1 research outputs found
Retinal dysfunction in patients with chronic Chagasâdisease is associated to anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies that crossreact with rhodopsin
To investigate retinal involvement in chronic Chagas' disease, we performed electroretinography and retinal fluorescein angiography studies in chagasic patients. Our results demonstrated a dissociated electrophysiological response characterized by both an abnormal reduction of the electroretinographic b-wave amplitude and a delayed latency, under the dark-adaptated condition. These alterations are compatible with a selective dysfunction of the rods. Antibodies raised against Trypanosoma cruzi that also interact with beta1-adrenergic receptor blocked light stimulation of cGMP-phosphodiesterase in bovine rod membranes. The specificity from the antibody-rhodopsin interaction was confirmed by Western blot analysis and antigenic competition experiments. Our results suggest an immunomediated rhodopsin blockade. T. cruzi infection probably induces an autoimmune response against rhodopsin in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease through a molecular mimicry mechanism similar to that described previously on cardiac human beta1-adrenergic and M2-cholinergic receptors, all related to the same subfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors.Fil: Matsumoto, Silvia C.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Labovsky, Vivian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. FundaciĂłn de Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de BiologĂa y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Roncoroni, Marcela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Guida, Maria Catalina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Luisa. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Mitelman, Jorge. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Gori, Horacio. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Jurgelevicius, Renata. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Grillo, Alejandro. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Manfredi, Pablo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Ălvarez"; ArgentinaFil: LevĂŹn, Mariano J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Paveto, Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; Argentin