A human astrocytoma cell line is highly susceptible to infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Astrocytes play a vital role in neuronal protection, homeostasis, vascular interchange and the local immune response. Some viruses and parasites can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect glia. Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease, can seriously compromise the central nervou...

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Published inMemórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 108; no. 2; pp. 212 - 219
Main Authors Vargas-Zambrano, Juan Camilo, Lasso, Paola, Cuellar, Adriana, Puerta, Concepción Judith, González, John Mario
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Portuguese
Published Brazil Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 01.04.2013
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
Subjects
astrocytes
Astrocytes - parasitology
Astrocytoma - immunology
Astrocytoma - parasitology
Blood-Brain Barrier - immunology
Cell Line, Tumor
Humans
Immunity, Cellular - immunology
Major Histocompatibility Complex - immunology
neuroimmunology
PARASITOLOGY
Time Factors
TROPICAL MEDICINE
Trypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi - physiology
neuroimmunology
astrocytes
Trypanosoma cruzi
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Summary:Astrocytes play a vital role in neuronal protection, homeostasis, vascular interchange and the local immune response. Some viruses and parasites can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect glia. Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease, can seriously compromise the central nervous system, mainly in immune-suppressed individuals, but also during the acute phase of the infection. In this report, the infective capacity of T. cruzi in a human astrocyte tumour-derived cell line was studied. Astrocytes exposed to trypomastigotes (1:10 ratio) produced intracellular amastigotes and new trypomastigotes emerged by day 4 post-infection (p.i.). At day 6 p.i., 93% of the cells were infected. Using flow cytometry, changes were observed in both the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules and the chemokine secretion pattern of astrocytes exposed to the parasite. Blocking the low-density lipoprotein receptor on astrocytes did not reduce parasite intracellular infection. Thus, T. cruzi can infect astrocytes and modulate the immune response during central nervous system infection.
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PL was supported by the PhD National Program, COLCIENCIAS 2011.
Financial support: Vicerrectoría de Investigaciones, Universidad de los Andes
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060
1678-8060
0074-0276
DOI:10.1590/0074-0276108022013014