Signaling pathways that regulate Trypanosoma cruzi infection and immune response

Abstract

Current understanding of key cellular pathways, which are activated by the interaction between T. cruzi and host immunity, is crucial for controlling T. cruzi infection and also for limiting the development of the immunopathological symptoms of Chagas´ disease. Here, we focus on recent advances in the knowledge of modulation of innate receptors such as TLRs and NLRs, especially NLRP3, by T. cruzi in different cells of the immune system. On the other hand, the modulation of macrophage activation may be instrumental in allowing parasite persistence and long-term host survival. In this sense, we discuss the importance of the metabolism of two amino acids: L-arginine and tryptophan, and evaluate the role of iNOS, arginase and IDO enzymes in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune response during this infection; and, finally, we also discuss how T. cruzi exploits the AhR, mTOR and Wnt signaling pathways to promote their intracellular replication in macrophages, thus evading the host's immune response.

Keywords: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR); Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO); Inflammasomes; L-arginine metabolism; Toll like receptors (TLRs); Wnt signaling pathways; mTOR.