Abstract
The study of biotherapies as an intervention in experimental models of infection is a possible means to understand the effects of these highly diluted medications. The present study evaluated the immunological and parasitological effects of biotherapies that were prepared from mouse serum that was uninfected (sarcode: BSNI13cH group) and chronically infected with the Y strain of T. cruzi (nosode: BSI13cH group), dynamization 13cH, in male Swiss mice at 28 days of age. On days 0 and 12 after infection (a.i.), the BSNI13cH group exhibited a pronounced Th1 response that was attributable to a reduction of interleukin-4 (IL-4) concentrations, with no significant differences in interferon-I³ (IFN-I³) concentrations and a decrease in IL-17A concentrations on day 0 a.i. compared with the control and BSI13cH groups. However, this cytokine balance was not sufficient to alter blood parasitemia in treated animals, likely because of a decrease in IFN-I³ concentrations on day 8 a.i., thus hindering a more effective Th1 response. In contrast, the BSI13cH group presented a pronounced Th2 response that was attributable to an increase in IL-4 concentrations (on days 0 and 8 a.i.) and a decrease in IFN-I³ concentration (on day 12 a.i.) compared with the control and BSNI13cH groups. This cytokine balance suppressed the immune response to T. cruzi in murine infection, resulting in a significant increase in blood parasitemia, decrease in the patent period and subsequently a decrease in survival time. The results indicate that these highly diluted medications differentially modulate the immune system and represent a substantial contribution to the field of homeopathic medicine, providing evidence of the action of these medications.
Highlights
Chagas disease was first described in 1909 by Carlos Chagas
The use of biotherapy that was prepared from mouse serum that was uninfected with T. cruzi 13cH (BSNI13cH group) produced an immunomodulatory action that involved a significant decrease in IFN-γ concentrations on day 8 a.i, IL-4 concentrations on days 0, 8 and 12 a.i. and IL-17A concentrations on day 0 compared with the control and BSI13cH groups
The biotherapy that was prepared from mouse serum that was uninfected with T. cruzi 13cH caused a pronounced Th1 response on days 0 and 12 a.i. that was attributable to a reduction of IL-4 concentrations, with no significant differences in IFN-γ concentrations and a decrease in IL17A concentrations on day 0 a.i. compared with the control and BSI13cH groups
Summary
Chagas disease was first described in 1909 by Carlos Chagas. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and affects 7-8 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America (WHO, 2005). No totally effective drugs have been developed to date for the etiological treatment of this disease (Coura and Dias, 2009; Guedes et al, 2011). The pathogenesis of Chagas disease is a consequence of the complex relationship between the parasite and immune-mediated mechanisms that is established during the acute phase of the infection (Dutra et al, 2014) and defined by susceptibility of the host species (Araújo-Jorge and Castro, 2000). Many studies have demonstrated the biological effects of highly diluted medications on parasitic infections (Aleixo et al, 2014). Many studies have demonstrated the biological effects of highly diluted medications on parasitic infections (Aleixo et al, 2014). Bellavite et al (2007) suggested that these medications can regulate inflammatory and immunopathological processes, the neuroendocrine network and peripheral receptors
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