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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Protective actions of melatonin against heart damage during chronic Chagas disease

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Author(s):
Rodrigues Oliveira, Luiz Gustavo [1] ; Kuehn, Christian Collins [1] ; dos Santos, Carla Domingues [1] ; Miranda, Mariza Abreu [2] ; Bronzon da Costa, Cassia Mariana [1] ; Mendonca, Vagner Jose [3] ; do Prado Junior, Jose Clovis [1]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Parasitol Lab, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Dept Ciencias Farmaceut, Lab Prod Nat & Sintet, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, FCF UNESP, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Parasitol Lab, Araraquara, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: Acta Tropica; v. 128, n. 3, p. 652-658, DEC 2013.
Web of Science Citations: 16
Abstract

Chronic cardiomyopathy is the most important clinical form of Chagas disease, and it is characterised by myocarditis that is associated with fibrosis and organ dysfunction. Alternative treatment options are important tools to modulate host immune responses. The main goal of this work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory actions of melatonin during the chronic phase of Chagas disease. TNF-alpha, IL-10 and nitrite concentrations were evaluated as predictive factors of immune modulation. Creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac inflammatory foci and heart weight were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of the melatonin treatment. Male Wistar rats were infected with 1 x 10(5) blood trypomastigotes of the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi and kept untreated for 60 days to mimic chronic infection. After this period, the rats were orally treated with melatonin 50 mg/kg/day, and the experiments were performed 90, 120, and 180 days post-infection. Melatonin treatment significantly increased the concentration of IL-10 and reduced the concentrations of NO and TNF-alpha produced by cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, it led to decreased heart weight, serum CK-MB levels and inflammatory foci when compared to the untreated and infected control groups. We conclude that melatonin therapy is effective at protecting animals against the harmful cardiac inflammatory response that is characteristic of chronic T. cruzi infection. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 09/14070-5 - Potential therapeutic actions of the melatonin-meloxicam association on the chagasic myocardite in wistar rats infected with the y strain of T. cruzi.
Grantee:Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues Oliveira
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 10/02222-2 - Potential therapeutic actions of the melatonin-meloxicam association on the chagasic myocardite in wistar rats infected with the y strain of T. cruzi.
Grantee:José Clóvis do Prado Júnior
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants