title: Neuroimmunopathology of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced megaoesophagus: Is there a role for mast cell proteases?
abstract: Tryptase and chymase are mast cell (MC)-specific proteases, which influence in the activation of inflammatory cells. In this study, we quantified tryptase- or chymase-expressing MCs in the oesophaguses of Chagas patients, and searched for a correlation between those data with area of nerve fibres that expressed either PGP9.5 (pan-marker) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which is a neuromediator that has anti-inflammatory activity. Samples from the oesophaguses of 14 individuals Trypanosoma cruzi-infected and from six uninfected individuals were analysed by immunohistochemistry. It was demonstrated that the number of tryptase-IR MCs in infected individuals increased when compared with controls, regardless of whether the individuals had megaoesophagus, whereas the number of chymase-IR MCs increased only in infected individuals without megaoesophagus. Negative correlations were observed between tryptase-IR MCs and the density of nerve fibres that expressed VIP or PGP 9.5-IR. The participation of chymase and tryptase in this type of immunopathology is discussed.
authors: Department of Morphology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brazil.
authors: Patrícia Rocha
authors: PR
authors: Martins
authors: Department of Morphology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brazil.
authors: Rodolfo Duarte
authors: RD
authors: Nascimento
authors: Department of Morphology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brazil.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: de Souza Lisboa
authors: Department of Morphology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brazil.
authors: Patrícia Massara
authors: PM
authors: Martinelli
authors: Department of Morphology, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Brazil. Electronic address: debsdavila@gmail.com.
authors: Débora
authors: D
authors: d'Ávila Reis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D010447:Peptide Hydrolases