Trypanosoma cruzi: the expansion of NK, T, and NKT cells in the experimental infection.
T and NK cells play a key role in resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infections, mainly through IFN-gamma production. The expression of T and NK cells surface markers was studied in NWNA spleen cells of resistant C3H and susceptible BALB/c mice that release IFN-gamma in the early and late acute infection, respectively. In the progressively enlarged spleens, we found: (a) an increased percentage and number of NK blast cells as early as at 2 days post-infection (pi), (b) an enrichment of T and NK cells, in both the total and blast populations, during the late acute phase. At 17 days pi, there was also an accumulation of TCR- alphabeta+DX5+, NKT cells, mainly in resistant mice. At 21 days pi, the enrichment of NK cells ceased, while spleen cells and the T cell compartment continued their expansion. In the chronic stage, TCR-alphabeta+ blasts were expanded in both mouse strains, but NK blasts increased only in BALB/c that, unlike C3H mice, release IFN-gamma. As T and NK cell proliferation is not always associated to IFN-gamma release the experimental downregulation of their expansion to avoid tissue damage could be explored.
Antúnez
María Inés
MI
Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén," ANLIS "Dr. C.G. Malbrán," Av. Paseo Colón 568, 1063, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cardoni
Rita L
RL
D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma