Browsing by Author "Fernández Fierro, Ayleen Lorena"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    BCG-induced cross-protection and development of trained immunity: implication for vaccine design
    (2019) Covián, Camila; Fernández Fierro, Ayleen Lorena; Retamal Díaz, Angello Ricardo; Díaz Acevedo, Fabián Esteban; Vásquez Veloso, Abel; Lay Remolcoi, Margarita Kam-len; Riedel Soria, Claudia; González Muñoz, Pablo Alberto; Bueno Ramírez, Susan; Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes
    The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine that has the ability to induce non-specific cross-protection against pathogens that might be unrelated to the target disease. Vaccination with BCG reduces mortality in newborns and induces an improved innate immune response against microorganisms other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, such as Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Innate immune cells, including monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, contribute to this non-specific immune protection in a way that is independent of memory T or B cells. This phenomenon associated with a memory-like response in innate immune cells is known as "trained immunity." Epigenetic reprogramming through histone modification in the regulatory elements of particular genes has been reported as one of the mechanisms associated with the induction of trained immunity in both, humans and mice. Indeed, it has been shown that BCG vaccination induces changes in the methylation pattern of histones associated with specific genes in circulating monocytes leading to a "trained" state. Importantly, these modifications can lead to the expression and/or repression of genes that are related to increased protection against secondary infections after vaccination, with improved pathogen recognition and faster inflammatory responses. In this review, we discuss BCG-induced cross-protection and acquisition of trained immunity and potential heterologous effects of recombinant BCG vaccines.
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    Lung pathology due to hRSV infection impairs blood–brain barrier permeability enabling astrocyte infection and a long-lasting inflammation in the CNS
    (2021) Bohmwald Prieto, Karen; Soto Ramírez, Jorge Andrés; Andrade Parra, Catalina Andrea; Fernández Fierro, Ayleen Lorena; Espinoza Véliz, Janyra Alejandra; Rios Raggio, Mariana; Eugenin, E. A.; González Muñoz, Pablo Alberto; Opazo, M. C.; Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes
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    Naturally derived heme-oxygenase 1 inducers and their therapeutic application to immune-mediated diseases
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2020) Funes, Samanta Celeste; Rios Raggio, Mariana; Fernández Fierro, Ayleen Lorena; Covián, Camila; Bueno Ramírez, Susan; Riedel Soria, Claudia; Mackern Oberti, Juan Pablo; Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes
    Heme oxygenase (HO) is the primary antioxidant enzyme involved in heme group degradation. A variety of stimuli triggers the expression of the inducible HO-1 isoform, which is modulated by its substrate and cellular stressors. A major anti-inflammatory role has been assigned to the HO-1 activity. Therefore, in recent years HO-1 induction has been employed as an approach to treating several disorders displaying some immune alterations components, such as exacerbated inflammation or self-reactivity. Many natural compounds have shown to be effective inductors of HO-1 without cytotoxic effects; among them, most are chemicals present in plants used as food, flavoring, and medicine. Here we discuss some naturally derived compounds involved in HO-1 induction, their impact in the immune response modulation, and the beneficial effect in diverse autoimmune disorders. We conclude that the use of some compounds from natural sources able to induce HO-1 is an attractive lifestyle toward promoting human health. This review opens a new outlook on the investigation of naturally derived HO-1 inducers, mainly concerning autoimmunity.