title: β1-selective adrenoceptor antagonists increase plasma levels of anti-p2β antibodies and decrease cardiac involvement in chronic progressive Chagas heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies indicate that antibodies cross-reacting with cardiac β1 adrenergic receptors are likely to play a role in the development of chronic Chagas heart disease (CCHD). In parallel, clinical trials have shown that β1 antagonist drugs exert beneficial effects in the prognosis of patients with CCHD. In a group of patients with CCHD undergoing therapy with β1-blockers, we have now evaluated the levels of anti-p2β antibodies and the severity of CCHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study in Trypanosoma cruzi seropositive patients categorized according to a standard CCHD classification. All individuals were subjected to a complete clinical examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no association between CCHD stages, electrocardiographic conduction disturbances, and echocardiogram pathological signs with the levels of autoantibodies. However, when patients were analyzed according to selective cardio-β1-blocker therapy, those receiving treatment had higher levels of anti-p2β. Patients from CCHD stage III treated with combined therapy of cardio-β1-selective blockers, enalapril, and statins, presented decreased cardiac involvement and lower score of risk of mortality than individuals from the same group who were not treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that selective cardio-β1-blockers might modify the autoantibody anti-p2β levels, and that combined therapy in patients with stage III CCHD might be associated with lower cardiac involvement and risk score of mortality in patients with heart failure. Longitudinal studies will help to ascertain the proper role of β1-blockers in the immunopathological processes underlying chronic Chagas disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina; Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital J.B. Iturraspe, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: mvicco@santafe-conicet.gov.ar.
authors.forename: Miguel H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vicco
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nazarena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pujato
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bontempi
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital J.B. Iturraspe, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodeles
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marcipar
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: Oscar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Bottasso
mesh_terms: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002598:Chagas Cardiomyopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015415:Biomarkers