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Acta Parasitologica, Vol.47, No. 1, 2002, 73-78
Cervetta Liliana*, Moretti Edgardo, Basso Beatriz - Experimental Chagas' disease: The protection induced by immunization with Trypanosoma rangeli is associated with down-regulation of IL-6, TNF-a and IL-10 synthesis.

Servicio Nacional de Chagas & Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
* Corresponding author
ABSTRACT

In an experimental model developed in our laboratory, BALB/c mice were protected against Trypanosoma cruzi infection by immunization with T. rangeli, a parasite closely related to T. cruzi but not pathogenic for man. Immunized mice developed low parasitemia and high survival rates when challenged with T.  cruzi. In the present work, we study the patterns of systemic production of interleukin (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-a), interferon gamma (IFN-g), IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 during the acute phase of T.  cruzi infection in mice previously immunized with T.  rangeli with respect to only infected mice. The results showed a concentration of IL-6, TNF-a and IL-10 significantly lower in immunized mice than in only infected ones. The production of IFN-g, a cytokine involved in resistance, was preserved in vaccinated mice. Finally, both groups of animals showed IL-2 and IL-4 serum levels similar to those observed in uninfected mice. As in other experimental or human infections, in this model, the pattern of systemic production of cytokines can be associated with the outcome of infection.


KEY WORDS: Chagas' disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, T. rangeli, cytokines, immunization
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