Avaliação in vitro dos possíveis efeitos antiviral e imunomodulador de Pleurotus eryngii em linhagem de hepatócitos infectados pelo Denv-2

Abstract

Dengue is a serious public health problem, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality, generating economic impacts on society in an attempt to minimize these indices. The virus targets some cells of the immune system such as dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells and hepatocytes are also reached. There is still no effective therapeutic option to treat and / or alleviate the symptoms caused by dengue. Scientific studies with fungi of the Pleurotus genus have shown excellent therapeutic results as antiviral, antiarthritic and anticancer actions using the exopolysaccharides produced by them. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the possible antiviral and immunomodulatory effect of Pleurotus eryngii in a strain of HUH-7 hepatocytes infected with dengue virus. The research consisted of two stages: in the first one the fungus was cultivated by submerged fermentation to obtain the mycelial biomass and the crude extract from which the exopolysaccharides were extracted. In the second step, the objective was to evaluate the concentrations of exopolysaccharides that were not toxic to the cell and then to infect them and to treat them with the viable concentrations. After this treatment the amount of IL8 was measured for the immunomodulation results, and the NS1 dosages were measured in order to evidence a possible antiviral effect. EPS extraction was successfully performed from submerged fermentation and all concentrations tested were viable to the cell. The antiviral and immunomodulatory assays did not demonstrate antiviral and immunomodulatory effect against dengue virus and because it was done only once, were not conclusive, should be repeated at least twice to be statistically reliable.