Canonical PI3Kγ signaling in myeloid cells restricts Trypanosoma cruzi infection and dampens chagasic myocarditis

Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 17;9(1):1513. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03986-3.

Abstract

Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and is an important cause of severe inflammatory heart disease. However, the mechanisms driving Chagas disease cardiomyopathy have not been completely elucidated. Here, we show that the canonical PI3Kγ pathway is upregulated in both human chagasic hearts and hearts of acutely infected mice. PI3Kγ-deficient mice and mutant mice carrying catalytically inactive PI3Kγ are more susceptible to T. cruzi infection. The canonical PI3Kγ signaling in myeloid cells is essential to restrict T. cruzi heart parasitism and ultimately to avoid myocarditis, heart damage, and death of mice. Furthermore, high PIK3CG expression correlates with low parasitism in human Chagas' hearts. In conclusion, these results indicate an essential role of the canonical PI3Kγ signaling pathway in the control of T. cruzi infection, providing further insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of chagasic heart disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Cell Line
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / immunology*
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / parasitology
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / pathology
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / genetics
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Heart / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / metabolism
  • Myocardium / immunology
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinoxalines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Thiazolidinediones / pharmacology
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / pathogenicity
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • 5-quinoxalin-6-ylmethylenethiazolidine-2,4-dione
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinoxalines
  • Thiazolidinediones
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • PIK3CG protein, human
  • Pik3cg protein, mouse