Purinergic ecto-enzymes participate in the thromboregulation in acute in mice infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Coagulation disorders have been described in Chagas disease with thrombocytopenia as an important event. Several mechanisms may be related to this pathogenesis, such as enzymes of the purinergic system, purine, and receptors involved in the regulation and modulation of physiological events related to hemostasis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the activities of E-NTPDase, E-5'nucleotidase, and ecto-adenosine deaminase (E-ADA) in platelets of mice experimentally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Twelve female mice were used, divided into two groups (n = 6): uninfected and infected. Mice of infected group were intraperitoneally inoculated with 10 trypomastigotes of T. cruzi (strain Y). On day 12 post-infection (PI), blood samples were collected for quantitation and separation of platelets. A significant reduction in the number of platelets of infected mice (P < 0.05) was observed. The activities of E-NTPDase (ATP and ADP substrates), E-5'nucleotidase, and E-ADA in platelets increased significantly (P < 0.05) in mice infected by T. cruzi compared with uninfected animals. A negative correlation (P < 0.01)was observed between the number of platelets and ATP hydrolysis (r = -0.64), and ADP hydrolysis (r = -0.69) by E-NTPDase. Therefore, there is a response from the purinergic system activating ecto-enzymes in platelets of mice T. cruzi infected, as a compensatory effect of thrombocytopenia.