Bridging the Nervous-Endocrine System and Immune Response, in Human Chagas Disease Pathology

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background: Chronic Chagas disease can affect multiple organs, most notably the heart and gastrointestinal tract, and in some cases, the nervous system. However, the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of this parasitic infection remain incompletely understood. Summary: Evidence from studies in both mice with acute Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection and in patients with Chagas disease has revealed a range of immune-neuroendocrine alterations and metabolic disruptions. In this review, we highlight key findings in human Chagas disease related to these abnormalities and discuss their potential contributions to disease pathogenesis. Key Messages: In the context of chronic Chagas disease, the neuroendocrine-immune axis operates as a dynamic interface, integrating systemic immune-endocrine processes with localized responses in the central nervous system (CNS), with each component influencing disease advancement and organ-specific pathology through distinct yet interconnected mechanisms. .

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.