Induction of antibodies reactive with cardiac myosin and development of heart abnormalities in cruzipain immunized mice and their offspring.

GIORDANENGO L, MALDONADO C, RIVAROLA H W, IOSA D, GIRONES N, FRESNO M, GEA S

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY

Año: 2000 p. 3181 - 3181

0014-2980

uman and murine infection with Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is usually accompaniedby strong humoral and cellular immune response to cruzipain, a parasiteimmunodominant antigen. In the present study we report that the immunization ofmice with cruzipain devoid of enzymatic activity, was able to induce antibodieswhich bind to a 223-kDa antigen from a mouse heart extract. We identified thisprotein as the mouse cardiac myosin heavy chain by sequencing analysis. The studyof IgG isotype profile revealed the occurrence of all IgG isotypes againstcruzipain and myosin. IgG1 showed the strongest reactivity against cruzipain,whereas IgG2a was the main isotype against myosin. Anti-cruzipain antibodiespurified by immunoabsorption recognized the cardiac myosin heavy chain,suggesting cross-reactive epitopes between cruzipain and myosin. Autoimmuneresponse in mice immunized with cruzipain was associated to heart conductiondisturbanc