CELLULAR AND CYTOKINE CHARACTERIZATION OF VASCULAR INFLAMMATION IN CBA J MICE CHRONICALLY INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI/

Continuing our characterization of the immunopathological events occur ring during experimental murine Chagas' disease, an immunohistological examination was conducted of the aortas of chronically infected CBA/J mice. Compared with non-infected mice of identical age, Trypanosoma c ruzi-infected mice exhibited a marked vasculitis, with significant inf iltration of inflammatory cells into the adventitial layer, including CD4+, CD8+ T cells and macrophages. Production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was evident in the infla mmatory infiltrate in the endothelial and smooth muscle layers. Vascul itis was most apparent in proximity to the heart, but extended along t he aorta. Such an inflammation could lead to an alteration of the endo thelium, altering the protective properties of this layer and further contributing to the focal pathology characteristic of this stage of in fection.