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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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2013-04, Vol.108 (2), p.212-219
Main Authors: Vargas-Zambrano, Juan Camilo, Lasso, Paola, Cuellar, Adriana, Puerta, Concepción Judith, González, John Mario
Format: Article
Language:English
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
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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.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060
1678-8060
0074-0276
DOI:10.1590/0074-0276108022013014