Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs

The comprehension of the immune responses in infectious diseases is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we review current findings on the dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulations following experimental acute infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. I...

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Main Authors: Alexandre Morrot, Juliana Barreto de Albuquerque, Luiz Ricardo Berbert, Carla Eponina de Carvalho Pinto, Juliana de Meis, Wilson Savino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/747185
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author Alexandre Morrot
Juliana Barreto de Albuquerque
Luiz Ricardo Berbert
Carla Eponina de Carvalho Pinto
Juliana de Meis
Wilson Savino
author_facet Alexandre Morrot
Juliana Barreto de Albuquerque
Luiz Ricardo Berbert
Carla Eponina de Carvalho Pinto
Juliana de Meis
Wilson Savino
author_sort Alexandre Morrot
collection DOAJ
description The comprehension of the immune responses in infectious diseases is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we review current findings on the dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulations following experimental acute infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In the thymus, although the negative selection process of the T-cell repertoire remains operational, there is a massive thymocyte depletion and abnormal release of immature CD4+CD8+ cells to peripheral lymphoid organs, where they acquire an activated phenotype similar to activated effector or memory T cells. These cells apparently bypassed the negative selection process, and some of them are potentially autoimmune. In infected animals, an atrophy of mesenteric lymph nodes is also observed, in contrast with the lymphocyte expansion in spleen and subcutaneous lymph nodes, illustrating a complex and organ specific dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulations. Accordingly, T- and B-cell activation is seen in subcutaneous lymph nodes and spleen, but not in mesenteric lymph nodes. Lastly, although the function of peripheral CD4+CD8+ T-cell population remains to be defined in vivo, their presence may contribute to the immunopathological events found in both murine and human Chagas disease.
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series Journal of Tropical Medicine
spelling doaj-art-5aa01670a7bc4dd28c6020a60dee2b1e2025-08-20T02:05:29ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96861687-96942012-01-01201210.1155/2012/747185747185Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid OrgansAlexandre Morrot0Juliana Barreto de Albuquerque1Luiz Ricardo Berbert2Carla Eponina de Carvalho Pinto3Juliana de Meis4Wilson Savino5Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilThe comprehension of the immune responses in infectious diseases is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we review current findings on the dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulations following experimental acute infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In the thymus, although the negative selection process of the T-cell repertoire remains operational, there is a massive thymocyte depletion and abnormal release of immature CD4+CD8+ cells to peripheral lymphoid organs, where they acquire an activated phenotype similar to activated effector or memory T cells. These cells apparently bypassed the negative selection process, and some of them are potentially autoimmune. In infected animals, an atrophy of mesenteric lymph nodes is also observed, in contrast with the lymphocyte expansion in spleen and subcutaneous lymph nodes, illustrating a complex and organ specific dynamics of lymphocyte subpopulations. Accordingly, T- and B-cell activation is seen in subcutaneous lymph nodes and spleen, but not in mesenteric lymph nodes. Lastly, although the function of peripheral CD4+CD8+ T-cell population remains to be defined in vivo, their presence may contribute to the immunopathological events found in both murine and human Chagas disease.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/747185
spellingShingle Alexandre Morrot
Juliana Barreto de Albuquerque
Luiz Ricardo Berbert
Carla Eponina de Carvalho Pinto
Juliana de Meis
Wilson Savino
Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
title_full Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
title_fullStr Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
title_full_unstemmed Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
title_short Dynamics of Lymphocyte Populations during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: From Thymocyte Depletion to Differential Cell Expansion/Contraction in Peripheral Lymphoid Organs
title_sort dynamics of lymphocyte populations during trypanosoma cruzi infection from thymocyte depletion to differential cell expansion contraction in peripheral lymphoid organs
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/747185
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