RESUMO
Triatoma matogrossensis is a Hemiptera that belongs to the oliveirai complex, a vector of Chagas' disease that feeds on vertebrate blood in all life stages. Hematophagous insects' salivary glands (SGs) produce potent pharmacologic compounds that counteract host hemostasis, including anticlotting, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory molecules. Exposure to T. matogrossensis was also found to be a risk factor associated with the endemic form of the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus foliaceus, which is described in the same regions where Chagas' disease is observed in Brazil. To obtain a further insight into the salivary biochemical and pharmacologic diversity of this kissing bug and to identify possible allergens that might be associated with this autoimmune disease, a cDNA library from its SGs was randomly sequenced. We present the analysis of a set of 2,230 (SG) cDNA sequences, 1,182 of which coded for proteins of a putative secretory nature.
Assuntos
Doenças Autoimunes/epidemiologia , Pênfigo/epidemiologia , Transcriptoma , Triatoma/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Doenças Autoimunes/parasitologia , Doenças Autoimunes/patologia , Brasil , Biologia Computacional , Biblioteca Gênica , Proteínas de Insetos/genética , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Insetos Vetores/genética , Insetos Vetores/metabolismo , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Família Multigênica , Pênfigo/parasitologia , Pênfigo/patologia , Glândulas Salivares/metabolismo , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Triatoma/classificaçãoRESUMO
Previously, we demonstrated that helminth-infected MS patients showed significantly lower number of relapses, reduced disability scores, and lower MRI activity compared to uninfected MS subjects. In the current study, 12 patients with diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS presenting parasite infections were prospectively followed during 90 months; due to exacerbation of helminth-infection symptoms after 63 months of follow-up, 4 patients received anti-parasite treatment. Helminth-infection control was associated with significant increase in clinical and radiological MS activities. Moreover, these patients showed significant increase in the number of IFN-γ and IL-12 producing cells, and a fall in the number of TGF-ß and IL-10 secreting cells, as well as CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells evident 3 months after anti-helminth treatment began. These new observations on parasite infections associated to MS indicate that parasite regulation of host immunity can alter the course of MS.