Chagas' disease and Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokine (DARC): a mini-review

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: AP Oliveira, LC Mattos, CE Cavasini
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2011
• Subjects: DARC antigen; Duffy blood-group system; Chagas' disease; Chagas' cardiomyopathy; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992011000300005; https://doaj.org/article/341d9d06cdea4d05aa677a5cc5b69ba3

Duffy gene (FY) codifies the transmembrane glycoprotein Duffy (gp-Fy) of 35 to 43 kDa which is moderately immunogenic. This glycoprotein is polymorphic, and constitutes the antigens of the Duffy histo-blood system which were designated receptors for chemokines and denominated DARC (Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokine). This receptor has an important role in the regulation of chemokine levels in the circulation, as it binds and adsorbs them on the surface of red cells as a reservoir. It plays a "sink" role, which can contribute to homeostasis by removing inflammatory chemokines from circulation as well as maintaining them in plasmatic levels. Chronic Chagas' cardiopathy (CCC) is the most frequent form of the disease. It is an inflammatory disease, in which infiltrated inflammatory cells play an important role in the development and progress of the infection. High chemokine levels in the plasma have been associated with the disease severity in patients with heart failure. In this context, the profile of DARC expression could play an important function as a receptor for chemokines in Chagas' disease, in patients with CCC, as it can modulate damage from this inflammatory disease.