Last Updated: 13/02/2024
The increase in pulmonary vascular permeability as a target in the fight against acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with malaria
Objectives
*Original title in Portuguese: O aumento da permeabilidade vascular pulmonar como alvo no combate à síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo associada à malária
This project aims to identify mechanisms of increased vascular permeability, with emphasis on the study of interendothelial junctions, cytoskeletal changes and its signaling pathways, as well as methods of early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Present in 97 countries, malaria is an infectious parasitic disease, which puts at risk 40% of the world’s population. Infections by Plasmodium spp. can lead to a severe respiratory condition, with pulmonary complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This syndrome is characterized by acute inflammation, injury of the alveolar endothelium and pulmonary parenchyma, dysfunction and increased permeability of the pulmonary alveolar-capillary barrier and consequent formation of edema. Mechanisms of regulation of endothelial cell permeability involving dynamic interactions and structural alterations of cytoskeletal components play a critical role in the modulation of the inflammatory response and maintenance of the pulmonary endothelium. Due to the lack of knowledge of many of the determinants of the pathogenesis of ARDS associated with malaria, this project intends to identify mechanisms of increased vascular permeability. Understanding these aspects is crucial for the development of prophylactic strategies and for the treatment of ARDS associated with malaria.
Feb 2019 — Feb 2022
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