Alterations in Cardiac Metabolism by Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: A Metabolomic Assessment by RPLC-MS and GC–MS

Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, has been one of the leading causes of cardiac death in Latin America. Its pathogenesis and progression are still poorly understood. Thus, we performed an untargeted metabolomics analysis to understand the metabolic changes involved in the final acute phase of CD. Male mice’s chagasic hearts (60 days postinfection) were compared to healthy tissues. Two hundred and fifty-one significant metabolites or chemical classes were annotated. Disturbances in energy metabolism and dysregulation of amino acids were observed. Pathway analyses indicated increased inflammatory activity in infected individuals, as observed by eicosanoid (prostaglandin and thromboxane) changes. The accumulation of some sphingomyelins, correlated with myocarditis, suggests heart tissue damage from the infection. The metabolic changes observed contribute to understanding disease progression and the cardiac effects caused by the parasite, bringing new insights into the discovery and development of new therapies.