Antibodies against the Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins induce apoptosis in HL-1 cardiac cells

► The monoclonal antibody against the C-terminal end of the Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P2 protein (R13 peptide), called mAb 17.2, and its single chain Fv fragment (scFv) C5, cause apoptosis of murine adult cardiac HL-1 cells. ► This effect is due to antibody interaction with cardiac β-adrenergic receptors. ► Antibodies developed in chronic Chagas heart disease (cChHD) patients with high reactivity against T. cruzi lysate and R13 peptide. ► Antibodies also induce programmed cardiac cell death, by a mechanism that partially involves cross-reactivity of the C-terminal end of ribosomal P proteins and the β-adrenergic receptors.