This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kierszenbaum, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kierszenbaum, F.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 210-223, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Chagas' Disease and the Autoimmunity Hypothesis

Felipe Kierszenbaum*

Department of Microbiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

The notion that the pathology of Chagas' disease has an autoimmune component was initially based on the finding of circulating antibodies binding heart tissue antigens in patients and mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Later, T lymphocytes reactive with heart or nerve tissue antigens were found in chagasic mice and patients, extending the concept to include cell-mediated immunity. However, there is disagreement about whether the observed immunologic autoreactivities are triggered by T. cruzi epitopes and then affect host tissue antigens by virtue of molecular mimicry or are elicited by host antigens exposed to lymphocytes after tissue damage caused by the parasite. There is also disagreement about the relevance of immunologic autoreactivities to the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease because of the lack of reproducibility of some key reports supporting the autoimmunity hypothesis, conflicting data from independent laboratories, conclusions invalidated by advances in our understanding of the immunologic mechanisms underlying cell lysis, and, last but not least, a lack of direct, incontrovertible evidence that cross-reacting antibodies or autoreactive cells mediate the typical pathologic changes associated with human Chagas' disease. The data and views backing and questioning the autoimmunity hypothesis for Chagas' disease are summarized in this review.

* Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1101. Phone: (517) 355-6460. Fax: (517) 353-8957. E-mail: kierszen{at}pilot.msu.edu.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 210-223, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Grippo, V., Mahler, E., Elias, F. E., Cauerhff, A., Gomez, K. A., Tentori, M. C., Ruiz, A., Vigliano, C. A., Laguens, R. P., Berek, C., Levin, M. J. (2009). The Heavy Chain Variable Segment Gene Repertoire in Chronic Chagas' Heart Disease. J. Immunol. 183: 8015-8025 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hyland, K. V., Leon, J. S., Daniels, M. D., Giafis, N., Woods, L. M., Bahk, T. J., Wang, K., Engman, D. M. (2007). Modulation of Autoimmunity by Treatment of an Infectious Disease. Infect. Immun. 75: 3641-3650 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • FLORES-CHAVEZ, M., BOSSENO, M.-F., BASTRENTA, B., DALENZ, J.-L. A., HONTEBEYRIE, M., REVOLLO, S., BRENIERE, S. F. (2006). POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION DETECTION AND SEROLOGIC FOLLOW-UP AFTER TREATMENT WITH BENZNIDAZOLE IN BOLIVIAN CHILDREN INFECTED WITH A NATURAL MIXTURE OF TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI I AND II.. Am J Trop Med Hyg 75: 497-501 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Viotti, R., Vigliano, C., Lococo, B., Bertocchi, G., Petti, M., Alvarez, M. G., Postan, M., Armenti, A. (2006). Long-Term Cardiac Outcomes of Treating Chronic Chagas Disease with Benznidazole versus No Treatment: A Nonrandomized Trial. ANN INTERN MED 144: 724-734 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Garcia, S., Ramos, C. O., Senra, J. F. V., Vilas-Boas, F., Rodrigues, M. M., Campos-de-Carvalho, A. C., Ribeiro-dos-Santos, R., Soares, M. B. P. (2005). Treatment with Benznidazole during the Chronic Phase of Experimental Chagas' Disease Decreases Cardiac Alterations. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49: 1521-1528 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lieke, T., Graefe, S. E. B., Klauenberg, U., Fleischer, B., Jacobs, T. (2004). NK Cells Contribute to the Control of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection by Killing Free Parasites by Perforin-Independent Mechanisms. Infect. Immun. 72: 6817-6825 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Leon, J. S., Daniels, M. D., Toriello, K. M., Wang, K., Engman, D. M. (2004). A Cardiac Myosin-Specific Autoimmune Response Is Induced by Immunization with Trypanosoma cruzi Proteins. Infect. Immun. 72: 3410-3417 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • SCHIJMAN, A. G., VIGLIANO, C. A., VIOTTI, R. J, BURGOS, J. M., BRANDARIZ, S., LOCOCO, B. E., LEZE, M. I., ARMENTI, H. A., LEVIN, M. J. (2004). TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI DNA IN CARDIAC LESIONS OF ARGENTINEAN PATIENTS WITH END-STAGE CHRONIC CHAGAS HEART DISEASE. Am J Trop Med Hyg 70: 210-220 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dumonteil, E., Escobedo-Ortegon, J., Reyes-Rodriguez, N., Arjona-Torres, A., Ramirez-Sierra, M. J. (2004). Immunotherapy of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection with DNA Vaccines in Mice. Infect. Immun. 72: 46-53 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Leon, J. S., Wang, K., Engman, D. M. (2003). Myosin Autoimmunity Is Not Essential for Cardiac Inflammation in Acute Chagas' Disease. J. Immunol. 171: 4271-4277 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hernandez, C. C. Q., Barcellos, L. C., Gimenez, L. E. D., Cabarcas, R. A. B., Garcia, S., Pedrosa, R. C., Nascimento, J. H. M., Kurtenbach, E., Masuda, M. O., Campos de Carvalho, A. C. (2003). Human chagasic IgGs bind to cardiac muscarinic receptors and impair L-type Ca2+ currents. Cardiovasc Res 58: 55-65 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • ELIAS, F. E., VIGLIANO, C. A., LAGUENS, R. P., LEVIN, M. J., BEREK, C. (2003). ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENCE OF TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI IN THE HEART TISSUE OF THREE PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CHAGAS' HEART DISEASE. Am J Trop Med Hyg 68: 242-247 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Carmelo, E., Martinez, E., Gonzalez, A. C., Pinero, J. E., Patarroyo, M. E., del Castillo, A., Valladares, B. (2002). Antigenicity of Leishmania braziliensis Histone H1 during Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Localization of Antigenic Determinants. CVI 9: 808-811 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • LOPEZ BERGAMI, P., SCAGLIONE, J., LEVIN, M. J. (2001). Antibodies against the carboxyl-terminal end of the Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins are pathogenic. FASEB J. 15: 2602-2612 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Leon, J. S., Godsel, L. M., Wang, K., Engman, D. M. (2001). Cardiac Myosin Autoimmunity in Acute Chagas' Heart Disease. Infect. Immun. 69: 5643-5649 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Oliveira, E.C., Leite, M.S.B., Miranda, J.A.R., Andrade, A.L.S.S., Garcia, S.B., Luquetti, A.O., Moreira, H. (2001). Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection associated with low incidence of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in rats. Carcinogenesis 22: 737-740 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sepulveda, P., Liegeard, P., Wallukat, G., Levin, M. J., Hontebeyrie, M. (2000). Modulation of Cardiocyte Functional Activity by Antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi Ribosomal P2 Protein C Terminus. Infect. Immun. 68: 5114-5119 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2010 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»