Evaluation of antioxidant therapy in experimental Chagas disease.

Thais De Mello Tieghi,Elane De Fátima Taipeiro,Altino Luiz Silva Therezo,Fernando Frei,Luciamáre Perinetti Alves Martins,Lígia Cangussu Tomaz Garcia,Camilla Chimelo Manca,Roberto Esteves Pires Castanho

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0451-2016

Abstract

Stimulation of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines may cause oxidative stress in Chagas disease. In this study, we evaluated the merit of vitamins C and E as antioxidant therapy to minimize the oxidative stress-induced damage in an experimental model of Chagas disease. Ninety-six Swiss mice were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi QM2 and treated with vitamins C, E, or both (C/E) for 60 and 120 days, and their effects compared to placebo administration were evaluated in the acute and chronic disease phases. There was no difference in parasitemia among treatment groups. However, histological analysis showed more severe inflammation in the skeletal muscle in the vitamin supplementation groups at both the acute and chronic phases. Biochemical analyses during the acute phase showed increased ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the vitamin C and C/E groups. In the chronic phase, a decrease in GSH levels was observed in the vitamin E group and a decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was observed in the vitamin C/E group. Moreover, there was a decrease in TBARS in the cardiac tissues of the vitamin C and C/E groups compared to that of the placebo group, although this level was greater in the vitamin E group than in the vitamin C group. The antioxidant action of vitamins C and E reduced oxidative stress in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease, with a marked effect from joint administration, indicating their inherent synergism.

Highlights

Stimulation of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and chemokines may cause oxidative stress in Chagas disease
Ninety-six Swiss mice were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi QM2 and treated with vitamins C, E, or both (C/E) for 60 and 120 days, and their effects compared to placebo administration were evaluated in the acute and chronic disease phases
A decrease in GSH levels was observed in the vitamin E group and a decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was observed in the vitamin C/E group

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Chagas disease is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and is considered one of the most widely distributed diseases in the Americas. The oxidative stress in Chagas disease is considered a host defense mechanism against parasitemia in the acute phase of infection, studies have demonstrated that it contributes to the subsequent development of tissue injury[4,7]. In this context, there is some evidence to suggest that vitamin C and E antioxidant therapy could be beneficial in minimizing the oxidative stress that occurs over the course of Chagas disease[8]. Swiss mice were infected with the T. cruzi QM2 strain, which is known to display high parasitemia and virulence in this mouse line

METHODS

Evaluation of parasitemia

RESULTS

DISCUSSION