PROGRAMMED T-CELL DEATH IN EXPERIMENTAL CHAGAS-DISEASE

In mature T cells, programmed cell death is thought to serve a regulat ory function by limiting both the duration and amplitude of immune res ponses. Programmed cell death might also be involved in immunopathogen esis of certain infectious diseases: recent evidence suggests that pro grammed T-cell death plays an important role in immune suppression dur ing viral infections In this article, George DosReis, Maria Evangelina Fonseca and Marcela lopes review their findings on programmed T-cell death in experimental infection induced by the protozoan parasite Tryp anosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. They also discus s the differential behavior of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets regard ing programmed cell death, and some possible pathogenic aspects of hos t-parasite interaction, where abnormal or exaggerated programmed T-cel l death could be involved.