Corticosterone evaluation in Wistar rats infected with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi during the chronic phase

Autor(es)

Caetano, Leony Cristina ^[1] ; Brazao, Vania ^[1] ; Filipin, Marina Del Vecchio ^[1] ; Santello, Fabricia Helena ^[1] ; Alonso Toldo, Mirian Paula ^[1] ; Caldeira, Jerri C. ^[2] ; do Prado Junior, Jose Clovis ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Parasitol Lab, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ New Mexico, Dept Mol Genet & Microbiol, Sch Med, BR-8731 Albuquerque, NM - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Experimental Parasitology; v. 127, n. 1, p. 31-35, JAN 2011.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Understanding the mechanisms responsible for mediating the effects of stress on Trypanosoma cruzi infection is crucial for determining the full impact of stress on Chagas' disease and for devising effective interventions. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a steroid hormone synthesized from pregnenolone, is secreted by the adrenal cortex in response to stress. Although its physiologic role has not been fully defined, DHEA has been shown to modulate immune function. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of corticosterone and the ability of T. cruzi infection to modulate the expression of Th2 cytokines in Wistar rats with chronic Chagas' disease submitted to repetitive stress. The animals submitted to stress displayed enhanced levels of corticosterone as compared to control counterparts. Stress and infection triggered the most elevated concentrations of corticosterone. DHEA significantly reduced corticosterone levels for infected and stressed animals with DHEA. The infected animals displayed enhanced levels of IL-10 and IL-4 as compared to control ones. Stress combined with infection triggered the higher levels of IL-10 and IL-4. DHEA alone and combined with infection and stress significantly increased IL-10 and IL-4 levels. Then, this study might provide additional clues about factors that regulate some of the immunoregulatory aspects of T. cruzi infection and might offer new opportunities for therapeutic interventions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/02619-4 - Administração de dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) como mediador da resposta imune em ratos jovens e senis infectados com Trypanosoma cruzi submetidos ao estresse repetitivo
• Beneficiário: José Clóvis do Prado Júnior
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular