| Resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infections is critically dependent on cytokine-mediated activation of cell-mediated immune effector mechanisms. This review focuses on the role of IL-10, TNF-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font>, IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> and IL-12 in controlling T. cruzi replication by the innate and specific immune systems of the vertebrate host. A study performed on mice with disrupted recombinase-activating genes (RAG/KO), which lack T and B lymphocytes, revealed the importance of IL-12, IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">g</font> and TNF-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</font> in the resistance against T. cruzi mediated by the innate immune system. In addition, data from experiments using IL-10 KO, RAG/KO and... |
