Pivotal role for TGF-beta in infectious heart disease: The case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and consequent Chagasic myocardiopathy

Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2008 Oct-Dec;19(5-6):405-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2008.08.002. Epub 2008 Oct 19.

Abstract

This paper summarizes recent data from the literature suggesting that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) participates at least in four different processes influencing development of myocardiopathy in Chagas disease, a major parasitic illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection: (a) invasion of cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes; (b) intracellular parasite cycle; (c) regulation of inflammation and immune response; (d) fibrosis and heart remodeling during acute and chronic disease. All these effects point to an important role of TGF-beta in Chagas disease myocardiopathy and suggest that monitoring the circulating levels of this cytokine could be of help in clinical prognosis and management of patients. Moreover, TGF-beta-interfering therapies appear as interesting adjuvant interventions during acute and chronic phases of T. cruzi infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / etiology*
  • Chagas Cardiomyopathy / immunology
  • Chagas Disease / immunology*
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology
  • Humans
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / physiology*

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta