Administration of artinm lectin reduces the severity of the acute phase infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Author(s)

Miguel, Camila Botelho ^[1] ; da Silva, Thiago Aparecido ^[2] ; Rodrigues, Wellington Francisco ^[1] ; Martins Oliveira-Brito, Patricia Kellen ^[2] ; Roque-Barreira, Maria Cristina ^[2] ; Lazo-Chica, Javier Emilio ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Triangulo Mineiro, Postgrad Course Hlth Sci, Av Tutunas 490, BR-38025189 Uberaba, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Cellular & Mol Biol & Pathogen Bioagents, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Triangulo Mineiro, Discipline Cell Biol, Inst Biol & Nat Sci, Uheraba, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: FASEB BIOADVANCES; v. 3, n. 5, p. 295-304, MAY 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The acute phase of experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection is associated with a strong inflammatory reaction, physiological changes, amastigote nests in tissues, and hematological alterations. ArtinM, a lectin extracted from Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds, is a homotetramer exhibiting immunomodulatory properties that promotes Th1 immune responses against intracellular pathogens, including the induction of neutrophil migration and increase in IL-12 production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ArtinM on experimental Chagas disease in mice. We evaluated mouse survival curves, parasitemia, hematological parameters including quantification of inflammatory infiltrates, and amastigote nests in cardiac tissue during infection. The results showed a reduced number of parasites in the blood, an increase in animal survival, improvements in hematological parameters, and decrease in inflammatory infiltrates and amastigote nests in the group treated with ArtinM. Collectively, these data suggest that the administration of ArtinM can lower the number of parasites in peak parasitemia caused by the Colombian strain of T. cruzi and can increase survival of infected mice. The observed reduction in cardiac tissue injury may be due to fewer T. cruzi amastigote nests and lower levels of inflammatory infiltrates. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the use of ArtinM as a potential alternative therapeutic for treating Chagas disease. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/21708-5 - Application of immunomoduladors, by carbohydrate recognition, as therapeutic agents: mechanism of action to immunotherapy
• Grantee: Maria Cristina Roque Antunes Barreira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants