Biomarkers and Their Possible Functions in the Intestinal Microenvironment of Chagasic Megacolon: An Overview of the (Neuro)inflammatory Process

Abstract

The association between inflammatory processes and intestinal neuronal destruction during the progression of Chagasic megacolon is well established. However, many other components play essential roles, both in the long-term progression and control of the clinical status of patients infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Components such as neuronal subpopulations, enteric glial cells, mast cells and their proteases, and homeostasis-related proteins from several organic systems (serotonin and galectins) are differentially involved in the progression of Chagasic megacolon. This review is aimed at revealing the characteristics of the intestinal microenvironment found in Chagasic megacolon by using different types of already used biomarkers. Information regarding these components may provide new therapeutic alternatives and improve the understanding of the association between T. cruzi infection and immune, endocrine, and neurological system changes.

Figure 1

Hypothetical scheme of the differential behavior of enteric glial cells in the intestine of infected patients without megacolon (a) and with megacolon (b). This work, “Hypothetical scheme of the differential behavior of enteric glial cells in the intestine of infected patients without megacolon (a) and with megacolon (b),” is a derivative of “Servier Medical Art” by Servier, used under CC BY 3.0.

Figure 2

Possible functions of mast cells and chymase (a) and tryptase (b) proteases in Chagasic megacolon. This work, “Possible functions of mast cells and chymase (a) and tryptase (b) proteases in Chagasic megacolon,” is a derivative of “Servier Medical Art” by Servier, used under CC BY 3.0.