Immunoregulatory mechanisms and Chagas' disease.

Abstract

During the course of experimental Chagas' disease, several immune disorders occur. In the acute phase, T and B cell polyclonal activation is associated to immunosuppression. At the chronic stage, T cells--of the TH2 subset--participate to the pathology characteristic of Chagas' disease. Data obtained after infection of BALB/Xid mice suggest that polyclonal activation may be dependent on B1 (CD5) cell-activation. Moreover, these mice fail to develop the pathological features of the chronic infection. Control of lymphokine secretion might play a key role in the clinical status of Chagas' disease.