Cells from T. cruzi acutely infected mice have cytotoxicity activity after TSA-1-C4 and Tc24-C4 immunization.
In order to evaluate the cytotoxic activity after the bivalent recombinant protein administration, we analysed the lysis of T. cruzi -stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages by an in-vivocytotoxicity assay. Spleen mononuclear cells from infected and treated mice with TSA-1-C4 plus Tc24-C4 in combination with the TLR-4 agonist adjuvant E6020-SE were recovered after 50 days p.i. (Fig. 4,A ). We observed that, infected non-treated mice have significant lower percentage of cytotoxicity compared to TSA-1-C4+E6020-SE, Tc24-C4+E6020-SE or bivalent recombinant protein treated mice (Fig. 4,B ); nevertheless, no significant differences were found between infected-treated groups. This data suggests that, the effector function of cytotoxic cells from infected and treated mice (regardless of the treatment) remain during the acute phase of T. cruzi -infection (50 days post-infection), however, in this assay, the immunization with TSA-1-C4 plus Tc24-C4 in combination with E6020-SE did not show a benefit compared to individual TSA-1-C4+E6020-SE or Tc24-C4+E6020-SE immunization.