Adipose tissue, diabetes and Chagas disease

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Immunology
• Parasitology

Background:

• Adipose tissue functions as a significant endocrine organ, regulating energy metabolism and immune responses.
• Adipocytes synthesize adipokines, such as adiponectin, crucial for insulin sensitivity and inflammation control.
• Trypanosoma cruzi infection impacts adipose tissue, initiating inflammation during acute and chronic phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of adipose tissue and adipocytes in Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
• To understand the inflammatory response within adipose tissue during infection.
• To determine if adipocytes serve as reservoirs for Trypanosoma cruzi.

Main Methods:

• Infection of mice with Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Monitoring of adipose tissue inflammation.
• Analysis of adipocytes as potential parasite reservoirs.

Main Results:

• Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to sustained inflammation in adipose tissue, from acute to chronic phases.
• Adipocytes are identified as both targets of infection and reservoirs for Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Parasite presence in adipocytes during the chronic phase suggests potential for infection recrudescence.

Conclusions:

• Adipose tissue plays a critical role in the inflammatory response to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
• Adipocytes serve as a reservoir for Trypanosoma cruzi, posing a risk for infection relapse under immunosuppression.
• Targeting adipose tissue may be a strategy for managing Chagas disease.