The present paper proposes a new
therapy using
Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase to treat diseases with unclear pathogenesis that present in common chronic
inflammation and
fibrosis. This hypothesis is based on recent findings that
co-infection with mycoplasma and chlamydia is present in many of these diseases and that this
enzyme was capable to eliminate or decrease the
co-infection from the host. We identified that mycoplasmas and chlamydias are present in
atherosclerosis,
aortic valve stenosis,
dilated cardiomyopathy, chronic chagasic
myocarditis and
cancer. We hypothetized that mycoplasmal
infection may induce immunodepression in the host, favoring proliferation of pre-existent chlamydial
infection and that elimination of mycoplasma would lead to improvement of the immune system resistance and the control of chlamydial proliferation. Mycoplasma has a particular parasitic relationship with host cells, involving strong adherence of their membranes, making it extremely difficult to eradicate mycoplasmal
infection from the host. A new therapeutic approach is suggested using one or more agents that prevent or inhibit the adherence of mycoplasma to host cell membranes by removing
sialic acid residues and preventing oxidation of the cells. The use of a
neuraminidase enzyme, particularly the T. cruzi
trans-sialidase enzyme, associated with treatment using anti-oxidating agents is proposed. Preliminary experimental animal and laboratory tests showed good results. The proposal that
trans-sialidase from T. cruzi is efficient in combating
co-infection of mycoplasma and chlamydia is based, at least in part, on the observation that chagasic patients suffering from T. cruzi
infection present less mycoplasma and
chlamydia infection in their tissues. Also, a lower incidence of the diseases above described to be related to
mycoplasma infection is observed in chagasic patients. It is also hypothesized that
co-infection with mycoplasma and chlamydia may induce oxidation of the host cells.
Anti-oxidants such as those present in
plant extracts may also be used in the treatment. Other diseases such as
chronic hepatitis,
glomerulonephritis,
Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Syndrome and idiopathic
encephalitis are other examples of
chronic diseases where mycoplasma and chlamydia might be present, as they have the characteristics of unknown etiology, persistent chronic
inflammation and
fibrosis.