Trypanosoma brucei: growth differences in different mammalian sera are not due to the species-specificity of transferrin

The heterodimeric transferrin receptors of Trypanosoma brucei (Tf-Rs) are encoded by two genes termed ESAG7 and ESAG6. These genes belong to polycistronic transcription units contained in the multiple expression sites for the variant surface glycoprotein ( VSG ESs), only one of which is active at a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental parasitology 2005-03, Vol.109 (3), p.188-194
Main Authors: Salmon, Didier, Paturiaux-Hanocq, Françoise, Poelvoorde, Philippe, Vanhamme, Luc, Pays, Etienne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigenic variation
Biological and medical sciences
Cattle
Culture Media
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Immune Sera - immunology
Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis
Mice
Parasite adaptation
Protozoa
Rabbits
Receptors, Transferrin - genetics
Receptors, Transferrin - metabolism
Species Specificity
Transferrin - genetics
Transferrin - immunology
Transferrin - physiology
Transferrin receptor
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - growth & development
Trypanosoma brucei brucei - immunology
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Summary:The heterodimeric transferrin receptors of Trypanosoma brucei (Tf-Rs) are encoded by two genes termed ESAG7 and ESAG6. These genes belong to polycistronic transcription units contained in the multiple expression sites for the variant surface glycoprotein ( VSG ESs), only one of which is active at a time. Each VSG ES carries a different copy of these genes, leading to alternative expression of Tf-Rs with quite distinct binding affinities for transferrins from various mammals. T. brucei clones exhibit marked growth differences depending on the species-specificity of the serum. Since transferrin is a vital growth factor for the parasite, we investigated whether it could be responsible for these observations. We analyzed the cases of Tf-Rs from two ESs preferentially selected for expression in man and mouse, respectively. We show that serum-dependent growth variations of trypanosomes expressing these receptors are independent of transferrin, and that both high- and low-affinity Tf-Rs allow efficient trypanosome growth in various sera, either in vivo or in vitro.
ISSN:0014-4894
1090-2449
DOI:10.1016/j.exppara.2004.11.010