Zeitschrift für Zellwissenschaft und Therapie
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Microencapsulated Leukotrienes Augment Antimicrobial Activity against Infections

Krishna Nath and Yan Lu

Recent evidences support that leukotrienes (LTs) are important molecules in innate and also adaptive immune responses. Some features of these lipid mediators include their ability to be synthesized by a variety of cell types, their diverse antimicrobial actions, and their interactions with other important mediators. More specifically, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) displays protective effect against infections, such as fungal pneumonia, those caused by helminths and bacterial peritonitis. With respect to histoplasmosis, the fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, our group has previously demonstrated that these mediators are the main chemoattractants involved in the cell migration induced by the fungus. Regarding new attempts to enhance host antimicrobial response against histoplasmosis, over the last years, we have proposed the employment of a biodegradable microparticulate system, which could release LTB4 to the lungs, as an alternative strategy to treat airway infectious diseases. Here we provide some studies involving the administration of this lipid mediator in several animal and human models of infection and we explore the advantages of the microencapsulated LTB4 as innovative pharmaceutical approach.