Implications of oxidative stress and placental structural alterations in Trypanosoma cruzi infection in vitro and ex vivo

Abstract

Human placenta participates in the control of Chagas congenital infection, which could be due by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and peroxinitrites which are deleterious for Trypanosoma cruzi and placental tissue. We proposed to analyze the detachment of STB and its relation to oxidative stress and congenital transmission. Two experimental designs: In vitro: Placental villi explants co-cultured with and without T. cruzi. Ex vivo: placentas from chagasic mothers with (CT) and without (NC) congenital transmission. It was analyzed eNOS, Nitrotyrosine (NT) and detachment of STB. Detachment of STB was increased and induced by Tc and H2O2 in vitro, however it was not significantly higher in ex vivo placentas. These changes were associated to modifications in the expression of eNOS and NT both in vitro and ex vivo. The balance between deleterious effect on T. cruzi, and structural placental alterations produced by nitrosative stress, could participate in the infection of placenta by the parasite