Growth hormone modulates Trypanosoma cruzi infection in vitro. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mora-Criollo, Patricia; Basu, Reetobrata; Qian, Yanrong; Costales, Jaime A.; Guevara-Aguirre, Jaime; Grijalva, Mario J.; Kopchick, John J.
• Is Part Of: Growth hormone & IGF research. Volume 64(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Chagas disease -- Laron syndrome -- Growth hormone -- IGF-I -- Trypanosoma cruzi -- Prolactin; Growth regulators -- Periodicals; Growth -- Regulation -- Periodicals; Somatomedin -- Periodicals; Somatomedins -- Periodicals; Growth Hormone -- Periodicals; Growth Substances -- Periodicals; Croissance -- Régulation -- Périodiques; Croissance -- Régulateurs -- Périodiques; Somatotrophine -- Périodiques; Somatomédine -- Périodiques; Growth -- Regulation; Growth regulators; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2022.101460
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1096-6374

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi . It affects 7 to 8 million people worldwide and leads to approximately 50, 000 deaths per year. In vitro and in vivo studies had demonstrated that Trypanosoma cruziinfection causes an imbalance in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that is accompanied by a progressive decrease in growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) production. In humans, inactivating mutations in the GH receptor gene cause Laron Syndrome (LS), an autosomal recessive disorder. Affected subjects are short, have increased adiposity, decreased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGFI), increased serum GH levels, are highly resistant to diabetes and cancer, and display slow cognitive decline. In addition, CD incidence in these individuals is diminished despite living in highly endemic areas. Consequently, we decided to investigate the in vitro effect of GH/IGF-I on T. cruzi infection . Design: We first treated the parasite and/or host cells with different peptide hormones including GH, IGFI, and PRL. Then, we treated cells using different combinations of GH/IGF-I attempting to mimic the GH/IGF-I serum levels observed in LS subjects. Results: We found that exogenous GH confers protection against T. cruzi infection. Moreover, this effect is mediated by GH and not IGFI. The combination of relatively high GH (50 ng/ml) and low IGF-I (20 ng/ml), mimicking the hormonal pattern seen in LS individuals, consistently decreased T. cruzi infection in vitro . Conclusions: The combination of relatively high GH and low IGF-I serum levels in LS individuals may be an underlying condition providing partial protection against T. cruzi infection. Highlights: Laron Syndrome (LS) is caused by a mutation in the growth hormone (GH) receptor. LS subjects have decreased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and increased serum GH. Chagas disease (CD) is an infectious disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi . CD incidence in LS subjects is diminished despite living in highly endemic areas. In vitro mimicking of GH-IGF1 pattern seen in LS individuals (high GH, low IGF-I) consistently decreased T. cruzi infection. Exogenous GH treatment confers protection against T. cruzi infection in vitro by directly decreasing infection in vitro .