Chagas' disease and Dufy antigen/receptor for chemokine (DARC): A mini-review

Abstract

Dufy gene (FY) codifes the transmembrane glycoprotein Dufy (gp-Fy) of 35 to 43 kDa which is moderately immunogenic. This glycoprotein is polymorphic, and constitutes the antigens of the Dufy histo-blood system which were designated receptors for chemokines and denominated DARC (Dufy antigen/receptor for chemokine). This receptor has an important role in the regulation of chemokine levels in the circulation, as it binds and adsorbs them on the surface of red cells as a reservoir. It plays a "sink" role, which can contribute to homeostasis by removing infammatory chemokines from circulation as well as maintaining them in plasmatic levels. Chronic Chagas' cardiopathy (CCC) is the most frequent form of the disease. It is an infammatory disease, in which infltrated infammatory cells play an important role in the development and progress of the infection. High chemokine levels in the plasma have been associated with the disease severity in patients with heart failure. In this context, the profle of DARC expression could play an important function as a receptor for chemokines in Chagas' disease, in patients with CCC, as it can modulate damage from this infammatory disease.