Interleukin-32γ in the Control of Acute Experimental Chagas Disease

Chagas disease (CD) is an important parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Interleukin-32 (IL-32) plays an important role in inflammation and in the development of Th1/Th17 acquired immune responses. We evaluated the influence of IL-32 gamma on the immune response profile, pathogenesis of myocarditis in acute experimental CD, and control of the disease. For this, C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and IL-32 gamma Tg mice were infected subcutaneously with 1,000 forms of Colombian strain of T. cruzi. In the histopathological analyzes, T. cruzi nests, myocarditis, and collagen were quantified in cardiac tissue. Cytokine productions (IL-32, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and IL-17) were measured in cardiac homogenate by ELISA. The IL-32 gamma Tg mice showed a better control of parasitemia and T. cruzi nests in the heart than WT mice. Infected-WT and -IL-32 gamma Tg mice showed similar levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-17, but IL-10 was significantly higher expressed in IL-32 gamma Tg than in WT mice. The cytokine profile found in IL-32 gamma Tg animals contributed to body weight maintenance, parasitemia control, and survival. Our results indicate that the presence of human IL-32 gamma in mice infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi is important for infection control during the acute phase of Chagas disease.

Automated summary

IL-32 gamma plays a crucial role in controlling acute phase Chagas disease by influencing immune response characteristics and myocarditis.