Tissue-resident macrophages are the most abundant immune cell population in healthy adipose tissue. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) change during metabolic stress and are thought to contribute to metabolic syndrome. Here, we studied ATM subpopulations in steady state and in response to nutritional and infectious challenges. We found that tissue-resident macrophages from healthy epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) tightly associate with blood vessels, displaying very high endocytic capacity. We refer to these cells as vasculature-associated ATMs (VAMs). Chronic high-fat diet (HFD) results in the accumulation of a monocyte-derived CD11c⁺CD64⁺ double-positive (DP) macrophage eWAT population with a predominant anti-inflammatory/detoxifying gene profile, but reduced endocytic function. In contrast, fasting rapidly and reversibly leads to VAM depletion, while acute inflammatory stress induced by pathogens transiently depletes VAMs and simultaneously boosts DP macrophage accumulation. Our results indicate that ATM populations dynamically adapt to metabolic stress and inflammation, suggesting an important role for these cells in maintaining tissue homeostasis.

Background: Mycobacterium leprae is an intracellular bacillus that causes leprosy, a neglected disease that affects macrophages and Schwann cells. Leprosy reactions are acute inflammatory responses to mycobacterial antigens, classified as type1 (T1R), a predominant cellular immune response, or type2 (T2R), a humoral phenomenon, leading to a high number of bacilli in infected cells and nerve structures. Xenophagy is a type of selective autophagy that targets intracellular bacteria for lysosomal degradation; however, its immune mechanisms during leprosy reactions are still unclear. This review summarizes the relationship between the autophagic process and M. leprae elimination during leprosy reactions. Methods: Three databases, PubMed/Medline (n = 91), Scopus (n = 73), and ScienceDirect (n = 124), were searched. After applying the eligibility criteria, articles were selected for independent peer reviewers in August 2023. Results: From a total of 288 studies retrieved, eight were included. In multibacillary (MB) patients who progressed to T1R, xenophagy blockade and increased inflammasome activation were observed, with IL-1β secretion before the reactional episode occurrence. On the other hand, recent data actually observed increased IL-15 levels before the reaction began, as well as IFN-γ production and xenophagy induction. Conclusion: Our search results showed a dichotomy in the T1R development and their relationship with xenophagy. No T2R studies were found.

Objectives We measured the production of cytokines, chemokines and antibodies involved in allergic responses and sCD23 levels during Schistosoma mansoni infection. Methods Individuals (n = 164) were selected using the ISAAC questionnaire and parasitological exams. The subjects were divided as follows: those infected individuals with allergy-related symptoms (A-I), those with allergy-related symptoms only (A-NI); those only infected (NA-I); and those non-infected individuals without allergy-related symptoms (NA-NI). We used supernatants from cell culture (mitogenic stimulation) to measure cytokine and chemokine levels using cytometric bead arrays. Serum levels of anti-Ascaris lumbricoides (Asc) and anti-Blomia tropicalis IgE were measured using ImmunoCAP, and sCD23 was measured using ELISA. Results Schistosoma mansoni infection was associated with a lower risk of allergy-related symptoms. In A-I, there were higher levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IFN-γ and CXCL8 than in NA-NI group, with TNF-α and IL-6 also at higher levels compared to A-NI group. Levels of IL-6, CXCL8, total and anti-Asc IgE, as well as the numbers of eosinophils, were higher in NA-I than in NA-NI, and the antibodies were also lower in A-NI than in NA-I group. In AI and NA-I, there was less production of CCL2 than in NA-NI. There were no differences in the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, CCL5, sCD23 and anti-Blomia IgE. Conclusions Patients with allergy-related symptoms and infected (simultaneously) had higher levels of IL-10; due to the infection, there was increased production of IL-6 and CXCL8 and less CCL2. These data may characterize deviation to Th1 or attenuation of the Th2 response in allergy sufferers in areas endemic for schistosomiasis.

O lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES), condição autoimune que pode ocasionar danos renais, cutâneos, neurológicos, hematológicos, cardiológicos e pulmonares, apresenta padrão clínico heterogêneo com maior frequência no sexo feminino. As mulheres em idade fértil são atingidas em maior proporção, ocasionando danos da exacerbação da doença a órgãos fundamentais ao desenvolvimento fetal e sobrevivência materna. Nesse sentido, a presente revisão teve como objetivo compreender as possíveis relações existentes entre o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, a gestação e o período neonatal. Foram utilizados para pesquisa as bases de dados SciELO e PubMed (Medline). Posteriormente, foram aplicados os critérios de elegibilidade: ensaios clínicos randomizados; ensaios clínicos; meta-análises e artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos com texto completo disponível nos idiomas inglês e português. De 113 artigos pesquisados e analisados, 26 artigos foram incluídos para esta revisão integrativa da literatura. Nestes trabalhos, foi observado que algumas situações como atividade lúpica atual ou há menos de 6 meses antes da concepção, acometimento renal, pulmonar ou cardíaco, oferecem grande risco materno e/ou fetal, sendo, por isso, consideradas desaconselháveis à gestação. Nesse sentido, é recomendada a realização de aconselhamento pré-concepcional para mulheres portadoras de LES com desejo de concepção. Por fim, percebe-se que a gestação para as mulheres portadoras do lúpus tem se tornado um processo cada vez mais seguro com o advento de terapias efetivas para o tratamento da doença.