Chronic Trypanosoma Cruzi -Elicited Cardiomyopathy: From the Discovery to the Proposal of Rational Therapeutic Interventions Targeting Cell Adhesion Molecules and Chemokine Receptors - How to Make a Dream Come True

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 104; no. suppl 1; pp. 226 - 235
• Main Authors: Lannes-Vieira, Joseli, Silverio, Jaline Coutinho, Pereira, Isabela Resende, Vinagre, Nathália Ferreira, Carvalho, Cristiano Marcelo Espinola, Paiva, Cláudia Neto, da Silva, Andréa Alice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01-07-2009; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Animals; cardiomyopathy; CD4-CD8 Ratio; cell adhesion molecules; Cell Adhesion Molecules - immunology; Cell Movement; Chagas Cardiomyopathy - immunology; Chagas Cardiomyopathy - therapy; Chagas disease; Chagas disease - Trypanosoma cruzi - cardiomyopathy - chemokine - chemokine receptors - cell adhesion molecules; chemokine; chemokine receptors; Chronic Disease; Myocarditis - immunology; Myocarditis - parasitology; PARASITOLOGY; Receptors, Chemokine - immunology; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Trypanosoma; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - immunology; Trypanosoma cruzi - pathogenicity; Chagas disease; chemokine; chemokine receptors; cell adhesion molecules; cardiomyopathy; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762009000900029

One hundred years ago, Carlos Chagas discovered a new disease, the
American trypanosomiasis. Chagas and co-workers later characterised the
disease's common manifestation, chronic cardiomyopathy, and
suggested that parasitic persistence coupled with inflammation was the
key underlying pathogenic mechanism. Better comprehension of the
molecular mechanisms leading to clinical heart afflictions is a
prerequisite to developing new therapies that ameliorate inflammation
and improve heart function without hampering parasite control. Here, we
review recent data showing that distinct cell adhesion molecules,
chemokines and chemokine receptors participate in anti- parasite
immunity and/or detrimental leukocyte trafficking to the heart.
Moreover, we offer evidence that CC-chemokine receptors may be
attractive therapeutic targets aiming to regain homeostatic balance in
parasite/host interaction thereby improving prognosis, supporting that
it is becoming a non-phantasious proposal.