title: Exacerbated skeletal muscle inflammation and calcification in the acute phase of infection by Mexican Trypanosoma cruzi DTUI strain.
abstract: A murine model was used to study the histopathological aspects and cytokine expression levels in skeletal muscle provoked by the infection with Mexican TcI strains. BALB/c mice were inoculated with the virulent Querétaro strain and the nonvirulent Ninoa strain. Parasite numbers were counted in blood and skeletal muscle at different times post-infection, and real time-PCR expression levels of the cytokines IL-12, IL-4, IL-10, IFN- γ , and TNF- α were evaluated. In the acute phase of infection, a high parasitic load, both in blood and skeletal muscle, was detected. The histopathological analyses showed an exacerbated inflammation and granulomatous-like infiltrate with the Querétaro strain. Interestingly, extensive calcification areas were observed in the skeletal muscle surrounded by inflammatory infiltrates. TNF- α and IL-10 expression exhibited a significant increase at the peak of infection. In summary, Querétaro strain, a Mexican TcI strain, is virulent enough to induce high inflammation and calcification in skeletal muscle of the hind limbs, which could be related to high expression levels of TNF- α .
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vizcaíno-Castillo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Marín
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Bertha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis; D005121:Extremities; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4