The influence of T cell subsets on Trypanosoma cruzi multiplication in different organs

Several studies in mice have strengthened the active role played either by CD4+, CD8+ or both T cell subsets in conferring resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infection. To date, no studies reported the role played by T cell subsets on parasite multiplication in different organs. In the present work, mice were infected with CL strain of T. cruzi and T cell subset activities were blocked by i.p. injection of monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against CD4, or IAk, or CD8 molecules. The effect of these treatments was determined by counting the number of parasite nests in heart and liver sections 16 days after infection. Our results showed that mice treated with anti-CD4 or anti-IAk mAbs presented a significant increase in the parasite load in the hearts and in the livers. Conversely, the number of parasites in hearts of anti-CD8 treated mice did not increase significantly. This treatment, however, resulted in a 20-fold increase in the number of parasites found in the liver. Simultaneous depletion of both T cell subsets by treatment of mice with anti-CD4/CD8 mAbs had, in the heart, the same effect as the CD4 depletion. Interestingly, this treatment caused a dramatic increase (200-fold) in the T. cruzi parasitism of the liver. These results indicate that the activity of T cell subsets against T. cruzi varies according to the infected organ.