title: L-arginine metabolism during interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi with host cells.
abstract: Trypanosoma cruzi invades a diversity of nucleated cells in the mammalian host. Macrophages are among the first cells to be parasitized and, after activation by inflammatory stimuli, they participate in the control of infection. However, some parasites manage to evade the immune response and establish a chronic infection in differentiated cells. L-arginine is located at the crossroads of divergent routes that produce metabolites, including nitric oxide and polyamines, which influence the outcome (i.e. resolution or progression) of infection. This article discusses the fate and actions of L-arginine-derived biomolecules formed both in the host and in the parasite during T. cruzi-host-cell interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Avda. General Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peluffo
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piacenza
authors.forename: Florencia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Irigoín
authors.forename: María Noel
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015317:Biogenic Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D015317:Biogenic Polyamines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine