Pathogens (Aug 2023)

The Therapeutic Potential of Angeli’s Salt in Mitigating Acute <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> Infection in Mice

  • Vera Lúcia Hideko Tatakihara,
  • Aparecida Donizette Malvezi,
  • Rito Santo Pereira,
  • Bruno Fernando Cruz Lucchetti,
  • Lucas Felipe Dos Santos,
  • Rubens Cecchini,
  • Lucy Megumi Yamauchi,
  • Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta,
  • Katrina M. Miranda,
  • Waldiceu A. Verri,
  • Marli Cardoso Martins-Pinge,
  • Phileno Pinge-Filho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12081063
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 8
p. 1063

Abstract

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Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease prevalent in Latin America. Infected patients are treated to eliminate the parasite, reduce the cardiomyopathy risk, and interrupt the disease transmission cycle. The World Health Organization recognizes benznidazole (BZ) and nifurtimox as effective drugs for CD treatment. In the chronic phase, both drugs have low cure rates and serious side effects. T. cruzi infection causes intense tissue inflammation that controls parasite proliferation and CD evolution. Compounds that liberate nitric oxide (NO) (NO donors) have been used as anti-T. cruzi therapeutics. Currently, there is no evidence that nitroxyl (HNO) affects T. cruzi infection outcomes. This study investigated the effects of the HNO donor Angeli’s salt (AS) on C57BL/6 mice infected with T. cruzi (Y strain, 5 × 103 trypomastigotes, intraperitoneally). AS reduced the number of parasites in the bloodstream and heart nests and increased the protective antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes in infected animals, reducing disease severity. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that AS treatment reduced parasite uptake and trypomastigote release by macrophages. Taken together, these findings from the murine model and in vitro testing suggest that AS could be a promising therapy for CD.

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