In contrast to that observed in subjects without cardiomyopathy, the addition of IL-27 or IL-7 in T. cruzi-stimulated cell cultures of PBMCs derived from those with heart disease (i.e., the G2 group) did not improve the frequencies of monofunctional or polyfunctional CD4+ T-cell responses specific for T. cruzi. The gene discussed is IL27; the disease is cardiomyopathy.