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Wnt Signaling Plays a Key Role in the Regulation of the Immune Response and Cardiac Damage during Trypanosoma cruzi

Ximena Volpini1,2, Laura Fernanda Ambrosio1,2, María Agustina Brajín1,2

  • 1Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, X5000HUA Córdoba, Argentina.

ACS Infectious Diseases
|February 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Inhibiting Wnt signaling during acute Chagas disease infection prevents parasite replication and cardiac damage. This pathway is a potential therapeutic target for Chagas cardiomyopathy, offering hope for treating this serious heart condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Chagas cardiomyopathy results from impaired heart function due to parasite persistence, inflammation, and tissue remodeling.
  • Wnt signaling pathways are implicated in cardiac and vascular diseases.
  • Trypanosoma cruzi infection activates Wnt signaling, aiding parasite replication in macrophages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Wnt signaling inhibition in managing Trypanosoma cruzi infection and preventing Chagas cardiomyopathy.
  • To assess the impact of Wnt signaling inhibition on parasite replication, immune response, and cardiac pathology.

Main Methods:

  • Mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were treated with IWP-L6, a Wnt secretion inhibitor.
  • Evaluated parasite load, immune responses (Th2-type), and cardiac abnormalities during the acute and chronic phases of infection.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of Wnt signaling during acute infection controlled parasite replication.
  • Wnt inhibition suppressed the development of Th2-type immune responses associated with fibrosis.
  • Treatment prevented cardiac abnormalities characteristic of chronic Chagas disease.

Conclusions:

  • Wnt signaling pathway inhibition during the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection is effective in controlling parasite load and preventing cardiac damage.
  • Targeting the Wnt signaling pathway presents a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing Trypanosoma cruzi-induced cardiomyopathy.

Keywords:
Chagas diseaseTh1/Th2 balanceantibodycardiomyopathyregulatory T cells

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