Differences in cNOS/iNOS Activity during Resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in 5-Lipoxygenase Knockout Mice

Abstract

Infection with the protozoanTrypanosoma cruzicauses Chagas disease and consequently leads to severe inflammatory heart condition; however, the mechanisms driving this inflammatory response have not been completely elucidated. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator of parasite killing inT. cruzi-infected mice, and previous studies have suggested that leukotrienes (LTs) essentially regulate the NO activity in the heart. We used infected 5-lipoxygenase-deficient mice (5-LO−/−) to explore the participation of nitric oxide synthase isoforms, inducible (iNOS) and constitutive (cNOS), in heart injury, cytokine profile, and oxidative stress during the early stage ofT. cruziinfection. Our evidence suggests that the cNOS of the host is involved in the resistance of 5-LO−/−mice duringT. cruziinfection. iNOS inhibition generated a remarkable increase inT. cruziinfection in the blood and heart of mice, whereas cNOS inhibition reduced cardiac parasitism (amastigote nests). Furthermore, this inhibition associates with a higher IFN-γproduction and lower lipid peroxidation status. These data provide a better understanding about the influence of NO-interfering therapies for the inflammatory response towardT. cruziinfection.