title: Mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.
abstract: Vascular disorders have a direct link to mortality in the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. However, the underlying mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in this phase are largely unknown. We hypothesize that T. cruzi invades endothelial cells causing dysfunction in contractility and relaxation of the mouse aorta. Immunodetection of T. cruzi antigen TcRBP28 was observed in endothelial cells. There was a decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-derived NO-dependent vascular relaxation, and increased vascular contractility accompanied by augmented superoxide anions production. Endothelial removal, inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), blockade of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) TP receptors, and scavenger of superoxide normalized the contractile response. COX-2, thromboxane synthase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), p65 NFκB subunit and p22(phox) of NAD(P)H oxidase (NOX) subunit expressions were increased in vessels of chagasic animals. Serum TNF-α was augmented. Basal NO production, and nitrotyrosine residue expression were increased. It is concluded that T. cruzi invades mice aorta endothelial cells and increases TXA2/TP receptor/NOX-derived superoxide formation. Alongside, T. cruzi promotes systemic TNF-α increase, which stimulates iNOS expression in vessels and nitrosative stress. In light of the heart failure that develops in the chronic phase of the disease, to understand the mechanism involved in the increased contractility of the aorta is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josiane F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano S A
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Capettini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: José F P
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: René Rachou Institute, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Policarpo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sales-Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jader Santos
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Steyner F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil. Electronic address: vslemos@icb.ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Virginia S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lemos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D044244:Receptors, Thromboxane A2, Prostaglandin H2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D044244:Receptors, Thromboxane A2, Prostaglandin H2; C498144:Rela protein, mouse; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C496315:Nos3 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C515614:Cyba protein, mouse
keywords: NAD(P)H oxidase, iNOS; Thromboxane A(2) TP receptor; Trypanosoma cruzi; Vascular dysfunction