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Involvement of galectin-1 on acute experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection

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Author(s):
Thalita Bachelli Riul
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Ribeirão Preto.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Marcelo Dias Baruffi; Sérgio de Albuquerque; José Carlos Farias Alves Filho; Yara Maria Lucisano Valim
Advisor: Marcelo Dias Baruffi
Abstract

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a protein that recognizes ?-galactosides and participates in many biological processes, including the modulation of the immune response. Several reports in the literature show the potential therapeutic use of Gal-1 to autoimmune, inflammatory and infectious diseases. However, there are few reports on the involvement of Gal-1 on infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we evaluated the involvement of endogenous Gal-1 and Gal-1 administration of exogenous in the development of acute experimental infection by T. cruzi. Recombinant human Gal-1, C57BL/6 mice deficient for Gal-1 gene (Gal-1 KO, knockout) or for Toll like receptor 4 gene (TLR-4 KO, knock-out) or C57BL/6 wild type mice (WT), and macrophages from these animals were used in experiments in vivo and / or in vitro. The form of T. cruzi used in this work was trypomastigotes from Y strain. The analyzed parameters characterizing the process of infection were: i) parasitemia and survival of animals; ii) histopathology of cardiac tissue; iii) leucocyte immunophenotyping; iv) cytokine assay; v) determination of invasion and release rates of parasites from infected cells; vi) nitric oxide production by macrophages. The Gal-1 and / or antibodies anti- glycopeptides that mimics T. cruzi mucin bind to glycans on the surface of this parasite and prevent invasion of the parasite in fibroblasts and its capture by macrophages. Treatment of infected macrophages with Gal-1 promotes a lower release of parasites and increased production of nitric oxide (NO) by these phagocytes, and this production of NO is independent of TLR-4 signaling pathway. The Gal-1 KO mice and WT mice treated with exogenous Gal-1 had the lowest rates of parasitemia and the first group is more resistant to acute infection with T. cruzi. The absence of endogenous Gal-1 in infected animals caused various effects such as a reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate and the parasite load in the cardiac tissue, elevated serum levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL- 17A), a lower percentage of T CD4+ and increased T CD8+ the hearts of animals, increased influx of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity and heart tissue. Based on this set of results we suggest that the absence of endogenous Gal-1 or treatment of animals with exogenous Gal-1 promoted immunological profiles (innate and adaptive response) favoring the resolution of acute experimental T. cruzi infection. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/10470-6 - Evaluation of the involvement of endogenous and exogenous galectin-1 in the experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi
Grantee:Thalita Bachelli Riul
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate