Role of inflammasomes in dendritic cell activation during Trypanosoma cruzi infection

• Grant number: 11/04185-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Karina Ramalho Bortoluci
• Grantee: Virginia Mendes Gonçalves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/50958-8 - Interaction between innate immune receptors in the activation of macrophages and dendritic cells, AP.JP

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most important antigen presenting cells of the immune system. In order to present antigens in an immunogenic manner, the DCs should be mature, a process that may occur when pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on DCs are activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Amongst the Pathern Recognition Receptors (PRR), the transmembranic toll like receptors (TLR) and the cytosolic NOD like receptors (NLR)families are distinguished.Although well described in the literature the role of TLR in the control of Trypanosoma cruzi, there is missing data on the involvement of the NLR, especially the subfamily of inflammasomes. It is known that these receptors induce the secretion of IL-1b and IL-18 in addition to triggering cell death by pyroptosis through caspase-1 activation, mechanisms related to control of many pathogens. Thus, the main objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of inflammasomes in the maturation and activation of DCs and their role in the control of T. cruzi infection. (AU)