Although with intact mucosa at colonoscopy, chagasic megacolons have an overexpression of Gal-3

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the density of anti-galectin-3-immunostained cells, collagen percentage, mast cell density and presence of pathological processes in intestinal muscle biopsies of patients. Methods: Thirty-five patients who underwent intestinal biopsy were selected from 1997 to 2015. Patients were divided into three groups: chagasic patients with mucosal lesion (n=13), chagasic patients with intact mucosa (n=12) and non-chagasic patients with no mucosal lesion (n=10). Histological processing of the biopsied fragments and immunohistochemistry for galectin-3 were performed. Additional sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to evaluate the general pathological processes, picrosirius for evaluation of collagen and toluidine blue to evaluate the mast cell density. Results: Patients of mucosal lesion group had a significantly higher frequency of ganglionitis and myositis when compared to the chagasic patients with intact mucosa and non-chagasic group. The density of anti-galectin-3-immunostained cells was significantly higher in the chagasic patients with intact mucosa group when compared to the non-chagasic group. The group of chagasic patients with intact mucosa presented a higher percentage of collagen in relation to the patients with mucosal lesion and to the non-chagasic group, with a significant difference. There was no significant difference in mast cell density among the three groups. Conclusion: The higher density of anti-galectin-3-immunostained cells in patients in the chagasic patients with intact mucosa group suggested the need for greater attention in clinical evaluation of these patients, since this protein is associated with neoplastic transformation and progression.

Galectins in Chagas Disease: A Missing Link Between Trypanosoma cruzi Infection, Inflammation, and Tissue Damage

“…A recent study confirmed this observation revealing an increased number of cells expressing galectin-3 that are associated with major staining of collagen type I and type III in tissue areas, suggesting the occurrence of ganglionitis and myositis, two pathological traits implicated in this process. Although galectin-3 was mainly upregulated in the group of patients presenting megacolon with intact intestinal mucosa but not in those with an ulcerated intestinal mucosa and/or mucosal hypertrophy, it has been proposed that this lectin could be a key factor implicated in the progression of colon pathology in the context of Chagas disease ( Garvil et al, 2020 ). Thus, galectin-3 controls not only parasite infection and immune responses but also cardiac and digestive pathology.…”

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

“…The authors reported that these three galectins were highly expressed only in the myenteric plexus of patients with the digestive form of CD compared to those who were not infected. In addition, to better establish the gal-3 profile in Chagasic megacolon, Garvil et al [ 183 ] analyzed the protein expression in the intestine of megacolon patients with intact or injured mucosa and in people without infection with an intact mucosa. Regardless of mucosal integrity, patients with Chagasic megacolon had more gal-3-marked cells [ 183 ].…”

“…In addition, to better establish the gal-3 profile in Chagasic megacolon, Garvil et al [ 183 ] analyzed the protein expression in the intestine of megacolon patients with intact or injured mucosa and in people without infection with an intact mucosa. Regardless of mucosal integrity, patients with Chagasic megacolon had more gal-3-marked cells [ 183 ]. Both studies suggested the potential functions of galectin in Chagasic megacolon.…”

“…Considering that Gal-3 level increases in the myenteric plexus of CD patients with megacolon, its role in facilitating the establishment of cell invasion at the early stages of infection, maintenance of the inflammatory process, and induction of fibrosis in the intestine has been discussed [ 182 , 183 ]. In fact, these processes were already revealed in experimental Chagas cardiopathy models, in which the increase of this lectin was found to be directly related to increased inflammatory processes and cardiac fibrosis.…”

Educomunicação Científica

“…O Brasil ocupa o primeiro lugar na exportação de matéria-prima (SOUSA et al, 2016) e mostra que o uso da matéria prima pode ser uma alternativa ao desenvolvimento da economia local. No entanto, esses produtos ainda são pouco consumidos nacionalmente GARVIL;ROSA;2013;SOUSA et al,. 2016).…”