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Vallochi,A.L.; Yamamoto,J.H.; Schlesinger,D.; Machado,M.A.C.; Silveira,C.; Martins,M.C.; Belfort Jr.,R.; Kalil,J.; Rizzo,L.V.. |
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular parasite whose life cycle may include man as an intermediate host. More than 500 million people are infected with this parasite worldwide. It has been previously reported that T. gondii contains a superantigen activity. The purpose of the present study was to determine if the putative superantigen activity of T. gondii would manifest towards human T cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals with no previous contact with the parasite were evaluated for proliferation as well as specific Vß expansion after exposure to Toxoplasma antigens. Likewise, PBMC from individuals with the congenital infection were evaluated for putative Vß family deletions in their T cell repertoire. We also... |
Tipo: Info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
Palavras-chave: Toxoplasma; Tolerance; Superantigen; T cell receptor. |
Ano: 2001 |
URL: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2001000800008 |
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Cunha-Neto,E.; Rizzo,L.V.; Albuquerque,F.; Abel,L.; Guilherme,L.; Bocchi,E.; Bacal,F.; Carrara,D.; Ianni,B.; Mady,C.; Kalil,J.. |
The hallmark of chronic Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the finding of a T cell-rich inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltrate in the presence of extremely few parasites in the heart lesions. The scarcity of parasites in affected heart tissue casts doubt on the direct participation of Trypanosoma cruzi in CCC heart tissue lesions, and suggests the possible involvement of autoimmunity. The cells in the infiltrate are presumably the ultimate effectors of tissue damage, and there is evidence that such cells recognize cardiac myosin in molecular mimicry with T. cruzi proteins rather than primary reactivity to T. cruzi antigens (Cunha-Neto et al. (1996) Journal of Clinical Investigation, 98: 1709-1712). Recently, we have studied heart-infiltrating T... |
Tipo: Info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
Palavras-chave: Trypanosoma cruzi; Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy; Immunology; Cytokines; Gamma-interferon. |
Ano: 1998 |
URL: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1998000100018 |
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