder individuals...

São conhecidos relatos verbais de que mulheres asmáticas durante a lactação apresentam melhoras na resposta alérgica pulmonar. Período em que elas apresentam redução na freqüência de crises asmáticas. Durante a lactação ocorrem várias adaptações fisiológicas, como por exemplo, a atenuação às respostas imunes e ao estresse. Seja em relação a estress...

Background: The reptilian immune system is represented by innate, humoral, and cell-mediated mechanisms, involving different types of blood leukocytes. The development of optimized methods for the advanced study of origin and function of reptilian blood leukocytes is needed. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to optimize leukocyte density...

Aims: To evaluate the influence of lactation on lung immune function during allergic inflammation. Main methods: Female rats, 60-90days old, were divided into three groups: no lung allergy virgins (N group), ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized and sensitized virgins (V group), and OVA-immunized and sensitized lactating females (L group). On gestation day...

Melanomas are malignant neoplasms originating from melanocytes. They occur in most animal species, but the dog is considered the best animal model for the disease. Melanomas in dogs are most frequently found in the buccal cavity, but the skin, eyes, and digits are other common locations for these neoplasms. The aim of this review is to report etiol...

Aims: Prolactin is a major immunomodulator. The present study evaluated the effects of short-term hyperprolactinemia induced by domperidone before ovalbumin antigenic challenge on the lung's allergic inflammatory response. Main methods: To induce hyperprolactinemia, domperidone was injected in rats at a dose of 5.1 mg·kg−1 per day, i.p., for 5 days...

Cohabitation for 11 days with two Ehrlich tumor bearing-mice: two mice from control group were treated with vehicle (experimental day 1) and the other mouse was kept undisturbed (companion of health partner). Between ED6 and ED11, CHP were treated with vehicle or propranolol. Two mice from experimental group were inoculated with Ehrlich tumor cells...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of a nonselective COX1/COX2 inhibitor (indomethacin) on tumor growth of Ehrlich Ascites Tumor (EAT) in mice, using as parameters the tumor growth and cytokine profile. Mice were inoculated with EAT cells and treated with indomethacin. After 1, 3, 6, 10, and 13 days the animals were evalu...

The cholinergic anti-inflammatorypathway has been demonstrated to be an important mechanism that modulatesseveral inflammatory diseases. This modulation occurs upon activation of thevagus nerve, which modulates splenic macrophages and lymphocytes through thepredominant neurotransmitter, Acetylcholine (ACh). We hypothesized that thismodulation could...

Aims: Prolactin is a major immunomodulator.The present study evaluated the effects of short-term hyperprolactinemia induced by domperidone before ovalbumin antigenic challenge on the lung's allergic inflammatory response. Main methods: To induce hyperprolactinemia, domperidone was injected in rats at a dose of 5.1mg·kg(-1) per day, i.p., for 5da...

Purpose: the present study evaluated the effects of short-term hyperprolactinemia induced by domperidone before ovalbumin antigenic challenge on the lung’s allergic inflammatory response.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that play an important role in the control of gene expression by inhibiting protein translation or promoting messenger RNA degradation. Today, miRNAs have been shown to be involved in various physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cancer, where they can act as oncogenes or tumor supp...

Bovine colostrum contains immune factors, like leukocytes and cytokines that are absorbed by the intestinal mucosa of the neonate, however, not much is known about the function of some of these components in the active immune response of calves. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of colostrum intake and development of the innate i...

The vagus nerve plays an important role in the regulation of homeostasis, and its efferent pathway emit signals able to control immune function, acting on the inflammatory response of lymphocytes and macrophages via the inflammatory reflex. Our hypothesis is that this route may also alter the function of dendritic cells, since these cells are essen...

Objectives: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin that originates from the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, activates the immune system to release proinflammatory cytokines and to induce sickness behavior. The present study sought to characterize the time-dependent effects of LPS on fever, body weight, and food and water consumption in female...

The present study investigated whether late maternal inflammation disrupts the mother/pup interaction, resulting in long-lasting effects on pup behavior and alterations in biological pathways, thereby programming prepubertal behavior and the pups' inflammatory responses after bacterial endotoxin treatment. Female rats received 100 μg/kg lipopolysac...

Recent study of animal species indicates that the acid dietary n-3 fatty acids (FA) supplementation may exert immunomodulatory effects, mainly through changes in the production of inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the supplementation of pregnant mares with sources of omega-3 or omega-6 alter the lymphoproliferati...

Nepeta cataria (NC), catnip, induces pleasure in cats and humans. Because sexual behavior is involved in pleasure, the effect of NC on sexual behavior and penile erection was evaluated in male rats that were acutely fed chow enriched with 10% NC leaves. Further, yawning was monitored because we previously demonstrated that NC modifies dopaminergic-...

Lung hyperinflation up to vital capacity is used to re-expand collapsed lung areas and to improve gas exchange during general anesthesia. However, it may induce inflammation in normal lungs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a lung hyperinflation maneuver (LHM) on plasma cytokine release in 10 healthy subjects (age: 26.1 +/...

This study evaluated the effects of cohabitation with a B16F10 melanoma-bearer cage mate on behavior and immune functions in mice. Five different experiments were conducted. In each of them, the female mice were divided into two groups: control and experimental. One mouse of each control pair was kept undisturbed and called "companion of health par...

Comfrey or Symphytum officinale (L.) (Boraginaceae) is a very popular plant used for therapeutic purposes. Since the 1980s, its effects have been studied in long-term carcinogenesis studies, in which Comfrey extract is administered at high doses during several months and the neoplastic hepatic lesions are evaluated. However, the literature on this...

Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia have been used in homeopathy as modulators of inflammatory processes, in simple potency or 'accord of potencies', as recommended by homotoxicology. We evaluated their effects on leukocyte migration and macrophage activity induced by experimental peritonitis in vivo. Mice were injected (i.p.) with LPS (1....

Atropa belladonna and Echinacea angustifolia have been used in homeopathy as modulators of inflammatory processes, in simple potency or 'accord of potencies', as recommended by homotoxicology. We evaluated their effects on leukocyte migration and macrophage activity induced by experimental peritonitis in vivo. Mice were injected (i.p.) with LPS (1....

The present study analyzed the effects of physical and psychological stressors on behavior, immune function, and serum corticosterone in mice. Adult mice were submitted once daily, for 6 days to one of the following conditions: escapable (ES) or inescapable (IS) footshocks (0.2 mA) signaled by a tone cue or to a psychological stressor (PS) generate...

The present study analyzed the effects of maternal stress on behavior and macrophage activity of mice. Pregnant mice received a daily footshock (0.2 mA) from gestational days 15 (GD15) to 19. Experiments were performed on male offspring, challenged or not with another footshock (0.2 mA) on postnatal day 30 (PND30) or 60. The following results were...

The present study analyzed the effects of maternal stress on behavior and immune function of mice. Pregnant mice received a daily footshock (0.4 mA) from gestational day 15 (GD 15) to GD 19. Experiments were performed on male offspring aged 2 months. The following results were obtained for offspring from dams stressed during pregnancy: (1) decrease...

The influence of stress on total leukocyte count from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was investigated in rats sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). The animals were injected intraperitoneally with a suspension of OVA plus aluminum hydroxide in 0.9% NaCl (Day 0) and boosted at Day 7 with an identical OVA solution, administered subcutaneously...

In the present experiment we investigate the effects of diazepam on macrophage activity and serum corticosterone levels in mice. Adult mice were treated with diazepam (1.5 mg/kg/day - group E) or with control solution (group C1) for 7 days; some animals were only handled, receiving no treatment (group C2). Oral onco-BCG was used for peritoneal macr...

Two ewes died after being fed rabbit ration and mineral salts designated for cows. This food is known to contain copper levels above that indicated for sheep. Blood counts revealed anemia, and serological tests showed high blood urea nitrogen, glutamic pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase values. At necropsy, the animals had he...

Astemizole (ATZ), a non-sedative antihistamine, which antagonize histamine at the level of H1 receptor, was administered daily to female Wistar rats as a 10-mg/kg dose throughout pregnancy. ATZ exposure reduced offspring body weight and delayed the pinna detachment and startle reflex without any modification of dams body weight during gestation. Lo...

Catnip or catmint (Nepeta cataria) is a plant used extensively to treat human diseases and in toys for pets. We investigated the effects of acute and long-term administration of the plant on some behaviors of mice. The plant was fed as 10% of the normal diet for 2 h/d for 1 or 7 d. Acute and long-term dosing increased both rearing and locomotion fr...

O presente trabalho procurou, estabelecer uma dose ansiolítica do diazepam para camundongos da linhagem Balb/c. Através de testes comportamentais utilizados para medir os níveis de ansiedade, verificou-se que a dose de 1,5 mg/kg de diazepam foi capaz de produzir um efeito ansiolítico nesta linhagem de camundongos. Observou-se, também, que a adminis...

Os receptores benzodiazepínicos periféricos (PBR) foram descritos principalmente em tecidos endócrinos e em células do sistema imune. O presente estudo buscou observar os efeitos do tratamento in vivo e/ou in vitro com midazolam e/ou com outros ligantes de PBR sobre alguns parâmetros indicativos da atividade de neutrófilos sangüíneos e de macrófago...