Genetic susceptibility to Chagas disease: an overview about the infection and about the association between disease and the immune response genes.
Chagas disease, which is caused by the flagellate parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 8-10 million people in Latin America. The disease is endemic and is characterised by acute and chronic phases that develop in the indeterminate, cardiac, and/or gastrointestinal forms. The immune response during human T. cruzi infection is not completely understood, despite its role in driving the development of distinct clinical manifestations of chronic infection. Polymorphisms in genes involved in the innate and specific immune response are being widely studied in order to clarify their possible role in the occurrence or severity of disease. Here we review the role of classic and nonclassic MHC, KIR, and cytokine host genetic factors on the infection by T. cruzi and the clinical course of Chagas disease.
Program of Biosciences Applied to Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Maringa State University, Avenida Colombo 5790, 87020900 Maringa, PR, Brazil.
Christiane Maria
CM
Ayo
Márcia Machado de Oliveira
MM
Dalalio
Jeane Eliete Laguila
JE
Visentainer
Pâmela Guimarães
PG
Reis
Emília Ângela
EÂ
Sippert
Luciana Ribeiro
LR
Jarduli
Hugo Vicentin
HV
Alves
Ana Maria
AM
Sell
D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic