Immunosenescence: impact against the experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

• Grant number: 14/00303-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: José Clóvis do Prado Júnior
• Grantee: Rafaela Pravato Colato
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Despite all the scientific advances in recent decades in order to unravel the host immune processes and the circumvention of the parasite, Chagas disease is still a major public health problem, affecting approximately 20 million people throughout Latin America. The corresponding Brazil for about 3,5 million patients with Chagas disease. Demographic projections estimate an increase in the proportion of elderly in Brazil, where the number of individuals over 60 years old may exceed 30 million. The immune activity, and most physiologic functions decline with age, and the theoretical explanation of the aging process. There are few studies on Chagas disease in the elderly and is most of the clinical aspects of the disease, therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of immunosenescence male Wistar rats experimentally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain, and thus, study the cellular and molecular alterations involved in the lifelong immunity and their reflections in the acute phase of Chagas disease mechanisms. Studies will be carried out in 9 and 16 after infection, using the parameter: parasite count; dose of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 IL-12, IL-17, IFN-³, TGF-², TNF-± and nitric oxide; participation of cell populations CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11a, CD25, CD27, CD28, CD80, CD45RA, CD86, CD161, FoxP3, RT1B, including macrophages, dendritic cells and Natural Killer cells (NK); proliferation and apoptosis of spleen cells and the production of corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

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)

COLATO, RAFAELA PRAVATO; BRAZAO, VANIA; DO VALE, GABRIEL TAVARES; SANTELLO, FABRICIA HELENA; SAMPAIO, PEDRO ALEXANDRE; TIRAPELLI, CARLOS RENATO; PEREIRA-DA-SILVA, GABRIELA; DO PRADO, JR., JOSE CLOVIS. Cytokine modulation, oxidative stress and thymic dysfunctions: Role of age-related changes in the experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection Check for updates Age-related thymic dysfunctions and Trypanosoma cruzi infection. CYTOKINE, v. 111, p. 88-96, NOV 2018. (14/00303-6, 15/09806-3)

COLATO, RAFAELA PRAVATO; BRAZAO, VANIA; SANTELLO, FABRICIA HELENA; ALONSO TOLDO, MIRIAM PAULA; DO VALE, GABRIEL TAVARES; TIRAPELLI, CARLOS RENATO; PEREIRA-DA-SILVA, GABRIELA; DO PRADO, JR., JOSE CLOVIS. Ageing is not associated with an altered immune response during Trypanosoma cruzi infection Ageing and Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Experimental Gerontology, v. 90, p. 43-51, APR 2017. (14/00303-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COLATO, Rafaela Pravato. Consequences of immunosenescence against the experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. 2018. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.