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Santos-Miranda A, Costa AD, Joviano-Santos JV, Rhana P, Bruno AS, Rocha P, Cau SB, Vieira LQ, Cruz JS, Roman-Campos D. Inhibition of calcium/calmodulin (Ca 2+ /CaM)-Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) axis reduces in vitro and ex vivo arrhythmias in experimental Chagas disease. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21901. [PMID: 34569665 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101060r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is one of the main causes of heart failure and sudden death in Latin America. To date, there is no available medication to prevent or reverse the onset of cardiac symptoms. CCC occurs in a scenario of disrupted calcium dynamics and enhanced oxidative stress, which combined, may favor the hyper activation of calcium/calmodulin (Ca2+ /CaM)-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) (Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII) pathway, which is fundamental for heart physiology and it is implicated in other cardiac diseases. Here, we evaluated the association between Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII in the electro-mechanical (dys)function of the heart in the early stage of chronic experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. We observed that in vitro and ex vivo inhibition of Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII reversed the arrhythmic profile of isolated hearts and isolated left-ventricles cardiomyocytes. The benefits of the limited Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII activation to cardiomyocytes' electrical properties are partially related to the restoration of Ca2+ dynamics in a damaged cellular environment created after T. cruzi infection. Moreover, Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII inhibition prevented the onset of arrhythmic contractions on isolated heart preparations of chagasic mice and restored the responsiveness to the increase in the left-ventricle pre-load. Taken together, our data provide the first experimental evidence for the potential of targeting Ca2+ /CaM-CaMKII pathway as a novel therapeutic target to treat CCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandre D Costa
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Paula Rhana
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Santos Bruno
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Peter Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Stefany Bruno Cau
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Leda Q Vieira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jader S Cruz
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Danilo Roman-Campos
- Department of Biophysics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Coelho LL, Pereira IR, Pereira MCDS, Mesquita L, Lannes-Vieira J, Adesse D, Garzoni LR. Trypanosoma cruzi activates mouse cardiac fibroblasts in vitro leading to fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and increase in expression of extracellular matrix proteins. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:72. [PMID: 29382361 PMCID: PMC5791182 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2614-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cardiac fibrosis is a consequence of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). In other cardiovascular diseases, the protagonist role of fibroblasts in cardiac fibrosis is well established. However, the role of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in fibrosis during the CCC is not clear. Here, our aim was to investigate the effect of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease on CFs activation. Methods Cardiac fibroblasts were purified from primary cultures of mouse embryo cardiac cells. After two passages, cells were infected with T. cruzi (Y strain) and analyzed at different times for determination of infectivity, activation and production of extracellular matrix components (fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV) by immunofluorescence and western blot. Results At second passage, cultures were enriched in CFs (95% of fibroblasts and 5% of cardiomyocytes), as revealed by presence of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) and absence of sarcomeric tropomyosin (ST) protein expression. Trypanosoma cruzi infection induced fibroblast-myofibroblast transition, with increased expression of α-SMA after 6 and 24 h post-infection (hpi). Fibronectin was increased at 6, 24 and 48 hpi, laminin was increased at 6 and 24 hpi and collagen IV was increased at 6 hpi. Conclusions Our results showed that T. cruzi activates CFs, inducing activation and exacerbates ECM production. Furthermore, our data raise the possibility of the involvement of CFs in heart fibrosis during Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lacerda Coelho
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Mirian Claudia de Souza Pereira
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Carlos Chagas sala 308, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Liliane Mesquita
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Carlos Chagas sala 308, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Carlos Chagas, sala 307, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil
| | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil 4365, Pavilhão Cardoso Fontes, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro RJ, 20045-900, Brazil.
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Pereira IR, Vilar-Pereira G, Silva AAD, Lannes-Vieira J. Severity of chronic experimental Chagas' heart disease parallels tumour necrosis factor and nitric oxide levels in the serum: models of mild and severe disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2016; 109:289-98. [PMID: 24937048 PMCID: PMC4131780 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276140033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart tissue inflammation, progressive fibrosis and electrocardiographic alterations
occur in approximately 30% of patients infected by Trypanosoma
cruzi, 10-30 years after infection. Further, plasma levels of tumour
necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) are associated with the degree of heart
dysfunction in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). Thus, our aim was to establish
experimental models that mimic a range of parasitological, pathological and cardiac
alterations described in patients with chronic Chagas’ heart disease and evaluate
whether heart disease severity was associated with increased TNF and NO levels in the
serum. Our results show that C3H/He mice chronically infected with the Colombian
T. cruzi strain have more severe cardiac parasitism and
inflammation than C57BL/6 mice. In addition, connexin 43 disorganisation and
fibronectin deposition in the heart tissue, increased levels of creatine kinase
cardiac MB isoenzyme activity in the serum and more severe electrical abnormalities
were observed in T. cruzi-infected C3H/He mice compared to C57BL/6
mice. Therefore, T. cruzi-infected C3H/He and C57BL/6 mice represent
severe and mild models of CCC, respectively. Moreover, the CCC severity paralleled
the TNF and NO levels in the serum. Therefore, these models are appropriate for
studying the pathophysiology and biomarkers of CCC progression, as well as for
testing therapeutic agents for patients with Chagas’ heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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4
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Gonzalez-Mejia ME, Torres-Rasgado E, Porchia LM, Salgado HR, Totolhua JL, Ortega A, Hernández-Kelly LCR, Ruiz-Vivanco G, Báez-Duarte BG, Pérez-Fuentes R. Metallothionein-1 and nitric oxide expression are inversely correlated in a murine model of Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:174-81. [PMID: 24676665 PMCID: PMC4015253 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276140339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an endemic among Latin America countries. The participation of free radicals, especially nitric oxide (NO), has been demonstrated in the pathophysiology of seropositive individuals with T. cruzi. In Chagas disease, increased NO contributes to the development of cardiomyopathy and megacolon. Metallothioneins (MTs) are efficient free radicals scavengers of NO in vitro and in vivo. Here, we developed a murine model of the chronic phase of Chagas disease using endemic T. cruzi RyCH1 in BALB/c mice, which were divided into four groups: infected non-treated (Inf), infected N-monomethyl-L-arginine treated (Inf L-NAME), non-infected L-NAME treated and non-infected vehicle-treated. We determined blood parasitaemia and NO levels, the extent of parasite nests in tissues and liver MT-I expression levels. It was observed that NO levels were increasing in Inf mice in a time-dependent manner. Inf L-NAME mice had fewer T. cruzi nests in cardiac and skeletal muscle with decreased blood NO levels at day 135 post infection. This affect was negatively correlated with an increase of MT-I expression (r = -0.8462, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we determined that in Chagas disease, an unknown inhibitory mechanism reduces MT-I expression, allowing augmented NO levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leonardo M Porchia
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de Enfermedades Crónicas, Centro de
Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla,
México
| | - Hilda Rosas Salgado
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de Enfermedades Crónicas, Centro de
Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla,
México
| | - José-Luis Totolhua
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de Enfermedades Crónicas, Centro de
Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla,
México
| | - Arturo Ortega
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y
de Estudios Avanzados, Unidad Zacatenco, México DF,México
| | | | | | | | - Ricardo Pérez-Fuentes
- Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla,
México
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatología de Enfermedades Crónicas, Centro de
Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla,
México
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5
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DTU I isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi induce upregulation of Galectin-3 in murine myocarditis and fibrosis. Parasitology 2014; 141:849-58. [PMID: 24533969 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013002254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chagas heart disease is a major public concern since 30% of infected patients develop cardiac alterations. The relationship between Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units (DTUs) and the biological properties exhibited by the parasite population has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we analysed the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) associated with cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling a murine chronic cardiomyopathy induced by Tc I genotypes. We found the induction of myocarditis was associated with the upregulation of Col I, α-SMA, Gal-3, IFN-γ and IL-13, as analysed by q-PCR. In myocardial areas of fibrosis, the intensity of myocarditis and significant ECM remodelling correlated with the presence of Col I-, Gal-3- and α-SMA-positive cells. These results are promising for the further efforts to evaluate the relevance of Gal-3 in Chagas heart disease, since this galectin was proposed as a prognosis marker in heart failure patients.
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6
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Roman-Campos D, Sales-Junior P, Duarte HL, Gomes ER, Lara A, Campos P, Rocha NN, Resende RR, Ferreira A, Guatimosim S, Gazzinelli RT, Ropert C, Cruz JS. Novel insights into the development of chagasic cardiomyopathy: Role of PI3Kinase/NO axis. Int J Cardiol 2013; 167:3011-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2011] [Revised: 08/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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7
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Ribeiro Machado MP, Dias da Silva VJ. Autonomic neuroimmunomodulation in chagasic cardiomyopathy. Exp Physiol 2012; 97:1151-60. [PMID: 22581749 DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2012.066381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an endemic parasitic disease, caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, with a high prevalence in Latin America. During its chronic phase, chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy is the most apparent clinical form, affecting 25-30% of patients. This clinical form may present as congestive heart failure, thromboembolic phenomena, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Pathological findings in the heart include mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, focal myocarditis, epicarditis and neuroganglionitis, associated with variable focal fibrosis and widely variable autonomic dysfunction. The immune-inflammatory response has been considered to be the cause of the autonomic dysfunction, which may trigger life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death. In the last few years, several reports in the literature have described the marked role played by the autonomic nervous system in the modulation of the immune-inflammatory response in some experimental models of infectious, ischaemic and autoimmune diseases. However, nothing is known about this autonomic neural modulation of the immune response in Chagas disease. In the present report, we discuss several sets of evidence suggesting that changes in the autonomic drive directed towards the heart could modify blood and tissue parasitism, as well as inflammatory infiltration, in chagasic cardiomyopathy. The pathogenic implications of these potential neural immune manipulations are also discussed.
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8
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Colmanetti FH, Teixeira VDPA, Rodrigues MLP, Chica JEL, Reis MDG, dos Santos VM. Myocardiocyte Ultrastructure and Morphometrical Analysis in Hamsters Experimentally Infected withTrypanosoma cruzi. Ultrastruct Pathol 2009; 29:139-47. [PMID: 16028670 DOI: 10.1080/019131290923974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was the study of ultrastructural morphologic and morphometric changes in myocardiocytes from chronic chagasic hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), comparatively with changes described in other animal models and in human Chagas disease. Four chagasic animals and three nonchagasic controls were studied. Mitochondria changes were the most conspicuous findings, varying from swelling to complete organelle destruction. Noteworthy, T-tubules appeared tortuous and interrupted at the Z-line level and there was dehiscence in intercalated disks, especially in adherens junctions;in addition, the myofibrils were separated from each other by intracellular edema, with mild to accentuated focal lyses. In morphometric analysis, both the numeric density and the area of mitochondria from chagasic and normal control animals were statistically similar; however, the infected hamsters showed statistically significant enlarged sarcomeres and reduced myofibril thickness. Based on the morphologic and morphometric characteristics observed in these experimental animals, one may conclude that heart changes described at light microscopy in human Chagas disease can have a substrate on electron microscopy. Moreover, the hamster also constitutes a useful animal model to pathology studies in Chagas disease on electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Humberto Colmanetti
- Department of Biological Sciences, Histology, Embryology and General Pathology Devesions, Pathology Graduation Course, Triangulo Mineiro Medical School (FMTM), Uberaba-MG, Brazil
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9
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Magalhaes-Santos IF, Lima ES, Andrade SG. Fibrogenesis and collagen resorption in the heart and skeletal muscle of Calomys callosus experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: immunohistochemical identification of extracellular matrix components. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2002; 97:703-10. [PMID: 12219139 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762002000500021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intense inflammatory lesions and early development of interstitial fibrosis of the myocardium and skeletal muscle with spontaneous regression, have been described in Calomys callosus infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The genetic types of collagen present in this model were investigated through immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies, combined with histopathology and Picro-Sirius staining of collagen. Thirty-five calomys were infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi and sacrificed at 24, 30, 40, 60 and 90 days post-infection. Inflammatory lesions and fibrogenesis were prominent at the early phase of infection and significantly decreased during late infection. Immunoisotyping of the matrix components was performed by indirect immunofluorescence on 5 micro m thick cryostat sections using specific antibodies against laminin, fibronectin and isotypes I, III and IV of collagen. In the early phase, positive deposits of all the matrix components were present, with predominance of fibronectin, laminin and collagens types I and III in the myocardium and of types III and IV in the skeletal muscles. From the 40th day, type IV collagen predominates in the heart. At the late phase of infection (60th to 90th day), a clear fragmentation and decrease of all the matrix components were detected. Findings of the present study indicate that a modulation of the inflammatory process occurs in the model of C. callosus, leading to spontaneous regression of fibrosis independent of the genetic types of collagen involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis F Magalhaes-Santos
- Laboratório de Doença de Chagas Experimental, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz, Salvador, BA, 40295-001, Brasil
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10
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Avila JL. alpha-Galactosyl-bearing epitopes as potent immunogens in Chagas' disease and leishmaniasis. Subcell Biochem 1999; 32:173-213. [PMID: 10391996 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-4771-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J L Avila
- Instituto de Biomedicina, Caracas, Venezuela
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11
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Chagas' disease: Microvascular and interstitial matrix abnormalities characteristic of congestive cardiomyopathy of diverse etiology. Cardiovasc Pathol 1996; 5:203-7. [DOI: 10.1016/1054-8807(96)00004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/1995] [Accepted: 01/10/1996] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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12
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DosReis GA, Fonseca ME, Lopes MF. Programmed T-cell death in experimental chagas disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1995; 11:391-4. [PMID: 15275405 DOI: 10.1016/0169-4758(95)80011-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In mature T cells, programmed cell death is thought to serve a regulatory function by limiting both the duration and amplitude of immune responses. Programmed cell death might also be involved in immuno-pathogenesis of certain infectious diseases: recent evidence suggests that programmed T-cell death plays an important role in immune suppression during viral infections. In this article, George DosReis, Maria Evangelina Fonseca and Marcela Lopes review their findings on programmed T-cell death in experimental infection induced by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. They also discuss the differential behavior of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets regarding programmed cell death, and same possible pathogenic aspects of host-parasite interaction, where abnormal or exaggerated programmed T-cell death could be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A DosReis
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Microbiologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Brasil.
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13
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Milei J, Sánchez J, Storino R, Yu ZX, Denduchis B, Ferrans VJ. Antibodies to laminin and immunohistochemical localization of laminin in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy: a review. Mol Cell Biochem 1993; 129:161-70. [PMID: 8177238 DOI: 10.1007/bf00926364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies against laminin were determined by ELISA in forty six patients suffering from Chagas' disease and twenty healthy persons (control group). The patients were divided into three groups according to the severity of clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies. Histologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies were made of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 10 of these patients with chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Antibodies to laminin were detected in 50% of the patients in each of the three groups. However analysis of the data did not allow us to determine any significant correlation among the severity of the different clinical and non-invasive studies and the level of circulating antibodies to laminin. The highest titers of antilaminin antibodies were detected in the group with severe cardiological alterations (37% of the patients). Histological and electron microscopic observation of myocardial biopsies disclosed marked thickening of the basement membranes of the myocytes, endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Light (peroxidase-labeled antibodies) and electron (gold-conjugated antibody) microscopic immunohistochemical methods revealed a positive reaction for laminin in these thickened basement membranes. This thickening may develop as a consequence of: a) an immunologic reaction which is triggered by the presence of a laminin-like molecule on the surfaces of T. cruzi amastigotes and trypomastigotes; b) an immunologic response to direct injury of basement membranes causing some of their components to become antigenic; c) myocardial fibrosis, with synthesis of new connective tissue components, and d) a combination of the preceding factors. The relationship of these changes to antilaminin antibodies remains unclear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- J Milei
- Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Centro de Enfermedad de Chagas and Cardiopsis, Argentina
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14
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Sanchez JA, Milei J, Yu ZX, Storino R, Wenthold R, Ferrans VJ. Immunohistochemical localization of laminin in the hearts of patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy: relationship to thickening of basement membranes. Am Heart J 1993; 126:1392-401. [PMID: 8249797 DOI: 10.1016/0002-8703(93)90539-l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Histologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical studies were made of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 10 patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. Histologic and electron microscopic observation disclosed marked thickening of the basement membranes of the myocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells in all patients. Light (peroxidase-labeled antibodies) and electron (gold-conjugated antibody) microscopic immunohistochemical methods revealed a positive reaction for laminin in these thickened basement membranes. This thickening of basement membranes may develop as a consequence of: (1) an immunologic reaction that is triggered by the presence of a laminin-like molecule on the surfaces of Trypanosoma cruzi amastigotes and trypomastigotes; (2) an immunologic response to direct injury of basement membranes causing some of their components to become antigenic; (3) myocardial fibrosis, with synthesis of new connective tissue components; and (4) a combination of the preceding factors. The relationship of these changes to antilaminin antibodies requires clarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Sanchez
- Hospital Juan A. Fernandez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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15
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Matousek de Abel de la Cruz AJ, Burguera JL, Burguera M, Añez N. Changes in the total content of iron, copper, and zinc in serum, heart, liver, spleen, and skeletal muscle tissues of rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Biol Trace Elem Res 1993; 37:51-70. [PMID: 7682829 DOI: 10.1007/bf02789401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The effects of the Trypanosoma cruzi infection on the total content of the essential trace elements iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in serum, heart, liver, spleen, and skeletal muscle were determined in "Wistar" rats inoculated with reticulotropic "Y" strain trypanosomes (Tryps) in their slender blood form. The 250 rats were divided in two groups of 80 rats (L-1 and L-2) and one of 90 (C) used as controls. L-1 and L-2 were inoculated with 2 x 10(5) and 5 x 10(2) Tryps, respectively. Ten rats of the C group were killed the inoculation day (i), and ten rats of each group chosen at random were killed and blood parasitemia determined at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60, and 90 post-i days covering the infection acute-phase myocarditis. Previously cryohomogenized and lyophilized tissues were digested in an HNO3- H2O2 mixture with the aid of a microwave oven, and the elements Fe, Cu, and Zn were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Generally, more intense changes were observed in the L-1 group. Serum Fe and Zn levels are lower and Cu levels higher in groups L-1 and L-2 than in C. However, Fe is not significantly sequestered in the liver during the acute phase of the infection as expected, but of the tissues studied, the spleen was the main site of Fe binding. Zn tended to increase in all tissues, except in the spleen, where during the acute phase of the infection, the total content of Zn in groups L-1 and L-2 was lower than in group C. Cu increased mainly in the spleen and muscle. In general, each tissue presented its own pattern of redistribution related to its nature, functions, and number of parasites inoculated, and these patterns may have been altered by the tropism of the parasite.
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Abstract
Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of morbidity in many countries in Latin America. The important modes of transmission are by the bite of the reduviid bug and blood transfusion. The organism exists in three morphological forms: trypomastigotes, amastigotes, and epimastigotes. The mechanism of transformation and differentiation is currently being explored, and signal transduction pathways of the parasites may be involved in this process. Parasite adherence to and invasion of host cells is a complex process involving complement, phospholipase, penetrin, neuraminidase, and hemolysin. Two clinical forms of the disease are recognized, acute and chronic. During the acute stage pathological damage is related to the presence of the parasite, whereas in the chronic stage few parasites are found. In recent years the roles of tumor necrosis factor, gamma interferon, and the interleukins in the pathogenesis of this infection have been reported. The common manifestations of chronic cardiomyopathy are arrhythmias and thromboembolic events. Autoimmune, neurogenic, and microvascular factors may be important in the pathogenesis of the cardiomyopathy. The gastrointestinal tract is another important target, and "mega syndromes" are common manifestations. The diagnosis and treatment of this infection are active areas of investigation. New serological and molecular biological techniques have improved the diagnosis of chronic infection. Exacerbations of T. cruzi infection have been reported for patients receiving immuno-suppressive therapy and for those with AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Tanowitz
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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Tanowitz HB, Morris SA, Factor SM, Weiss LM, Wittner M. Parasitic diseases of the heart I: Acute and chronic Chagas' disease. Cardiovasc Pathol 1992; 1:7-15. [DOI: 10.1016/1054-8807(92)90004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/1991] [Accepted: 06/25/1991] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Morris SA, Tanowitz HB, Wittner M, Bilezikian JP. Pathophysiological insights into the cardiomyopathy of Chagas' disease. Circulation 1990; 82:1900-9. [PMID: 2242515 DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.82.6.1900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The evidence gained from both human and animal studies of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy suggests that the disease occurs as a consequence of several discrete and progressive pathophysiological processes occurring after infection, the ultimate expression of which depends on a host of unidentified factors. Collectively, the infection-associated events compromise microvasculature function and result in hypoperfusion, with consequences indistinguishable from those observed in other, nonparasitological cardiomyopathic diseases secondary to hypoperfusion. Therefore, chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy may share similar pathophysiological abnormalities with other chronic congestive cardiomyopathic states.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Morris
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
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Andrade SG, Magalhães JB, Pontes AL. [Therapy of the chronic phase of the experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi with benzonidazole and nifurtimox]. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 1989; 22:113-8. [PMID: 2518608 DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86821989000300001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty-eight mice, chronically infected with different T. cruzi strains (Types II and III) were submitted to chemotherapy either with Nifurtimox (Bay 2502) or Benznidazole (Ro 7-1051). Twenty one mice were not treated and were used as infected controls. The duration of infection was from 90 to 400 days. Inocula varied from 1 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(4) blood forms. Treatment lasted for 90 days, doses being 200mg/kg/day during 4 days, followed by 50mg/kg/day for Nifurtimox and 100mg/kg/day for Benznidazole. Parasitological tests (xenodiagnosis, inoculations into baby mice and hemoculture) showed 85.3% negativation for Type II strains and 43% for Type III in animals treated with Benznidazole. As for Nifurtimox, there were 71.4% of parasitological negativation for the animals infected with Type II strains and 66% for those infected with Type III. IFA tests remained positive in 90% of treated and cured animals. Disappearance or marked regression of myocardial and skeletal muscle lesions was seen in the treated and parasitologically negative animals. The conclusion is that the treatment in the chronic phase of T. cruzi infection can result in parasitological cure in a high percentage of cases with regression of histopathological lesions, although with persistence of positivity of the IFA tests.
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