**8.3 Apoptosis modulation by** *T. cruzi* **in other tissues**

In addition to the modulation of apoptosis by *T. cruzi* of its main host cells, similar effects have been observed in other cell types. It has been shown that during the infection with *T. cruzi*, the parasite is able to induce apoptosis in human chorionic villi [110]. Also, the parasite has been shown to have an antiproliferative activity on the malignant melanoma cell line B16-BL6 [111].

The coinfection of *T. cruzi* with HIV can cause meningoencephalitis since both pathogens infect astrocytes. Interestingly, infected astrocytes with *T. cruzi* or *T. cruzi* and HIV, but not with HIV alone, showed a decrease in cell death and IL-6 secretion, which has a protective effect against death. This suggests that *T. cruzi* can reduce the induction of cell death by HIV and even more affect the replication of the virus [112].
