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Ye C, Zhang L, Tang L, Duan Y, Liu J, Zhou H. Host genetic backgrounds: the key to determining parasite-host adaptation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1228206. [PMID: 37637465 PMCID: PMC10449477 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1228206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to global public health, particularly in developing countries. Host genetic factors play a crucial role in determining susceptibility and resistance to infection. Recent advances in molecular and biological technologies have enabled significant breakthroughs in understanding the impact of host genes on parasite adaptation. In this comprehensive review, we analyze the host genetic factors that influence parasite adaptation, including hormones, nitric oxide, immune cells, cytokine gene polymorphisms, parasite-specific receptors, and metabolites. We also establish an interactive network to better illustrate the complex relationship between host genetic factors and parasite-host adaptation. Additionally, we discuss future directions and collaborative research priorities in the parasite-host adaptation field, including investigating the impact of host genes on the microbiome, developing more sophisticated models, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific receptors, utilizing patient-derived sera as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and developing novel treatments and management strategies targeting specific host genetic factors. This review highlights the need for a comprehensive and systematic approach to investigating the underlying mechanisms of parasite-host adaptation, which requires interdisciplinary collaborations among biologists, geneticists, immunologists, and clinicians. By deepening our understanding of the complex interactions between host genetics and parasite adaptation, we can develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat parasitic diseases. Overall, this review provides a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in the parasitology field and offers insights into the future directions of this critical research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Ye
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Lianhua Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Surgery, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Lili Tang
- The 3rd Affiliated Teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University (Affiliated Tumor Hospital), Urumqi, China
| | - Yongjun Duan
- Department of Pediatrics, Yunyang Women and Children’s Hospital (Yunyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital), Chongqing, China
| | - Ji Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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2
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Pérez AR, de Meis J, Rodriguez-Galan MC, Savino W. The Thymus in Chagas Disease: Molecular Interactions Involved in Abnormal T-Cell Migration and Differentiation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1838. [PMID: 32983098 PMCID: PMC7492291 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite T. cruzi, is a prevalent parasitic disease in Latin America. Presently, it is spreading around the world by human migration, thus representing a new global health issue. Chronically infected individuals reveal a dissimilar disease progression: while nearly 60% remain without apparent disease for life, 30% develop life-threatening pathologies, such as chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) or megaviscerae. Inflammation driven by parasite persistence seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, there is also evidence of the occurrence of autoimmune events, mainly caused by molecular mimicry and bystander activation. In experimental models of disease, is well-established that T. cruzi infects the thymus and causes locally profound structural and functional alterations. The hallmark is a massive loss of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes, mainly triggered by increased levels of glucocorticoids, although other mechanisms seem to act simultaneously. Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) exhibited an increase in extracellular matrix deposition, which are related to thymocyte migratory alterations. Moreover, medullary TEC showed a decreased expression of AIRE and altered expression of microRNAs, which might be linked to a disrupted negative selection of the T-cell repertoire. Also, almost all stages of thymocyte development are altered, including an abnormal output of CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) and DP immature and mature cells, many of them carrying prohibited TCR-Vβ segments. Evidence has shown that DN and DP cells with an activated phenotype can be tracked in the blood of humans with chronic Chagas disease and also in the secondary lymphoid organs and heart of infected mice, raising new questions about the relevance of these populations in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease and their possible link with thymic alterations and an immunoendocrine imbalance. Here, we discuss diverse molecular mechanisms underlying thymic abnormalities occurring during T. cruzi infection and their link with CCC, which may contribute to the design of innovative strategies to control Chagas disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rosa Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juliana de Meis
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Immune-neuroendocrine and metabolic disorders in human and experimental T. cruzi infection: New clues for understanding Chagas disease pathology. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165642. [PMID: 31866417 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Studies in mice undergoing acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection and patients with Chagas disease, led to identify several immune-neuroendocrine disturbances and metabolic disorders. Here, we review relevant findings concerning such abnormalities and discuss their possible influence on disease physiopathology.
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González FB, Villar SR, Toneatto J, Pacini MF, Márquez J, D’Attilio L, Bottasso OA, Piwien-Pilipuk G, Pérez AR. Immune response triggered by Trypanosoma cruzi infection strikes adipose tissue homeostasis altering lipid storage, enzyme profile and adipokine expression. Med Microbiol Immunol 2018; 208:651-666. [DOI: 10.1007/s00430-018-0572-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Roggero E, Pérez AR, Pollachini N, Villar SR, Wildmann J, Besedovsky H, Del Rey A. The sympathetic nervous system affects the susceptibility and course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 58:228-236. [PMID: 27485039 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.07.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is an intracellular parasite that causes Chagas' disease, a major health problem in Latin America. Using a murine model of infection with this parasite, we have previously shown that corticosterone blood levels are markedly elevated during the course of the disease in C57Bl/6 male mice and that this increase is protective for the host by restricting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis usually operates in a concerted way with the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), we have now studied whether noradrenergic nerves can affect the course of T. cruzi infection and the sexual dimorphism observed in the disease. We found a decreased splenic noradrenaline concentration and content, paralleled by a reduction in noradrenergic nerve fibers in the spleen of infected mice, and increased HPA axis activity. These alterations were more marked in males than in females. When the spontaneous loss of noradrenergic nerve fibers was advanced by chemical sympathectomy prior to infection, males died earlier and mortality significantly increased in females. Chemical denervation did not significantly affect the concentration of specific IgM and IgG2a antibodies to T. cruzi, and did not worsen myocarditis, but resulted in increased parasitemia and IL-6 and IFN-γ blood levels. The results obtained in this model of parasitic disease provide further indications of the relevance of interactions between the immune system and the SNS for host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Roggero
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), 2000 Rosario, Argentina; CAECIHS, Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Ana Rosa Pérez
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Natalia Pollachini
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Silvina Raquel Villar
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Immunology of Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Johannes Wildmann
- Research Group Immunophysiology, Department Neurophysiology, Inst. of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Deutschhausstrasse 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Hugo Besedovsky
- Research Group Immunophysiology, Department Neurophysiology, Inst. of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Deutschhausstrasse 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Adriana Del Rey
- Research Group Immunophysiology, Department Neurophysiology, Inst. of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Deutschhausstrasse 2, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
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Gunter SM, Jones KM, Zhan B, Essigmann HT, Murray KO, Garcia MN, Gorchakov R, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Brown EL. Identification and Characterization of the Trypanosoma cruzi B-cell Superantigen Tc24. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 94:114-121. [PMID: 26598565 PMCID: PMC4710414 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi causes life-long disease after infection and leads to cardiac disease in 30% of infected individuals. After infection, the parasites are readily detectable in the blood during the first few days before disseminating to infect numerous cell types. Preliminary data suggested that the Tc24 protein that localizes to the T. cruzi membrane during all life stages possesses B-cell superantigenic properties. These antigens facilitate immune escape by interfering with antibody-mediated responses, particularly the avoidance of catalytic antibodies. These antibodies are an innate host defense mechanism present in the naive repertoire, and catalytic antibody–antigen binding results in hydrolysis of the target. We tested the B-cell superantigenic properties of Tc24 by comparing the degree of Tc24 hydrolysis by IgM purified from either Tc24 unexposed or exposed mice and humans. Respective samples were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, silver stained, and the degree of hydrolysis was measured. Data presented in this report suggest that the T. cruzi Tc24 is a B-cell superantigen based on the observations that 1) Tc24 was hydrolyzed by IgM present in serum of unexposed mice and humans and 2) exposure to Tc24 eliminated catalytic activity as early as 4 days after T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eric L. Brown
- *Address correspondence to Eric L. Brown, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Pressler St. Houston, TX 77030. E-mail:
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Immunopathological aspects of experimental Trypanosoma cruzi reinfections. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:648715. [PMID: 25050370 PMCID: PMC4094717 DOI: 10.1155/2014/648715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Besides the host-related factors, such as immune response and genetic background, the parasite, strain, and occurrences of reinfection episodes, may influence disease outcome. Our results demonstrate that both the primary infection and the reinfection with the Colombiana strain are connected with lower survival rate of the mice. After reinfection, parasitaemia is approximately ten times lower than in primary infected animals. Only Colombiana, Colombiana/Colombiana, and Y/Colombiana groups presented amastigote nests in cardiac tissue. Moreover, the mice infected and/or reinfected with the Colombiana strain had more T. cruzi nests, more intense inflammatory infiltrate, and higher in situ expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ than Y strain. Antigen-stimulated spleen cells from infected and/or reinfected animals produced higher levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10. Our results reinforce the idea that Chagas disease outcome is influenced by the strain of the infective parasite, being differentially modulated during reinfection episodes. It highlights the need of control strategies involving parasite strain characterization in endemic areas for Chagas disease.
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Sanoja C, Carbajosa S, Fresno M, Gironès N. Analysis of the dynamics of infiltrating CD4(+) T cell subsets in the heart during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65820. [PMID: 23776551 PMCID: PMC3679147 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects several million people in Latin America. Myocarditis, observed during both the acute and chronic phases of the disease, is characterized by an inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltrate that includes CD4+ T cells. It is known that Th1 cytokines help to control infection. The role that Treg and Th17 cells may play in disease outcome, however, has not been completely elucidated. We performed a comparative study of the dynamics of CD4+ T cell subsets after infection with the T. cruzi Y strain during both the acute and chronic phases of the disease using susceptible BALB/c and non-susceptible C57BL/6 mice infected with high or low parasite inocula. During the acute phase, infected C57BL/6 mice showed high levels of CD4+ T cell infiltration and expression of Th1 cytokines in the heart associated with the presence of Treg cells. In contrast, infected BALB/c mice had a high heart parasite burden, low heart CD4+ T cell infiltration and low levels of Th1 and inflammatory cytokines, but with an increased presence of Th17 cells. Moreover, an increase in the expression of IL-6 in susceptible mice was associated with lethality upon infection with a high parasite load. Chronically infected BALB/c mice continued to present higher parasite burdens than C57BL/6 mice and also higher levels of IFN-γ, TNF, IL-10 and TGF-β. Thus, the regulation of the Th1 response by Treg cells in the acute phase may play a protective role in non-susceptible mice irrespective of parasite numbers. On the other hand, Th17 cells may protect susceptible mice at low levels of infection, but could, in association with IL-6, be pathogenic at high parasite loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanoja
- Instituto de Biología Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Sofía Carbajosa
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)–Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)–Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Gironès
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)–Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IP), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Manarin R, Villar SR, Fernández Bussy R, González FB, Deschutter EV, Bonantini AP, Roggero E, Pérez AR, Bottasso O. Reciprocal influences between leptin and glucocorticoids during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Med Microbiol Immunol 2013; 202:339-52. [DOI: 10.1007/s00430-013-0294-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Thymus atrophy and double-positive escape are common features in infectious diseases. J Parasitol Res 2012; 2012:574020. [PMID: 22518275 PMCID: PMC3307005 DOI: 10.1155/2012/574020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ in which bone marrow-derived T-cell precursors undergo differentiation, leading to migration of positively selected thymocytes to the T-cell-dependent areas of secondary lymphoid organs. This organ can undergo atrophy, caused by several endogenous and exogenous factors such as ageing, hormone fluctuations, and infectious agents. This paper will focus on emerging data on the thymic atrophy caused by infectious agents. We present data on the dynamics of thymus lymphocytes during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection, showing that the resulting thymus atrophy comprises the abnormal release of thymic-derived T cells and may have an impact on host immune response.
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Pérez AR, Fontanella GH, Nocito AL, Revelli S, Bottasso OA. Short treatment with the tumour necrosis factor-alpha blocker infliximab diminishes chronic chagasic myocarditis in rats without evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi reactivation. Clin Exp Immunol 2009; 157:291-9. [PMID: 19604269 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2009.03946.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is crucial for resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi acute infection, but there is scant information on its role during the chronic phase. To address this issue, we analysed whether a short treatment with a TNF-alpha blocker affected the course and characteristics of chronic disease in a rat experimental model of T. cruzi infection. An anti-TNF-alpha agent (infliximab) was administered during the chronic phase for a period of 4 weeks (3 mg/kg/week), while control infected rats were inoculated with saline physiological solution. Search for parasites yielded non-successful results in all infected groups, irrespective of treatment. Nevertheless, the presence of T. cruzi kDNA in heart tissue was detected in infected and infected plus treated animals. Because infliximab might induce changes in the anti-parasite cytokine response, circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-10, interferon-gamma and nitric oxide were evaluated. An increase in IL-10 levels was observed only in the infected group treated with the anti-TNF-alpha blocker compared to the remaining groups (P < 0.05). A clear attenuation of histological damage associated with a diminution of cardiac TNF-alpha mRNA expression was observed in the infected and treated animals compared to the infected and non-treated group. Blocking of TNF-alpha during a relatively short period in chronically infected rats did not lead to evident parasite reactivation but reduced myocarditis severity significantly, indicating a role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of chronic myocardial damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunologia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Rosario, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina.
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Savino W, Villa-Verde DMS, Mendes-da-Cruz DA, Silva-Monteiro E, Perez AR, Aoki MDP, Bottasso O, Guiñazú N, Silva-Barbosa SD, Gea S. Cytokines and cell adhesion receptors in the regulation of immunity to Trypanosoma cruzi. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2007; 18:107-24. [PMID: 17339126 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2007.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pathophysiology of Chagas' disease is not completely defined, although innate and adaptative immune responses are crucial. In acute infection some parasite antigens can activate macrophages, and this may result in pro-inflammatory cytokine production, nitric oxide synthesis, and consequent control of parasitemia and mortality. Cell-mediated immunity in Trypanosoma cruzi infection is also modulated by cytokines, but in addition to parasite-specific responses, autoimmunity can be also triggered. Importantly, cytokines may also play a role in the cell-mediated immunity of infected subjects. Finally, leukocyte influx towards target tissues is regulated by cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular matrix components which may represent potential therapeutic targets in infected patients. Here we will discuss recent findings on the role of cytokines, chemokines and extracellular matrix components in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity during T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Savino
- Laboratory of Thymus Research, Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ave. Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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