Chagas disease is a neglected tropical infection that affects millions of people. This study explores transcriptomic changes in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected subjects before and after treatment. Using total RNA sequencing, gene transcription was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asymptomatic (n = 19) and symptomatic (n = 8) T. cruzi-infected individuals, and noninfected controls (n = 15). Differential expression was compared across groups, and before/after treatment in infected subgroups. Untreated infection showed 12 upregulated and 206 downregulated genes in all T. cruzi-infected subjects, and 47 upregulated and 215 downregulated genes in the symptomatic group. Few differentially expressed genes were found after treatment and between the different infected groups. Gene set enrichment analysis highlighted immune-related pathways activated during infection, with therapy normalizing immune function. Changes in the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio, increased pretreatment, suggested chronic immune fatigue, which was restored posttreatment. These differentially expressed genes offer insights for potential biomarkers and pathways associated with disease progression and treatment response.

中文翻译：

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慢性克氏锥虫感染受试者免疫调节的转录组学证据


美洲锥虫病是一种被忽视的热带传染病，影响着数百万人。本研究探讨了克氏锥虫感染受试者治疗前后的转录组学变化。使用总 RNA 测序，分析了来自无症状 （n = 19） 和有症状 （n = 8） 克氏锥虫感染个体和未感染对照 （n = 15） 的外周血单核细胞中的基因转录。比较各组和感染亚组治疗前/后的差异表达。未经治疗的感染显示，所有克氏锥虫感染受试者中有 12 个基因上调，206 个基因下调，症状组中有 47 个基因上调和 215 个下调基因。治疗后和不同感染组之间发现的差异表达基因很少。基因集富集分析突出了感染期间激活的免疫相关通路，治疗使免疫功能正常化。犬尿氨酸与色氨酸比值的变化，预处理增加，提示慢性免疫疲劳，治疗后恢复。这些差异表达的基因为与疾病进展和治疗反应相关的潜在生物标志物和通路提供了见解。