Evaluation of melatonin, lycopene and benznidazole supplementation during experimental Chagas Disease

Abstract

As a result of Chagas' disease being a serious public health problem, the search and identification of molecules with potential therapeutic actions and understanding of the mechanisms involved in modulating the immune response by the administration of pharmacologically active substances in experimental models infected with Trypanosoma cruzi has contributed considerably in the investigation of new therapies. The host immune response depends on an interaction between several hormones that will act synergistically with different immune cells. Melatonin and lycopene are substances mentioned by several authors as potential stimulants of the immune system and benznidazole as a promising antiparasitic. Because of this positive characteristic against Chagas disease, the aim of this investigation is evaluate the effect of oral administration of melatonin, lycopene and benznidazole on the immune response of male Wistar rats infected with Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi and understand the intriguing pathogenic mechanisms during the course of infection, evaluate a possible synergistic immunostimulatory effect following the administration of zinc and melatonin, added to the antiparasitic action of benznidazole, on 7 °, 14 ° and 90 ° days after infection, using as parameters: quantification of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, IFN-³, TNF-±, and TGF-², flow cytometry for evaluation of lymphocyte subpopulations T CD3 + CD4 +, CD3 + CD8 +, CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + Treg as well as markers CD11a, CD28, CD44, CD45RA, CD45RC, CD62L, CD69, CD80, CD86, CD161, RT1B, peritoneal and splenic macrophages count, nitric oxide concentration, lymphoproliferation of thymocytes and splenocytes, quantification of corticosterone and blood parasites. (AU)