title: Characterization of the presence and distribution of Foxp3(+) cells in chagasic patients with and without megacolon.
abstract: Patients with Chagas's disease in the chronic phase regularly present with the chagasic megacolon. This form is characterized by inflammation, neuronal destruction, and organ dilatation. Chagasic patients with megacolon always present with inflammatory process near the enteric plexuses of the colon, as previously demonstrated. The aim of this study is to characterize the presence and distribution of Foxp3(+) cells in the muscle layers and neuronal plexuses area of the colon from chagasic patients with and without megacolon. Our results demonstrated that chagasic patients without megacolon presented with an increased concentration of Foxp3(+) cells in all colon layers compared with chagasic patients with megacolon and noninfected individuals. These cells were situated mainly near the blood vessels and rarely were associated with the inflammatory foci. We believe that the presence of Foxp3(+) cells may help to control the inflammatory process through the management of lymphocyte migration and, consequently, prevent neuronal destruction and chagasic megacolon development.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Institut Sciences, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Brazil. alec@icbim.ufu.br
authors.forename: Alexandre B M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.forename: Fernanda Fortes
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Michelle A Ribeiro
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Juliana Assis Silva
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Ana Thereza
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Enio C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Salustiano G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Alejandro O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Luquetti
authors.forename: Gilmar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: da Cunha Souza
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernardino Júnior
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: d'Avila Reis
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Correa-Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008531:Megacolon / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors