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Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Induces Myocardial Nitric Oxide Synthase

H Huang Md1, J Chan Md2, M Wittner Md PhD1

  • 1Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York USA.

Cardiovascular Pathology : the Official Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology
|April 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Chagas

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a significant cause of myocarditis and cardiomyopathy.
  • Myocardial dysfunction, including heart failure and arrhythmias, is linked to both acute and chronic infection.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in myocardial dysfunction in various heart diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease-related heart conditions.
  • To examine the expression of iNOS and related cytokines in the myocardium during Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Northern blot to detect iNOS, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA.
  • Employed Western blot to assess iNOS protein expression in mouse myocardium.
  • Performed immunocytochemical staining to localize iNOS expression.
  • Quantified myocardial L-citrulline content as an indicator of NO production.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significant iNOS mRNA and protein expression in the myocardium of mice infected with T. cruzi.
  • Confirmed in vivo nitric oxide production through increased myocardial L-citrulline levels.
  • Observed induction of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA during the infection.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a critical role for the myocardial cytokine-inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway in the development of Chagasic heart disease.
  • This pathway represents a potential therapeutic target for pharmacological interventions against Chagas' disease complications.

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