Galectin-1 Prevents Infection and Damage Induced by Trypanosoma cruzi on Cardiac Cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is the result of a pathologic process starting during the acute phase of parasite infection. Among different factors, the specific recognition of glycan structures by glycan-binding proteins from the parasite or from the mammalian host cells may play a critical role in the evolution of the infection.

Methodology and principal findings

Here we investigated the contribution of galectin-1 (Gal-1), an endogenous glycan-binding protein abundantly expressed in human and mouse heart, to the pathophysiology of T. cruzi infection, particularly in the context of cardiac pathology. We found that exposure of HL-1 cardiac cells to Gal-1 reduced the percentage of infection by two different T. cruzi strains, Tulahuén (TcV

SUBMITTER: Benatar AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4599936 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature