Neuroimmunopathology of Trypanosoma cruzi-induced megaoesophagus: Is there a role for mast cell proteases?

作者：Martins Patricia Rocha; Nascimento Rodolfo Duarte; Li**oa Andre de Souza; Martinelli Patricia Massara; Reis Debora d' Avila^*

来源：Human Immunology, 2014, 75(4): 302-305.

DOI：10.1016/j.humimm.2014.02.003

Tryptase and chymase are mast cell (MC)-specific proteases, which influence in the activation of inflammatory cells. In this study, we quantified tryptase- or chymase-expressing MCs in the oesophaguses of Chagas patients, and searched for a correlation between those data with area of nerve fibres that expressed either PGP9.5 (pan-marker) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which is a neuromediator that has anti-inflammatory activity. Samples from the oesophaguses of 14 individuals Trypanosoma cruzi-infected and from six uninfected individuals were analysed by immunohistochemistry. It was demonstrated that the number of tryptase-IR MCs in infected individuals increased when compared with controls, regardless of whether the individuals had megaoesophagus, whereas the number of chymase-IR MCs increased only in infected individuals without megaoesophagus. Negative correlations were observed between tryptase-IR MCs and the density of nerve fibres that expressed VIP or PGP 9.5-IR. The participation of chymase and tryptase in this type of immunopathology is discussed.

• 出版日期2014-4