C57BL/6 Mice Pretreated With Alpha-Tocopherol Show a Better Outcome of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection With Less Tissue Inflammation and Fibrosis

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2022-01, Vol.13, p.833560-833560
• Main Authors: Silva, Amanda C O, Bonfim, Maiara, Fontes, Jonathan L M, Dos-Santos, Washington L C, Mengel, José, Cardillo, Fabíola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adjuvants; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacology; Animals; Chagas Disease - pathology; Chagas Disease - prevention & control; Chagas’ disease; fibrosis; Fibrosis - prevention & control; Immunology; immunomodulation; Inflammation - prevention & control; Interferon-gamma - physiology; interleukin-10; Interleukin-10 - physiology; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Memory T Cells - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Parasitemia - prevention & control; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - metabolism; Trypanosoma cruzi
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.833560

Chagas disease is accompanied by a multisystem inflammatory disorder that follows infection. Alpha-tocopherol has been described as an antioxidant and a potential adjuvant to enhance immune responses to vaccines. Therefore, we have evaluated the immune response to infection upon alpha-tocopherol pre-administration. The results show that administration of alpha-tocopherol before the infection results in lower parasitemia and lower mortality of C57BL/6 mice infected with the strain. Alpha-tocopherol administration in normal C57BL/6 mice resulted in higher levels of IFN-γ production by T and NK cells before and after the infection with . More importantly, previous administration of alpha-tocopherol increased the production of IL-10 by T and myeloid suppressor cells and the formation of effector memory T cells while decreasing the expression of PD-1 on T cells. These results suggest that alpha-tocopherol may limit the appearance of dysfunctional T cells during the acute and early chronic phases of infection, contributing to control infection. In addition, alpha-tocopherol could diminish tissue inflammation and fibrosis in late acute disease. These results strongly suggest that alpha-tocopherol may be a helpful agent to be considered in Chagas disease.