Immunopathology and Trypanosoma congolense parasite sequestration cause acute cerebral trypanosomiasis

Sara Silva Pereira, Mariana de Niz, Karine Serre, Marie Ouarné, Joana Coelho, Cláudio A. Franco, Luísa M. Figueiredo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Trypanosoma congolense causes a syndrome of variable severity in animals in Africa. Cerebral trypanosomiasis is a severe form, but the mechanism underlying this severity remains unknown. We developed a mouse model of acute cerebral trypanosomiasis and characterized the cellular, behavioral and physiological consequences of this infection. We show large parasite sequestration in the brain vasculature for long periods of time (up to 8 hours) and extensive neuropathology that associate with ICAM1-mediated recruitment and accumulation of T cells in the brain parenchyma. Antibody-mediated ICAM1 blocking and lymphocyte absence reduce parasite sequestration in the brain and prevent the onset of cerebral trypanosomiasis. Here, we establish a mouse model of acute cerebral trypanosomiasis and we propose a mechanism whereby parasite sequestration, host ICAM1, and CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere77440
JournaleLife
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Animal African trypanosomiasis
  • Cerebral trypanosomiasis
  • Disease severity
  • Immunopathology
  • Sequestration
  • Trypanosoma congolense

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