Gene Polymorphism and MASP-3 Serum Levels in Patients with Chronic Chagas Disease.

Introduction: Chagas disease (CD), caused by , is a major public health issue worldwide affecting 6-7 million people, mainly in Latin America. The complement system plays a crucial role in host immune defense against infection and during the chronic phase of CD; however, the role of the MBL-associated serine protease 1 () gene encoding MASP-1, MASP-3, and MAp44 complement proteins has not yet been reported in CD. This study investigated the possible association between gene polymorphisms and MASP-3 protein serum levels in chronic CD and its clinical forms.

Ficolin-3 in chronic Chagas disease: Low serum levels associated with the risk of cardiac insufficiency.

Aims: To investigate whether FCN3 polymorphisms and circulating ficolin-3 levels were associated with clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease (CD) and to assess their potential use as biomarkers for the disease or its severity.

Methods And Results: FCN3 polymorphisms (g.1637delC (rs532781899) in exon 5; g.