Trypanosoma cruzi and American Leishmania spp: Immunocytochemical localization of a laminin-like protein in the plasma membrane

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 168 - 175
• Main Authors: Bretaña, Antonio, Avila, JoséLuis, Arias-Flores, Marianela, Contreras, Marisol, Tapia, Félix Jacobo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.04.1986; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amastigotes; American Leishmania spp.: Laminin; Animals; Biochemistry. Physiology. Immunology. Molecular biology; Biological and medical sciences; CELL STRUCTURE; DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES; Epimastigotes; ESTRUCTURA CELULAR; ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GLICOPROTEINAS; GLYCOPROTEINE; GLYCOPROTEINS; Human protozoal diseases; Immunogold procedures; Infectious diseases; Laminin - analysis; Leishmania - ultrastructure; LEISHMANIA BRAZILIENSIS; Leishmania braziliensis - ultrastructure; LEISHMANIA MEXICANA; Leishmania mexicana - ultrastructure; Medical sciences; Membrane Proteins - analysis; Parasitic diseases; Promastigotes; Protozoa; Protozoal diseases; Species Specificity; STADE DE DEVELOPPEMENT; STRUCTURE CELLULAIRE; Tropical medicine; TRYPANOSOMA; Trypanosoma cruzi; Trypanosoma cruzi - ultrastructure; Trypanosomiasis; Trypomastigotes; Ultrastructural localization; American Leishmania spp.: Laminin; Promastigotes; Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); Epimastigotes; Immunogold procedures; Ultrastructural localization; Trypomastigotes; Amastigotes; Trypanosoma cruzi; Proteins; Protozoa; Immunocytochemistry; Leishmania; Plasma membrane; Rhizoflagellata; Glycoproteins; Trypomastigote; Pathogen; Cell surface
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-4894(86)90149-9

Patients with Chagas' disease or different clinical forms of American cutaneous leishmaniasis have high antilaminin antibody levels. An immunogold technique employing a specific antilaminin antibody was used in the present study to determine the presence, and define the ultrastructural localization, of laminin-like molecule(s) in American Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. Laminin was found located specifically in T. cruzi trypomastigotes on the external surface of the plasma membrane, close to the sites where the flagellar veil attaches to the plasma membrane. Laminin immunoreactivity was rapidly lost when trypomastigotes were cultured in liquid medium and no reactivity was found in fresh epimastigotes. Promastigotes and amastigotes of American Leishmania spp. also showed a specific localization of laminin immunoreactivity, this being limited to the lips of the flagellar pocket and to the parasitic side exactly opposite to the flagellar exit. These results confirm the presence of a laminin-like molecule(s) in both trypanosomatids, the specific localization suggesting a presently unknown function for this protein.