Role of Trypanosoma cruzi autoreactive T cells in the generation of cardiac pathology

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2007 Jun:1107:434-44. doi: 10.1196/annals.1381.046.

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects several million people in Central and South America. About 30% of chronic patients develop cardiomyopathy probably caused by parasite persistence and/or autoimmunity. While several cross-reactive antibodies generated during mammal T. cruzi infection have been described, very few cross-reactive T cells have been identified. We performed adoptive transfer experiments of T cells isolated from chronically infected mice. The results showed the generation of cardiac pathology in the absence of parasites. We also transferred cross-reactive SAPA-specific T cells and observed unspecific alterations in heart repolarization, cardiac inflammatory infiltration, and tissue damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity / immunology
  • Chagas Disease / immunology*
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Chagas Disease / pathology*
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Mimicry / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*

Substances

  • Epitopes