Caroline Maria Marcos

Abstract Under physiological conditions, cell apoptosis is a silent death process during tissue renewal and remodeling. The phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, known as efferocytosis, is a key process performed primarily by macrophages and dendritic cells, as well as by non-professional phagocytes, such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts. This process, which involves the removal of apoptotic cells, is not just a routine task.

Abstract There is a connection between neuroinflammation and panic attacks (PA), as microglia-driven pro-inflammatory responses help detect homeostatic disturbances like CO₂ inhalation. This model has become widely used in research since CO₂ exposure can trigger PA in humans and panic-related behavior in mice. Minocycline inhibits microglia activation, serving as a promising tool to attenuate CO2-induced PA.

2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Fungal Isolates and Growth Conditions The P. brasiliensis strain Pb18 was cultivated on solid Fava-Netto medium [29] for 5 days at 37 °C and then subcultured for 72 h in liquid brain–heart infusion (BHI) medium supplemented with 1% glucose at 37 °C. Cultivation was performed with continuous agitation at 150 rpm, and the resulting culture was used for assays. Cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue exclusion test [30].