Humoral Immune Response against P2β from Trypanosoma cruzi in Persons with Chronic Chagas Disease: Its Relationship with Treatment Against Parasites and Myocardial Damage

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between potentially pathogenic antibodies against a Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal protein (P2β) and the evolution of Chagas disease and the effect of trypanocidal treatment on these variables. Seventy-eight patients with chronic Chagas disease who were followed-up for more than 20 years were divided into three groups: 30 asymptomatic persons undergoing specific treatment (group A), 37 asymptomatic persons not undergoing specific treatment (group B), and 11 patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) who were not treated. Five patients in group B showed evolution to myocardial abnormalities. Among persons with CCC, six showed no changes; the remaining persons showed progression of cardiac involvement. Levels of antibodies to P2β in persons in group A decreased from their initial values. This finding was not observed in persons in groups B and C. Comparisons at the end of the follow-up showed lower amounts of antibodies to P2β in groups A and C. These findings support the benefits of specific treatment during chronic infection.

A Parasite Biomarker Set for Evaluating Benznidazole Treatment Efficacy in Patients with Chronic Asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

“…Among these patients, 12 (54.5%), 11 (39.3%), and 5 (31.3%), met the STEC. The observed predictive value of the BMK set at an early time point is relevant, since other studies have shown complete or partial seroconversion after periods of time that were five times longer than those in the present study (19,34,40). Furthermore, as stated by the TPP, this set of four biomarkers meets the requirements to be considered an acceptable biomarker for evaluating potential therapeutic efficacy in chronic indeterminate Chagas disease patients.…”

Advances and challenges towards a vaccine against Chagas disease

“…Nonetheless, ongoing efforts for the identification of additional biomarkers are underway, including electrocardiographic, immunologic and biochemical markers, which may greatly improve and facilitate the monitoring of Chagas disease progression and thus vaccine evaluation. [86][87][88][89][90][91][92] As indicated above, a successful vaccine will need to induce a strong cellular immune response, with the activation of CD8 + cytotoxic T cells in order to effectively control T. cruzi parasites. This requirement places some constraints on the formulations and types of vaccines that may be used, since such a response is harder to induce than a humoral response.…”

Advances in Serological Diagnosis of Chagas' Disease by Using Recombinant Proteins

“…The same group has recently evaluated the levels of specific antibodies against the ribosomal protein TcP2β, as a cure marker. (Fabbro et al, 2011) Their results showed a significant decrease of specific anti-TcP2β in sera from treated patients, although no negative results occurred, which is a similar behavior than that displayed when performing conventional serology. Therefore, anti-TcP2β does not resemble to be an apparently good candidate to be used as an early marker of the infection cure.…”

“…(Breniere et al, 2002) In a longitudinal evaluation of asymptomatic and cardiac groups of patients, we described that only the individuals who evolved to a more severe clinical status increased specific anti-TcP2 concentration in late stages of the infection. (Fabbro et al, 2011) However, the transversal comparison of the sera from patients with and without cardiopathy revealed that anti-TcP2 concentration between both groups was not significantly different. The discrepant results mentioned above show that it is not still clear if anti-TcP2 can be used as a serological marker of myocardic damage.…”