Trypanosoma cruziand its components as exogenous mediators of inflammation recognized through Toll-like receptors

Abstract

TRYPANOSOMA cruziis the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, a parasitic disease of enormous importance in Latin America. Herein we review the studies that revealed the receptors from innate immunity that are involved in the recognition of this protozoan parasite. We showed that the recognition ofT. cruziand its components occurs through Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2/CD14. Further, we showedin vivothe importance of the myeloid differentiation factor (MyD88), an adapter protein essential for the function of TLRs, in determining the parasitemia and mortality rate of mice infected withT. cruzi. We also discuss the implications of these findings in the pathophysiology of Chagas' disease.