Epitopes common to trypanosomes (T. cruzi, T. dionisii and T. vespertilionis (Schizotrypanum)): astrocytes and neurons.

An autoimmune mechanism is commonly invoked to explain the occurrence of neuronal destruction in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease. Monoclonal antibodies raised against T. dionisii (DION) and T. vespertilionis (VESP), and cross-reactive with T. cruzi recognize antigens in cultured cerebellar cells from embryonic and postnatal mice, as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence. Astrocytes (labelled with rabbit anti-GFAP antibody) showed positive reactions with DION 12.7, VESP 8.2 and VESP 9.3 while neurons (labelled with either tetanus toxin or anti-neuron-specific enolase antibody) reacted with the monoclonal antibody DION 10.1b. VESP 6.2 reacted with living cells of a subpopulation of neuronal or unidentifiable cell type. These cross-reactions may explain why not only neurons but also astrocytes may be involved in the autoimmune damage.