IFNγ⁺ and Pfn⁺ cells differentially invade the cardiac tissue of <i>T. cruzi</i>-infected C57BL/6 mice.

<p>Mice were infected with 100 bt of the Colombian strain of <i>T. cruzi</i> and the presence of IFNγ⁺ and Pfn⁺ cells in the cardiac tissue was evaluated by IHS. (<b>A</b>) Numbers of IFNγ⁺ cells infiltrating the cardiac tissue at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 dpi. (<b>B</b>) Numbers of Pfn⁺ cells infiltrating the cardiac tissue at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 dpi. (<b>C</b>) Relationship between IFNγ⁺ cells infiltrating the cardiac tissue and heart parasitism or CK-MB activity in serum. (<b>D</b>) Relationship between Pfn⁺ cells infiltrating the cardiac tissue and heart parasitism or CK-MB activity in the serum. (<b>E</b>) Immunohistochemistry staining of IFNγ⁺ (green arrows) and Pfn⁺ (red arrows) cells infiltrating the cardiac tissue at 60 dpi. In (<b>A</b>) and (<b>B</b>), each circle represents an individual mouse. In (<b>C</b>) and (<b>D</b>), each circle represents the mean ± SD of the studied group (5–7 animals/time point). These data represent three independent experiments. ^*, <i>p</i><0.05; ^**, <i>p</i><0.01; and ^***, <i>p</i><0.001, comparing noninfected (NI) controls and <i>T. cruzi</i>-infected mice. ^#, <i>p</i><0.05, comparing <i>T. cruzi</i>-infected mice at 60 and 120 dpi.