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Elevated concentrations of CCL2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in chagasic cardiomyopathy

André Talvani1, Manoel O C Rocha, Lucíola S Barcelos

  • 1Departamento de Bioquimica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte Mg Brasil.

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|March 23, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and CCL2 levels in Chagas disease patients correlate with heart dysfunction. Measuring TNF-alpha may identify patients needing further treatment for heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic myocarditis is a key pathology in Chagas disease morbidity.
  • Cardiac dysfunction is a significant complication of chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with varying clinical forms of chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy.
  • To determine the correlation between these markers and the degree of cardiac dysfunction.
  • To assess the production of inflammatory markers by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma samples from patients with Chagas disease were analyzed for CCL2, CCL3, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and BNP.
  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated to assess cytokine production.
  • Statistical analysis correlated protein levels with clinical severity and heart function parameters.

Main Results:

  • Elevated plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha, CCL2, and BNP were observed in patients with more severe Chagas disease.
  • A strong correlation was found between these protein levels, particularly TNF-alpha, and the degree of heart dysfunction.
  • Patients with chagasic cardiomyopathy showed increased TNF-alpha and CCL2 production by PBMCs compared to healthy individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma TNF-alpha levels are excellent predictors of heart failure in Chagas disease patients.
  • Elevated TNF-alpha and CCL2 in plasma are linked to cardiac dysfunction severity.
  • Spontaneous TNF-alpha and CCL2 production by PBMCs reflects both cardiac dysfunction and cardiac inflammation in Chagas disease.
  • Measuring TNF-alpha could aid in identifying patients who may benefit from targeted interventions.

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