Effects of repetitive stress during the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on chronic Chagas' disease in rats

Autor(es)

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

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

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

^[2] Univ New Sch Med, Dept Mol Genet & Microbiol, Albuquerque, NM - USA

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS; v. 12, n. 2, p. 144-151, 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

The effect of repetitive stress during acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) on the chronic phase of ensuing Chagas' disease was the focus of this investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate in Wistar rats the influence of repetitive stress during the acute phase of infection (7 days) with the Y strain of T. cruzi on the chronic phase of the infection (at 180 days). Exposure to ether vapor for 1min twice a day was used as a stressor. Repetitive stress enhanced the number of circulating parasites and cardiac tissue disorganization, from a moderate to a severe diffuse mononuclear inflammatory process and the presence of amastigote burden in the cardiac fibers. Immunological parameters revealed that repetitive stress triggered a reduced concanavalin A induced splenocyte proliferation in vitro with major effects on the late chronic phase. Serum interleukin-12 concentration decreased in both stressed and infected rats in the early phase of infection although it was higher on 180 days post-infection. These results suggest that repetitive stress can markedly impair the host's immune system and enhance the pathological process during the chronic phase of Chagas' disease. (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