title: Trypanosoma cruzi: the effects of zinc supplementation during experimental infection.
abstract: It is well recognized that zinc is an essential trace element, influencing growth and affecting the development and integrity of the immune system. The use of oligoelements as zinc can be considered a tool in modulating the effectiveness of the immune response. In this work zinc was daily and orally supplied in male Wistar rats infected with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitemia was evaluated and a significant reduction on blood parasites was observed. In order to check some immunological parameters peritoneal macrophages were counted revealing higher percentages for zinc supplied group. Consequently enhanced concentrations of IFN-gamma was found and for the first time NO was evaluated in T. cruzi infected animals under the influence of zinc therapy, revealing enhanced concentrations when compared to unsupplied counterparts. We conclude that zinc is able to up-regulate the host's immune response against parasite replication.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto-Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. vbrazao@fcfrp.usp.br
authors.forename: Vânia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brazão
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio Filipin
authors.forename: Leony Cristina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Miriam Paula Alonso
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Toldo
authors.forename: Luana Naiara
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: José Clóvis
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: do Prado
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015032:Zinc