Experimental chemotherapy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection: essential role of endogenous interferon-gamma in mediating parasitologic cure.

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Citation

Romanha AJ, Alves RO, Murta SM, Silva JS, Ropert C, Gazzinelli RT

Experimental chemotherapy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection: essential role of endogenous interferon-gamma in mediating parasitologic cure.

J Infect Dis. 2002 Sep 15;186(6):823-8. Epub 2002 Aug 16.

PubMed ID
12198617 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Studies in humans and in experimental models suggest the involvement of the immune system for efficacy of drug treatment against protozoan parasites. This study tested this hypothesis by using various cytokine and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout (KO) mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and treated with benznidazole. In contrast with the 100% parasitologic cure rate achieved in wild-type animals, benznidazole failed to cure 100%, 42%, 35%, and 28% of interferon-gamma, interleukin-12 (protein 40), protein 55-tumor necrosis factor receptor, and iNOS KO mice, respectively. These results suggest that activation of the immune system by the parasite and endogenous interferon-gamma play a major role in the efficacy of benznidazole against infection with T. cruzi.

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