NADPH oxidase inhibition ameliorates Trypanosoma cruzi-induced myocarditis during Chagas disease

Monisha Dhiman, Nisha Jain Garg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease, invades nucleated mammalian cells including macrophages. In this study, we investigated the crosstalk between T. cruzi-induced immune activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory responses, and their role in myocardial pathology. Splenocytes of infected mice (C3H/HeN) responded to Tc-antigenic stimulus by more than a two-fold increase in NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity, ROS generation, cytokine production (IFN-γ > IL-4 > TNFα > IL1-β≈ IL6), and predominant expansion of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Inhibition of NOX, but not of myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase, controlled the ROS (>98%) and cytokine (70-89%) release by Tc-stimulated splenocytes of infected mice. Treatment of infected mice with apocynin (NOX inhibitor) in drinking water resulted in a 50-90% decline in endogenous NOX/ROS and cytokine levels, and splenic phagocytes' proliferation. The splenic percentage of T cells was maintained, though more than a 40% decline in splenic index (spleen weight/body weight) indicated decreased T-cell proliferation in apocynin-treated/infected mice. The blood and tissue parasite burden were significantly increased in apocynin-treated/infected mice, yet acute myocarditis, ie inflammatory infiltrate consisting of macrophages, neutrophils, and CD8 + T cells, and tissue oxidative adducts (eg 8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine, and 4-hydroxynonenal) were diminished in apocynin-treated/ infected mice. Consequently, hypertrophy (increased cardiomyocytes' size and β-MHC, BNP, and ANP mRNA levels) and fibrosis (increased collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and lipid contents) of the heart during the chronic phase were controlled in apocynin-treated mice. We conclude that NOX/ROS is a critical regulator of the splenic response (phagocytes, T cells, and cytokines) to T. cruzi infection, and bystander effects of heart-infiltrating phagocytes and CD8 + T cells resulting in cardiac remodelling in chagasic mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)583-596
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Pathology
Volume225
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Chagas disease
  • NADPH oxidase
  • Trypanosoma cruzi
  • apocynin
  • inflammation
  • reactive oxygen species

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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