Open AccessHumoral autoimmune response in Chagas' disease: Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal antigens as immunizing agents
Author(s) -
Levin M.J.,
Kaplan D.,
Ferrari I.,
Arteman P.,
Vazquez M.,
Panebra A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1993.tb00400.x
Subject(s) - trypanosoma cruzi , biology , chagas disease , antigen , immunology , serology , ribosomal protein , virology , ribosomal rna , autoimmunity , kinetoplastida , immune system , ribosome , parasite hosting , antibody , genetics , malaria , gene , protozoal disease , rna , world wide web , computer science
Molecular expression cloning techniques have revealed that patients with chronic Chagas' heart disease (cChHD) present a strong humoral response against the cloned C‐terminal portions of the four Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins TcP1, TcP2α (TcP2b), TcP2β (TcPJL5), and TcP0. This protein family presents several features that may be important in the immunopathology of Chagas disease. Their exposed location on the ribosome, and the amplification of their parasite‐specific, Ser free C‐terminal domain, generate a strong anti‐parasite P response that may induce anti‐P autoimmunity. Evidences indicate that the serological pattern of the anti‐P response from chagasic patients may be the consequence of a chronic immunization with T. cruzi ribosomal antigens.