Research for mutations in the Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene using the technique restriction fragment lenght polymorphism in patients with chronic chagas disease

• Grant number: 13/14166-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology
• Principal Investigator: Luciamare Perinetti Alves Martins
• Grantee: André Cardoso Campello
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chagas disease was first described in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. It is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, an obligate pleomorphic protozoan parasitic with vertebrate and invertebrate life cycles and transmitted mainly by blood-sucking triatomine in rural areas. Chagas disease is of major importance due to the number of carriers, the extent of its transmission geographic area, and the profile of infected people. It is clinically divided into acute and chronic phases. The latter is mainly characterized by esophagus and colon lesions along with myenteric plexus destruction and formation of megacolon, megaesophagus, and by heart lesions which lead to fibrosis and cardiomegaly. Acetylcholine action is observed through disease evolution, which acts in the inflammatory reflection reducing the release of cytokine and thus, the injury caused by inflammation. Researches, therefore, demonstrated that Chagas disease increases acetylcholinesterase, which is the enzyme that metabolizes acetylcholine. In humans, AChE is located at chromosome 7q22 and has three known shapes, being that Tailor Synaptic prevail. Among other polymorphisms of AChE, H353N creates the Ytb phenotype, which maintains the enzyme's catalytic activity and reduces its lifespan by 30% if compared to the Wild Type. In this paper, we intend to research the mutation of the Acetylcholinesterase's H353N and its correlation with the clinical development of chronic Chagas patients. (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)

CAMPELLO, A. C.; ZANELLA, L. G. F. A. B. D. E.; SUZUKI, R. B.; TOKUMO, M. O.; CHAGAS, E. F. B.; BALEOTTI, W.; SPERANCA, M. A.; MARTINS, L. P. A.. Correlation of plasma butyrylcholinesterase concentration with Acethylcholinesterase H353N polymorphism in the inflammatory response of Chagas disease patients. Parasitology International, v. 76, JUN 2020. (11/23378-3, 13/14166-8, 16/14514-4)