CHRONIC CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY IS LINKED TO A DISRUPTED ACTIVATION OF THE HYPOTHALAMOUS-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS AND A DECREASED 11Β-HSD1 EXPRESSION IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS

PACINI ANTONELLA; VILLAR SILVINA; LEIVA RODOLFO; PÉREZ ANA ROSA; GONZÁLEZ FLORENCIA BELÉN

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Congreso; Reunión anual de sociedades de biociencias SAIC.SAI&FAIC.SAFIS; 2022

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is a disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc). We previously observed a disrupted activation of the hypothalamous-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The aim of this work was to evaluate possible difference in the immune-endocrine status between chronic chagasic patients with CCC (n=22), non-chagasic with cardiomyopathy (NCC, n=5) and healthy and seronegative individuals (Co, n=15).Systemic levels of Cortisol (GC) and DHEA-S concentration were determined in serum. The expression of genes involved in GC response as GC receptors (GRα functional receptor and GRβ inhibitor receptor) and 11β-HSD1 (which catalyzes the conversion of GC from inactive to active form) was assessed by qPCR. We also evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) the expression of genes regulated by GC and involved in the inflammatory response: IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α and tristetraprolin (TTP) by qPCR. As we previously shown, CCC individuals showed a disrupted activation of the HPA axis, characterized by decreased DHEA-S and GC levels together with an increased GC/DHEA-S ratio (p