Trypanosoma cruzi: Acute Infection Affects Expression of α-2-Macroglobulin and A2MR/LRP Receptor Differently in C3H and C57BL/6 Mice

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 96; no. 2; pp. 97 - 107
• Main Authors: Soeiro, Maria de Nazaré C., Paiva, Mauricio M., Waghabi, Mariana C., Meirelles, Maria de Nazareth L., Lorent, Kristin, Henriques-Pons, Andrea, Coutinho, Claudia M.L.M., Leuven, Fred Van, Araújo-Jorge, Tania C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.10.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: a-2-Macroglobulin; A2MR/LRP; A2MR/LRP receptor; Acute Disease; acute phase; alpha-Macroglobulins - biosynthesis; alpha-Macroglobulins - genetics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; C57BL/6, B6; Chagas Disease - genetics; Chagas Disease - metabolism; Chagas Disease - parasitology; Chagas' disease; Experimental protozoal diseases and models; Gene Expression; Heart - parasitology; Infectious diseases; Liver - chemistry; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; mice α-2-macroglobulin, MAM; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C3H; mRNA; murinoglobulin, MUG; Myocardium - chemistry; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; Organ Size; Parasitemia - genetics; Parasitemia - metabolism; Parasitemia - parasitology; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Receptors, Immunologic - biosynthesis; Receptors, Immunologic - genetics; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Serum Globulins - biosynthesis; Serum Globulins - genetics; Spleen - chemistry; Spleen - metabolism; Spleen - pathology; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - physiology; Up-Regulation; α-macroglobulin family, AM; murinoglobulin, MUG; A2MR/LRP; C57BL/6, B6; acute phase; mRNA; mice α-2-macroglobulin, MAM; Chagas' disease; α-macroglobulin family, AM; Trypanosoma cruzi; Kinetoplastida; Protozoa; Host parasite relation; α2-Macroglobulin; Animal model; Protozoal disease; Rodentia; Chagas disease; Parasitosis; Gene expression; Strain; Infection; Vertebrata; Experimental disease; Mammalia; Mouse; Parasitism; Trypanosomiasis; Comparative study; Immune system; Macrophage; Biological receptor
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1006/expr.2000.4555

Soeiro, M. de N. C., Paiva, M. M., Waghabi, M. C., Meirelles, M. de N. L., Lorent, K., Henriques-Pons, A., Coutinho, C. M. L. M., Van Leuven, F., and Araújo-Jorge, T. C. 2000. Trypanosoma cruzi: Acute infection affects expression of α-2-macroglobulin and A2MR/LRP receptor differently in C3H and C57BL/6 mice. Experimental Parasitology96, 97–107. Although a complete cellular and humoral immune response is elicited in Chagas' disease, recent data suggest that other natural elements of innate immunity may also contribute to the initial host primary defense. α-Macroglobulins are a family of plasma proteinase inhibitors that are acute-phase reactants in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice and humans. Mice contain a tetrameric α-2-macroglobulin (MAM) and a monomeric murinoglobulin (MUG). Heterogeneity in their reactions was observed in murine T. cruzi-infected plasma A2M levels despite an overall increase. In addition, up-regulation of the A2M receptor (A2MR/LRP) was observed in peritoneal macrophages during T. cruzi infection. Here, we show that during T. cruzi infection (Y strain), the MAM and MUG hepatic mRNA levels and the corresponding plasma protein levels were up-regulated in C3H and C57BL/6 (B6) mice, but with different kinetics. On the contrary, A2MR/LRP mRNA levels increased in acutely infected C3H mice, but decreased in B6 mice, in both liver and heart. Immunocytochemistry of infected B6 heart cryosections confirmed a less intense endothelium labeling by the fluoresceinated ligand for A2MR/LRP. On the other hand, infected B6 spleen cells displayed higher F-A2M–FITC binding and MAC1 expression, confirming higher A2MR/LRP expression in macrophages. In uninfected mice, as well as after T. cruzi infection, higher A2M plasma levels were measured in C3H mice than in B6 mice. The lower tissue T. cruzi parasitism found in C3H-infected mice could reflect an inhibitory effect of A2M on parasite invasion. Our present data further contribute to clarifying aspects of the role of A2MR/LRP in a model of acute Chagas' disease in different mouse strains.