ABSTRACT Objective To verify the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the immunomodulatory profile of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, in the presence or absence of TNF-α, and agonist and antagonists of CB1 and CB2. Methods Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth were cultured in the presence or absence of an agonist, anandamide, and two antagonists, AM251 and SR144528, of CB1 and CB2 receptors, with or without TNF-α stimulation. For analysis of immunomodulation, surface molecules linked to immunomodulation, namely human leukocyte antigen-DR isotype (HLA-DR), and programmed death ligands 1 (PD-L1) and 2 (PD-L2) were measured using flow cytometry. Results The inhibition of endocannabinoid receptors together with the proinflammatory effect of TNF-α resulted in increased HLA-DR expression in stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, as well as, in these cells acquiring an anti-inflammatory profile by enhancing the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2. Conclusion Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth respond to the endocannabinoid system and TNF-α by altering key immune response molecules.

The use of plants as a way to prevent and treat disease comes from ancient times. With the increasing return on consumption of plants for medicinal purposes, the plant-based medicines have gained greater appreciation. Protease inhibitors are compounds that can decrease activity of an enzyme. They are found in plants, especially in Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae families, and show satisfactory use to treat diseases due to their regulatory activities and selective proteolytic degradation of target substrates. This study aimed to obtain protease inhibitors in the seeds of Punica granatum, due its use in traditional medicine. The alcohol-acid solution was used to extract and isolate the protease inhibitors in P. granatum seeds and Glycine max grains. The extract of P. granatum seeds showed similar concentration of protease inhibitors when compared to G. max. A 14 kDa band was detected by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, which was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography as protease inhibitors. The extract of P. granatum seeds showed a potent trypsin inhibitor activity (EC50 18.2 ng mL-1). This study showed for the first time the extraction, purification, and identification of protease inhibitors in Punica granatum seeds.

The presence of intestinal helminths can down-regulate the immune response required to control mycobacterial infection. BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis following an infection with the intestinal helminth Strongyloides venezuelensis showed reduced interleukin-17A production by lung cells and increased bacterial burden. Also, small granulomas and a high accumulation of cells expressing the inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 were observed in the lung. These data suggest that intestinal helminth infection could have a detrimental effect on the control of tuberculosis (TB) and render coinfected individuals more susceptible to the development of TB.