The role of Toll-like receptors and adaptive immunity in the development of protective or pathological immune response triggered by the Trypanosoma cruzy protozoan

ANDREA PELLEGRINI; GUIÑAZÚ NATALIA; GIORDANENGO LAURA; CANO ROXANA; GEA SUSANA

FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY

FUTURE MEDICINE LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2011 vol. 6 p. 1521 - 1533

1746-0913

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, is an intracellular protozoan parasite that predominantly invades macrophages and cardiomyocytes, leading to persistent infection. Several members of the Toll-like receptors family are crucial for innate immunity to infection and are involved in maintaining tissue homeostasis. This review focuses in recent experimental findings of the innate and adaptive immune response in controlling tha parasito and/or generating heart and liver tissue injury. We also describe the importance of the host genetic background in the outcome of the disease and emphazise the importance of studying the response to specific parasite antigens. Understanding the dual participation of the immune response may contribute to the design of new therapies for Chagas disease.