Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
13:55

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Published on: January 27, 2019

15.5K

Signaling pathways that regulate Trypanosoma cruzi infection and immune response

Fabio Marcelo Cerbán1, Cinthia Carolina Stempin1, Ximena Volpini2

  • 1Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología (CIBICI), Córdoba, Argentina.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Basis of Disease
|February 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Toxoplasma cruzi manipulates host immune cells by altering innate receptors and amino acid metabolism. Understanding these pathways is key to controlling Chagas disease and its symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, presents complex immunopathology.
  • Understanding host-parasite interactions is vital for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in T. cruzi's modulation of host innate immunity.
  • To explore parasite evasion strategies within macrophages.

Main Methods:

  • Focus on Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs), particularly NLRP3.
  • Discussion of L-arginine and tryptophan metabolism via iNOS, arginase, and IDO.
  • Analysis of T. cruzi exploitation of AhR, mTOR, and Wnt signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • T. cruzi modulates innate receptors like TLRs and NLRs (NLRP3) in immune cells.
  • Macrophage activation is influenced by amino acid metabolism (L-arginine, tryptophan) and associated enzymes (iNOS, arginase, IDO).
  • Parasite utilizes host signaling pathways (AhR, mTOR, Wnt) for intracellular replication and immune evasion.

Conclusions:

  • T. cruzi actively manipulates host immune pathways for its survival and persistence.
  • Targeting these modulated pathways offers potential therapeutic strategies for Chagas disease.
Keywords:
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO)InflammasomesL-arginine metabolismToll like receptors (TLRs)Wnt signaling pathwaysmTOR

More Related Videos

Establishment of Larval Zebrafish as an Animal Model to Investigate Trypanosoma cruzi Motility In Vivo13:21

Establishment of Larval Zebrafish as an Animal Model to Investigate Trypanosoma cruzi Motility In Vivo

Published on: September 30, 2017

11.1K
Quantitative 3D Imaging of Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Cells, Dormant Amastigotes, and T Cells in Intact Clarified Organs08:17

Quantitative 3D Imaging of Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Cells, Dormant Amastigotes, and T Cells in Intact Clarified Organs

Published on: June 23, 2022

3.6K

Related Concept Videos

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
7.1K
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
9.7K
Inflammatory Response01:28

Inflammatory Response

An inflammatory response is a localized, nonspecific immune reaction that occurs when a tissue is injured. It is characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are commonly called the cardinal signs and symptoms of inflammation. Inflammation can sometimes result in a loss of function.
Inflammation can be triggered by various stimuli, such as impact, abrasion, chemical irritation, infections, and extreme hot or cold temperatures. These can damage cells and connective tissue fibers,...
15.7K
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
2.0K