Evaluation of vitamin C effects on acute and chronic phase of Chagas Disease in mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma Cruzi QM1 strain

• Grant number: 13/22703-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: March 01, 2014 - August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Luciamare Perinetti Alves Martins
• Grantee: Luciamare Perinetti Alves Martins
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Marília , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Altino Luiz Silva Therezo ; Carla Pagliari ; Maria Irma Seixas Duarte ; Roberto Esteves Pires Castanho

Abstract

In South America, approximately 14 million are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, and in Brazil, around three million individuals are on chronic phase arising from infections acquired in the past. From the immunological perspective, it was demonstrated that activation of macrophages by T. cruzi results in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such that the components formed by the reaction as Superoxide Radical, Radical hidroperoxila, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen can cause damage in any tissue, and to oppose free radicals, the aerobic biological systems using antioxidant defense. Vitamin C acts as a reducing agent in different reactions, most of them of hydroxylation, but its more widespread property is to be the most powerful antioxidants in plasma and defense located in hydrophilic compartments of cells. Although the antioxidant properties of vitamin C are well established, it is still debatable its possible effect pro oxidant and anti / pro-inflammatory. Considering the attacks on the host from the production of ROS, the antioxidant defense systems of the body, vitamin C, such as non-enzymatic antioxidant and external source, and the discordance between scientific articles about the fact that T. cruzi absorb vitamin C or not from the medium, we propose to study the effect of vitamin C on the evolution of Chagas disease. For this, we will dose biochemical markers and the histological study by immunohistochemistry will be done to evaluate the antioxidant and pro or anti inflammatory action of vitamin C supplementation in healthy and experimentally mice infected with T. cruzi QM1 strain on the acute and chronic Chagas disease. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CASTANHEIRA, J. R. P. T.; CASTANHO, R. E. P.; ROCHA JR, H.; PAGLIARI, C.; DUARTE, M. I. S.; THEREZO, A. L. S.; CHAGAS, E. F. B.; MARTINS, L. P. A.. Paradoxical effects of vitamin C in Chagas disease. Parasitology International, v. 67, n. 5, p. 547-555, OCT 2018. (13/22703-3)