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Science Forum Index » Anthropology Forum » DHEA and Trypanosoma cruzi
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| Author |
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| James Michael Howard |
 Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:14 pm |
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Guest
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Vet Parasitol. 2008 Feb 6 [Epub ahead of print]
Dehydroepiandrosterone increases resistance to experimental infection by
Trypanosoma cruzi
Santos CD, Toldo MP, Santello FH, Filipin MD, Brazão V, do Prado Júnior JC.
Laboratório de Parasitologia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas,
Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de
Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP-USP), Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n,
14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) enhances immune responses against a wide
range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. In a previous study, we
reported that administration of DHEA significantly decreased the numbers of
blood parasites in Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infection. The present
study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of DHEA in reducing the
severity of acute phase T. cruzi infection of male and female Wistar rats.
Animals were treated subcutaneously with 40mg/kg body weight/day of DHEA.
The concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was determined in spleen peritoneal
cavity. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were
determined in the sera of uninfected and infected animals. DHEA treatment
augments NO production for both sexes after in vitro LPS treatment for
uninfected animals. Infection triggered enhanced NO levels although not
significant. IL-2 and IFN-gamma were detectable in higher concentrations in
treated and infected rats of both genders when compared to untreated
controls. These data suggest that DHEA may have a potent immunoregulatory
function that can affect the course of T. cruzi infection. |
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