Effect of BEA in lung and spleen bacillary burdens, pulmonary cytokine expression and tissue damage in TB and T2D-TB mice
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of BEA, the TB and T2D-TB groups and their respective control groups that received only the vehicle were compared through bacillary loads in the lung and spleen (CFUs), extent of tissue damage (percentage of lung surface affected by pneumonia), and the gene expression of the protective cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ (RT-PCR). In comparison with their respective controls non-treated mice, both T2D-TB and TB groups after one and two months of treatment with BEA showed significant reduction of pulmonary bacillary burdens (Fig. 4A). BEA induced an increase in gene expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α after one month of treatment in both groups, and IFN-γ in TB group after two months of treatment (Fig. 4B, and 4C); as well as reduction of pneumonia. Interestingly, BEA treatment for two months induced in the spleen significant reduction of CFUs and weight increase only in the T2D-TB group (Fig. 4E, and 4F), which suggest spleen hyperplasia with better control of bacillary dissemination in this experimental group.