Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antibodies to laminin and immunohistochemical localization of laminin in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy: a review

  • Published:
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Antibodies against laminin were determined by ELISA in forty six patients suffering from Chagas' disease and twenty healthy persons (control group). The patients were divided into three groups according to the severity of clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic studies. Histologic, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies were made of endomyocardial biopsy specimens from 10 of these patients with chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Antibodies to laminin were detected in 50% of the patients in each of the three groups. However analysis of the data did not allow us to determine any significant correlation among the severity of the different clinical and non-invasive studies and the level of circulating antibodies to laminin. The highest titers of antilaminin antibodies were detected in the group with severe cardiological alterations (37% of the patients). Histological and electron microscopic observation of myocardial biopsies disclosed marked thickening of the basement membranes of the myocytes, endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Light (peroxidase-labeled antibodies) and electron (gold-conjugated antibody) microscopic immunohistochemical methods revealed a positive reaction for laminin in these thickened basement membranes. This thickening may develop as a consequence of: a) an immunologic reaction which is triggered by the presence of a laminin-like molecule on the surfaces of T. cruzi amastigotes and trypomastigotes; b) an immunologic response to direct injury of basement membranes causing some of their components to become antigenic; c) myocardial fibrosis, with synthesis of new connective tissue components, and d) a combination of the preceding factors. The relationship of these changes to antilaminin antibodies remains unclear. From these results, it is not possible to assure a physiopathogenic role for antibodies to laminin in chronic Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. UNDP/World Bank WHO. Special program for research and training in tropical disease. VI Programme Reports 1982, 1.7, Dec 31

  2. Storino R, Milei J: Miocardiopatía Chagásica Crónica. Buenos Aires. Club de Estudio. 1985, pp 90–101

  3. Andrade Z: A patologia da doenca de Chagas no homen. Ann Soc. Belge Med Trop 65 (Suppl 1): 15–30, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  4. Milei J, Storino R, Fernández Alonso G, Beigelman R, Vanzam S, Ferrans VJ: Endomyocardial biopsies in chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Cardiology 80: 424–437, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  5. Molina HA, Milei J, Storino R: Chronic Chagas myocardiopathy. Demonstration ofin vivo immunoglobulins in heart structures by the immunoperoxidase technique. Cardiology 71: 297–306, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  6. Andrade SG, Grimaud JA: Chronic murine myocarditis due to Trypanosoma cruzi — an ultrastructural study and immunochemical characterization of cardiac interstitial matrix. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 81: 29–41, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  7. Andrade SG, Grimaud JA, Stocker-Guerret S: Sequential changes of the connective matrix components of the myocardium (fibronectin and laminin) and evaluation of cardiac fibrosis in mice infected withTrypanosoma cruzi. Am J Trop Med Hyg 40: 252–260, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  8. Foidart JM, Bere EW, Yaar M, Rennard SI, Gullino M, Martin GR, Katz SI: Distribution and immunoelectron microscopic localization of laminin, a non collagenous basement membrane glucoprotein. Lab Invest 42: 336–342, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  9. Martin GR: Laminin and other basement membrane components. Ann Rev Cell Biol 3: 57–85, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  10. Szarfman A, Terranova VP, Rennard SI, Foidart JM, De Fatima Lima M, Scheinman JI, Martin GR: Antibodies to laminin in Chagas' disease. J Exp Med 155: 1161–1171, 1982

    Google Scholar 

  11. Towbin H, Rosenfelder G, Wieslander J, Avila JL, Rojas M, Szarfman A, Esser K, Nowak H, Timpl R: Circulating antibodies to mouse laminin in Chagas' disease, american cutaneous leishmaniasis and normal galactosyl (α 1–3) galactose epitopes. J Exp Med 166: 419–432, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  12. Milei J, Storino R: Laminin in Chagasic autoimmunity? Letter to the Editol. Parasitology Today 3: 119, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  13. Laguens RP, Meckert PC, Chambo J: Origin and significance of anti-heart and anti-skeletal muscle autoantibodies in Chagas' disease. Res in Immunol 142: 160–163, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ferrans VJ, Milei J, Tomita Y, Storino R: Basement membrane thickening in cardiac myocytes and capillaries in chronic Chagas disease. Am J Cardiol 61: 1137–1140, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  15. Storino R, Milei J, Beigelman R, Ferrans VJ: Chagas' cardiomyopathy: a 12 year-follow-up in an urban area. Rev Arg Cardiol 60: 205–216, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sánchez JA, Milei J, Yu ZX, Storino R, Wenthold R, Ferrans VJ: Immunohistochemical localization of laminin in the hearts of patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy: Relationship to thickening of basement membranes (In press, Am Heart J, 1993)

  17. Consejo Argentino de Enfermedad de Chagas ‘Dr. Salvador Mazza’. Editorial. Clasificación de la enfermedad de Chagas crónica. Rev Arg Cardiol 56: 108–109, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  18. Engvall E, Perelmann P: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA. III Quantitation of specific antibodies by enzyme labelled anti-immunoglobulin in antigen coated tubes. J Immunol 109: 129–135, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yajima G, Aihara K: Periodic acid methenamine silver staining. Igaku no ayumi 76: 328–338, 1971

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kierszenbaum F: Autoimmunity in Chagas' disease: The debate goes on. Reply. Parasitology Today 2: 22–23, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  21. Goin JC, Borda E, Denduchis B, Milei J, Storino R, Sterin Borda L: Anticuerpos circulantes en pacientes chagasicos con actividad colinergica que regulan la funcion cardiaca. Medicina (Bs. As.) 50: 385–386, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gazzinelli RT: Natural anti-Gal antibodies prevent, rather than cause, auto-immunity in human Chagas' disease. Res Immunol 142: 164–167, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  23. Gazzinelli RT, Galvao LCM, Cançado JR, Cardoso J, Krettli AU, Brener Z, Gazzinelli G: Anti-Tripanosoma cruzi and anti-laminin antibodies in chagasic patients submitted to specific treatment. J Clin Microbiol 26: 1795–1800, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  24. Muniz J, Santos MCF: Heterophile antibodies in American Trypanosomiasis. O Hospital 38: 601–610, 1950

    Google Scholar 

  25. Schmuñis GA, Szarfman A, Coarasa L, Vainstoki C: Immunoglobulin concentration in treated human acute Chagas' disease. A follow-up study. Amer J Trop Med Hyg 27:473–480, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  26. Brujin JA, Oemar BS, Ehrich JHH, Foidart JM, Fleuren GJ: Antibasement membrane glomerulopathy in experimental trypanosomiasis. J Immunol 139: 2482–2488, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  27. Milani SR, Travassos LR: Anti-α-galactosyl antibodies in chagasic patients. Possible biological significance. Braz J Med Biol Res 21: 1275–1286, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  28. Avila JL, Rojas M, Towbin H: Serological activity against α (1–3) galactose in sera from patients with several kinetoplastida infections. J Clin Microbiol 26: 126–132, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wolff PG, Kühl U, Schultheiss HP: Laminin distribution and antibodies to laminin in dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. Am Heart J 117: 1303–1309, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  30. Bernard A, Passelecq B, Foidart JM, Mathieu P, Lauwerys R: Mise en evidence d'anti-laminine dans le serum de sujets sains. Biomed Pharmacother 41: 183, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  31. Vracko R, Cunningham D, Frederickson R, Thorning D: Basal lamina of rat myocardium-its fate after death of cardiac myocytes. Lab Invest 58: 77–87, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  32. Avila JL, Rojas M, Reiber M: Antibodies to laminin in American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Infect Imm 43: 402–406, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  33. Reeves WH, Chaudhary N, Salerno A, Biobel G, Lamin B: Autoantibodies in sera of certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J Exp Med 165: 750–762, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  34. Foidart JM, Hunt J, Lapiere CM, Nusgens B, De Rycker C, Browier M, Lambotte R, Bernard A, Mathieu P: Antibodies to laminin in preeclampsia. Kidney Int 29: 1050–1057, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  35. Avila JL, Rojas M, Velazquez-Avila G, Rieber M: Antibodies to basement membrane proteins nidogen and laminin in sera from streptococcal-related diseases and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients. Clin Exp Immunol 70: 555–561, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  36. Schaper J, Froede R, Buck A, Bleese N: Impaired myocardial ultrastructure and cytoskeleton in cardiomyopathic human myocardium. In New Concepts in Viral Heart Disease. H.P. Schultbeiss (Ed). Springer-Verlag. Berlin Heidelberg 1988, pp 296–307

    Google Scholar 

  37. Cody LC, Wicha MS: Clustering of cell surface laminin enhances its association with the cytoskeleton. Exp Cells Res 165: 107–116 1986

    Google Scholar 

  38. Contard F, Koteliansky V, Marotte F, Dubus I, Rappaport L, Samuel JL: Specific alterations in the distribution of extracellular matrix components within rat myocardium during the development of pressure overload. Lab Invest 64: 65–75, 1991

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Enfermedad de Chagas and Cardiopsis, Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Tucumán 2163, 4°P. ‘B’, 1050, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    José Milei & Rubén Storino

  2. Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cátedra de Histología Buenos Aires, Tucumán 2163, 4°P. ‘B’, 1050, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Berta Denduchis

  3. Pathology Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institutes, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Julián Sánchez, Zu-Xi Yu & Víctor J. Ferrans

Authors
  1. José Milei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julián Sánchez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rubén Storino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zu-Xi Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Berta Denduchis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Víctor J. Ferrans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Milei, J., Sánchez, J., Storino, R. et al. Antibodies to laminin and immunohistochemical localization of laminin in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy: a review. Mol Cell Biochem 129, 161–170 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926364

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926364

Key words

Search

Navigation