Trypanosoma cruzi modulates the profile of memory CD8+ T cells in chronic Chagas' disease patients.
We present a cross-sectional analysis of the maturation and migratory properties of the memory CD8(+) T cell compartment, in relation to the severity of heart disease in individuals with chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection removed from endemic areas for longer than 20 years. Subjects with none or mild heart involvement were more likely to mount T. cruzi-specific memory IFN-gamma responses than subjects with more advanced cardiac disease, and the T. cruzi-specific CD8(+) T cell population was enriched in early-differentiated (CD27(+)CD28(+)) cells in responding individuals. In contrast, the frequency of CD27(+)CD28(+)CD8(+) T cells in the total memory CD8(+) T cell population decreases, as disease becomes more severe, while the proportion of fully differentiated memory (CD27(-)CD28(-)) CD8(+) T cells increases. The analysis of CCR7 expression revealed a significant increase in total effector/memory CD8(+) T cells (CD45RA(-)CCR7(-)) in subjects with mild heart disease as compared with uninfected controls. Altogether, these results are consistent with the hypothesis of a gradual clonal exhaustion in the CD8(+) T cell population, perhaps as a result of continuous antigenic stimulation by persistent parasites.
Albareda
María Cecilia
MC
Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén/ANLIS/Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Laucella
Susana Adriana
SA
Alvarez
María Gabriela
MG
Armenti
Alejandro Hector
AH
Bertochi
Graciela
G
Tarleton
Rick L
RL
Postan
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan