Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease that affects approximately 6 million individuals worldwide. Of those infected, 20–30% will go on to develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), and many ultimately to advanced heart fail...

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Main Authors: Carolina Duque, Jaime So, Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen, Kelly DeToy, Sneider A. Gutierrez Guarnizo, Fatemeh Jahanbakhsh, Edith Malaga Machaca, Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger, Indira Chakravarti, Virginia Cooper, Mary E. Schmidt, Luigi Adamo, Rachel Marcus, Kawsar R. Talaat, Robert H. Gilman, Monica R. Mugnier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Americas
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001000
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author Carolina Duque
Jaime So
Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen
Kelly DeToy
Sneider A. Gutierrez Guarnizo
Fatemeh Jahanbakhsh
Edith Malaga Machaca
Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger
Indira Chakravarti
Virginia Cooper
Mary E. Schmidt
Luigi Adamo
Rachel Marcus
Kawsar R. Talaat
Robert H. Gilman
Monica R. Mugnier
author_facet Carolina Duque
Jaime So
Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen
Kelly DeToy
Sneider A. Gutierrez Guarnizo
Fatemeh Jahanbakhsh
Edith Malaga Machaca
Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger
Indira Chakravarti
Virginia Cooper
Mary E. Schmidt
Luigi Adamo
Rachel Marcus
Kawsar R. Talaat
Robert H. Gilman
Monica R. Mugnier
author_sort Carolina Duque
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease that affects approximately 6 million individuals worldwide. Of those infected, 20–30% will go on to develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), and many ultimately to advanced heart failure. The mechanisms by which this progression occurs are poorly understood. In this exploratory study, we sought to provide insight into the physiologic changes associated with the development of early CCC. Methods: We used RNA sequencing to analyse the gene expression changes in the peripheral blood of six patients with Chagas disease with early structural heart disease, four patients with Chagas disease without any signs or symptoms of disease, thirteen patients without Chagas disease with early structural heart disease, and ten patients without Chagas disease or signs of heart disease. Pathway analyses and immune cell deconvolution were employed to further elucidate the biological processes underlying early CCC development. Findings: Our analysis suggests that early CCC is associated with a downregulation of various peripheral immune response genes, including changes suggestive of reduced antigen presentation and T cell activation. Notably, these genes and processes appear to be distinct from those of non-Chagas cardiomyopathies. Interpretation: This work highlights the potential importance of the immune response in early CCC, providing insight into the early pathogenesis of this disease and how it may differ from other cardiomyopathies. The changes we have identified may serve as biomarkers of early CCC and could inform future longitudinal cohort studies of markers of disease progression and strategies for the treatment of CCC in its early stages. Funding: NIH, FONDECYT, IDSA, NSF.
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spelling doaj-art-d1d4dfe4c00e4d73b8ae5679e721c6932025-08-20T02:28:07ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Americas2667-193X2025-05-014510109010.1016/j.lana.2025.101090Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in contextCarolina Duque0Jaime So1Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen2Kelly DeToy3Sneider A. Gutierrez Guarnizo4Fatemeh Jahanbakhsh5Edith Malaga Machaca6Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger7Indira Chakravarti8Virginia Cooper9Mary E. Schmidt10Luigi Adamo11Rachel Marcus12Kawsar R. Talaat13Robert H. Gilman14Monica R. Mugnier15Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USAMedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C., USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USADepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Corresponding author.Summary: Background: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease that affects approximately 6 million individuals worldwide. Of those infected, 20–30% will go on to develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), and many ultimately to advanced heart failure. The mechanisms by which this progression occurs are poorly understood. In this exploratory study, we sought to provide insight into the physiologic changes associated with the development of early CCC. Methods: We used RNA sequencing to analyse the gene expression changes in the peripheral blood of six patients with Chagas disease with early structural heart disease, four patients with Chagas disease without any signs or symptoms of disease, thirteen patients without Chagas disease with early structural heart disease, and ten patients without Chagas disease or signs of heart disease. Pathway analyses and immune cell deconvolution were employed to further elucidate the biological processes underlying early CCC development. Findings: Our analysis suggests that early CCC is associated with a downregulation of various peripheral immune response genes, including changes suggestive of reduced antigen presentation and T cell activation. Notably, these genes and processes appear to be distinct from those of non-Chagas cardiomyopathies. Interpretation: This work highlights the potential importance of the immune response in early CCC, providing insight into the early pathogenesis of this disease and how it may differ from other cardiomyopathies. The changes we have identified may serve as biomarkers of early CCC and could inform future longitudinal cohort studies of markers of disease progression and strategies for the treatment of CCC in its early stages. Funding: NIH, FONDECYT, IDSA, NSF.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001000ChagasCardiomyopathyGene expressionImmuneBiomarkers
spellingShingle Carolina Duque
Jaime So
Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen
Kelly DeToy
Sneider A. Gutierrez Guarnizo
Fatemeh Jahanbakhsh
Edith Malaga Machaca
Monica Miranda-Schaeubinger
Indira Chakravarti
Virginia Cooper
Mary E. Schmidt
Luigi Adamo
Rachel Marcus
Kawsar R. Talaat
Robert H. Gilman
Monica R. Mugnier
Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
The Lancet Regional Health. Americas
Chagas
Cardiomyopathy
Gene expression
Immune
Biomarkers
title Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
title_full Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
title_fullStr Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
title_short Immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early-stage chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a cross-sectional studyResearch in context
title_sort immunologic changes in the peripheral blood transcriptome of individuals with early stage chronic chagas cardiomyopathy a cross sectional studyresearch in context
topic Chagas
Cardiomyopathy
Gene expression
Immune
Biomarkers
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X25001000
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