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Role of dystrophin in acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Lygia M Malvestio1, Mara R N Celes2, Cristiane Milanezi3

  • 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Microbes and Infection
|August 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Inflammation during Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes dystrophin loss in heart cells, leading to high mortality rates. This study links inflammation, dystrophin disruption, and cardiac dysfunction in acute Chagas disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Dystrophin reduction in cardiomyocytes is observed in Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection.
  • Mechanisms of dystrophin disruption during acute T. cruzi infection remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of inflammation in dystrophin disruption.
  • To correlate inflammation and dystrophin loss with mortality during acute T. cruzi infection.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo studies: T. cruzi-infected C57BL/6 mice assessed for inflammation, cardiac dystrophin, calpain-1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and sarcolemmal permeability at 14, 20, and 26 days post-infection.
  • In vitro studies: Neonatal murine cardiomyocytes incubated with serum from infected mice to analyze dystrophin, calpain-1, and NF-κB expression.

Main Results:

  • Dystrophin disruption peaked at 20 days post-infection, coinciding with peak mortality and inflammation.
  • Increased expression of calpain-1, TNF-α, and NF-κB, along with heightened sarcolemmal permeability, was observed.
  • In vitro studies confirmed the association between serum from infected mice and dystrophin disruption.

Conclusions:

  • Inflammation drives dystrophin disruption in the heart during acute T. cruzi infection.
  • Dystrophin loss correlates significantly with increased mortality.
  • Findings highlight inflammation and dystrophin loss as key factors in acute Chagas disease cardiac pathology.
Keywords:
Calpain-1CardiomyocytesChagas diseaseDystrophinInflammationTrypanosoma cruzi

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