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Homeopathy 2019; 108(03): 188-200
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678700
Original Research Article
The Faculty of Homeopathy

Effects of Homeopathic Phosphorus on Encephalitozoon cuniculi-Infected Macrophages In-Vitro

Mirian Yaeko Nagai
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Luciane Costa Dalboni
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Thayná Neves Cardoso
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Michelle Sanchez Correia
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Sandra Augusta G. Pinto
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Andreia A. G. Pinto
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Cideli de Paula Coelho
2   Universidade de Santo Amaro – UNISA, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
3   HD Science, São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Anuska Alvarez-Saraiva
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Giovani B. Peres
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Maria Anete Lallo
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Leoni Villano Bonamin 
1   Research Center, Graduating Program of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, Universidade Paulista – UNIP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Publikationsverlauf

07. November 2018

07. Januar 2019

Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi), a fungus that acts as an intracellular pathogen, causes a marked neurological syndrome in many host species and is a zoonotic concern. Although no well-established treatment for this syndrome is known, previous successful clinical experience using homeopathic phosphorus has been described in which symptom remission with no mortality occurred in 40/42 animals by means of unknown immunological mechanisms. The latter observation was the main motivation for this study.

Objective To verify, in an in-vitro model, if macrophages infected with E. cuniculi can change in function after treatment with different potencies of phosphorus.

Materials and Methods RAW 264.7 macrophages were infected with E. cuniculi in-vitro and treated with various homeopathic potencies of phosphorus. The vehicle was used as a control solution (0.06% succussed ethanol). After 1 and 24 hours, the following parameters were analyzed: parasite internalization (by the Calcofluor staining method), lysosome activity (by the acridine orange method), cytokine/chemokine production (by the MAGPIX system), and cell ultrastructure. Automatic image analysis was used when applicable, and the experiments were performed in triplicate.

Results Treatment with vehicle alone increased interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and monocyte chemotactic protein -1 production (p ≤ 0.05) and reduced the number of internalized parasites (p ≤ 0.001). A progressive and time-dependent increase in RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) and lysosome activity (p ≤ 0.002) was observed only after treatment with the highest potency of phosphorus (Phos 200cH), together with decreased apoptosis rate, intense parasite digestion, and the presence of non-internalized spores.

Conclusions Phos 200 cH has a modulatory action on the activity of infected macrophages, especially a specific increase in RANTES, a key element in the prognosis of E. cuniculi-infected and of immunosuppressed patients bearing infections.

Keywords

homeopathy - fungus - microsporidiosis - cytokines - chemokines

Highlights

• Successful previous clinical experience in rabbits diagnosed with encephalitozoonosis and homeopathically treated with high dilutions of phosphorus was the primary motivation for this study.


• An in-vitro model using infected macrophages was used in an attempt to identify the possible mechanisms involved.


• The results suggest non-specific, vehicle-related inflammatory action and that specific modulatory effects occurred at the highest potency of phosphorus (Phos 200 cH).


• The specific modulatory effects were related to an increase in RANTES production, decrease in apoptosis rate and an alteration in the balance between the phagocytic and endocytic pathways of parasite internalization by macrophages.


 

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