info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Anti-M2 muscarinic receptor autoantibodies in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected pediatric patients treated with benznidazole
Autor
Cutrullis, Romina
Ballering, Griselda
Altcheh, Jaime
Moscatelli, Guillermo Moscatelli
Corral, Ricardo Corral
Petray, Patricia Petray
Freilij, Héctor
Institución
Resumen
The presence of autoantibodies with adrenergic and cholinergic activity, capable of triggeringneurotransmitter receptor-mediated effects, has been associated to pathogenesis in T. cruzi-infectedhosts. We determined the presence of anti-M2 muscarinic receptor IgG autoantibodies in 14pediatric patients with Chagas disease and 18 non-infected infants. T. cruzi-infected children showeda higher frequency and a 6.2 ± 1.8-fold increase in the level of autoantibodies to cardiac receptorswhen compared to controls. Patients were monitored since the initiation of specific treatmentwith benznidazole (Bz). Along the follow-up, we verified a significant linear decreasing trendin autoantibody reactivity. Remarkably, when treated children became seronegative for T. cruzias direct consequence of parasiticidal chemotherapy, they displayed autoantibody titers similarto those detected in healthy subjects. We conclude that, in pediatric patients, the M2 muscarinicreceptor autoantibody response is elicited early in the course of T. cruzi infection and decreases afterspecific treatment, implying that specific Bz treatment eliminates the parasite and reduces potentiallypathogenic autoimmune responses.