Benznidazole treatment during early-indeterminate Chagas' disease shifted the cytokine expression by innate and adaptive immunity cells toward a type 1-modulated immune profile

Scand J Immunol. 2006 Nov;64(5):554-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2006.01843.x.

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi-infected children was treated with benznidazole (Bz) during the early-indeterminate disease (E-IND) and the cytokine pattern of innate and adaptive immune compartments were evaluated prior to the treatment and 1 year after it. At first, we observed that the ex vivo cytokine profile of circulating leukocytes from E-IND (n = 6) resembled the one observed for healthy schoolchildren (n = 7). Additionally, in vitro stimulation with T. cruzi antigens drove the E-IND cytokine pattern toward a mixed immune profile with higher levels of IFN-gamma+, TNF-alpha+ and IL-4+ NK cells, increased numbers of IFN-gamma+, TNF-alpha+ and IL-10+ CD4+ T cells in addition to enhanced frequency of TNF-alpha+/IL-4+ CD19+ lymphocytes. Interestingly, upon T. cruzi antigen in vitro stimulation, E-IND CD8+ lymphocytes displayed a selective enhancement of IFN-gamma expression, accounting for a global type 1-modulated cytokine microenvironment. A shift toward a type 1-modulated profile was also the hallmark of Bz-treated children (E-IND(T)). In this context, despite the mixed overall ex vivo cytokine profile observed for NK and CD8+ T cells, increased ability of these leukocytes to produce IFN-gamma in response to T. cruzi antigens was reported. Most noteworthy was the IL-10 production evidenced at T lymphocytes, mainly CD4+ cells, as well as B lymphocytes, both ex vivo and upon antigen stimulation. Together, these findings gave evidence that NK cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes are the major sources of IFN-gamma, a pivotal cytokine for successful therapeutic response in human Chagas' disease. Moreover, our data have also brought additional information, pointing out IL-10 production by CD4+ cells and B lymphocytes, as the putative key element for parasite clearance in the absence of deleterious tissue damage.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chagas Disease / immunology*
  • Chagas Disease / therapy
  • Child
  • Cytokines / blood*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Nitroimidazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Nitroimidazoles
  • benzonidazole