Monocytes subsets and cytokine levels in chronic Chagas disease

Abstract

Abstract Monocytes are classified according to CD14 and CD16 expression into classical, intermediate and non classical. Variations in monocytes subsets are involved in the pathogenesis of protozoan and helminthic infections. This study assessed the relationship of monocyte subsets percentages and the level of cytokines in blood from Colombian chagasic patients. Donors included asymptomatic or indeterminate (IND), symptomatic or chronic cardiac chagasic (CCC) and heart transplant (HTCC) patients; also, non-chagasic cardiopathy patients (NCC) and healthy individuals (HI) as controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. Fc receptors were blocked using anti-CD16/CD32 and human AB serum. Cells were labeled with antibodies for CD14, CD16 and HLA-DR, and acquired in a flow cytometer. Cytokines were measured in plasma with a Human M1/M2 Macrophage kit. Comparisons were done with Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn’s post hoc test and correlations were evaluated by Spearman’s coefficient. Percentages of CD14+ CD16+ and CD14+ HLA-DR+ monocytes were higher in patients with heart involvement (CCC, HTCCC, and NCC). Percentage of intermediate monocytes (inflammatory) increased in CCC patients and was positively correlated with IL-6 concentration and negatively correlated with IL-12p40 levels. IND donors had higher percentages of classical monocytes and an increased production of CCL17, and they positively correlate. The results suggest that variations in the monocyte subsets and cytokines levels might be associated with protection (classical monocytes and CCL17) or the development (intermediate monocytes and IL-6) of chagasic myocardiopathy