Cryptosporidium parvum Infection of Intestinal Epithelium: Morphologic and Functional Studies in an In Vitro Model

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 169; no. 1; pp. 170 - 177
• Main Authors: Adams, Reid B., Guerrant, Richard L., Zu, Shuxian, Fang, Guodong, Roche, James K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.01.1994; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; Cell Line; Cell lines; Cell Membrane Permeability; Cryptosporidium parvum; Cryptosporidium parvum - growth & development; Cryptosporidium parvum - ultrastructure; Electric Impedance; Electrical resistance; Electrophysiology; Epithelial cells; Epithelium - parasitology; Epithelium - pathology; Epithelium - physiopathology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hantavirus; Hemolytic uremic syndrome; Horseradish Peroxidase - metabolism; Infections; Intestines - parasitology; Intestines - pathology; Intestines - physiopathology; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Major Articles; Microscopy, Electron; Oocysts; Protozoa; Time Factors; Viruses; Protozoa; Cell culture; Protozoal disease; Barrier function; Gut; Epithelium; In vitro; Oocyst; Infection; Cryptosporidiosis; Pathogenicity; Pathology; Life cycle; Cryptosporidium parvum; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Epithelial cell; Sporozoa
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/169.1.170

A monolayer of mature polarized colonic epithelial cells (T84) able to generate and maintain a barrier to macromolecular flow was used to study pathophysiologic events that occur on microvillus cell exposure to Cryptosporidium parvum. By 24–48 h, several life cycle forms were seen in parasitophorous vacuoles near the apical cell surface, along with a time- and oocyst dose-dependent reduction in epithelial barrier function. As few as 105 organisms constituted a successful infecting dose, and heat inactivation of organisms markedly reduced the monolayer barrier alteration. Horseradish peroxidase flux studies demonstrated a substantial increase in macromolecular permeability of the monolayer, and lactate dehydrogenase determinations indicated modest injury of the T84 epithelial cells on exposure to oocysts. Thus, disruption of the epithelial cell barrier, not just opening of trans cellular channels for ion flow as reported previously, is responsible for the effects of C. parvum oocysts on intestinal epithelium.