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Immunoregulatory actions of melatonin and zinc during chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection
Author(s) -
Brazão Vânia,
Santello Fabricia Helena,
Filipin Marina Del Vecchio,
Azevedo Angela Palamin,
Toldo Míriam Paula Alonso,
Morais Fabiana Rossetto,
Prado José Clóvis do
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/jpi.12207
Subject(s) - melatonin , immune system , cytokine , cd8 , immunology , biology , pathogenesis , trypanosoma cruzi , foxp3 , endocrinology , parasite hosting , world wide web , computer science
After one century of the discovery of Chagas' disease and the development of an efficient drug with amplitude of actions both in the acute and chronic phase is still a challenge. Alternative immune modulators have been exhaustively used. For that purpose, melatonin and zinc were administered during chronic Trypanosoma cruzi ‐infected Wistar rats and several endpoints were assessed. Melatonin has a remarkable functional versatility, being associated with important antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐apoptotic effects. The cross‐talk between zinc and the immune system includes its ability to influence the production and signaling of numerous inflammatory cytokines in a variety of cell types. Our study showed that zinc triggered a decrease in the generation of IFN ‐ γ for TCD 4 + cells. Reduced percentage of CD 4 + T cells producing TNF ‐ α was observed in control melatonin or zinc‐and‐melatonin‐treated animals as compared with untreated rats. On the other hand, a significant increase in the percentage of IL ‐4 from CD 4 + and CD 8 + T lymphocytes producers was observed 60 days after infection, for all zinc‐treated animals, whether infected or not. Melatonin and zinc therapies increased the percentages of CD 4 + and CD 8 + T lymphocytes IL ‐10 producers. CD 4 + CD 25 high Foxp3 + T cells were also elevated in zinc‐ and melatonin‐treated animals. The modulation of the immune system influenced by these molecules affected cytokine production and the inflammatory process during chronic T. cruzi infection. Elucidation of the interplay between cytokine balance and the pathogenesis of Chagas’ disease is extremely relevant not only for the comprehension of the immune mechanisms and clinical forms but, most importantly, also for the implementation of efficient and adequate therapies.