Host-cell apoptosis in Taenia solium-induced brain granulomas in naturally infected pigs

To assess whether apoptosis occurs in pig brain granulomas due to Taenia solium cysticerci, brain tissues from 30 pigs naturally infected with T. solium cysticercosis were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. In addition, tissues were stained with CD3 ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parasitology 2008-09, Vol.135 (10), p.1237-1242
Main Authors: SIKASUNGE, C. S., PHIRI, I. K., JOHANSEN, M. V., WILLINGHAM, A. L., LEIFSSON, P. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Diseases - parasitology
Brain Diseases - veterinary
CD3 lymphocytes
cysticercus
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
General aspects and techniques. Study of several systematic groups. Models
granuloma
Granuloma - parasitology
Granuloma - veterinary
Host-Parasite Interactions - physiology
Immune response
Invertebrates
Lesions
Lymphocytes
Nemathelminthia. Plathelmintha
pig
Swine
Swine - parasitology
Swine Diseases - parasitology
Taenia solium
Taenia solium - physiology
Taeniasis - pathology
TUNEL staining
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Summary:To assess whether apoptosis occurs in pig brain granulomas due to Taenia solium cysticerci, brain tissues from 30 pigs naturally infected with T. solium cysticercosis were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. In addition, tissues were stained with CD3 marker to identify T lymphocytes. Examination of TUNEL-stained tissues showed apoptotic cells in early lesions that contained viable cysticerci. Apoptotic cells were primarily found interspersed with normal cell types, and were mostly located in the inflammatory infiltrate. Late or advanced granulomas with disintegrated scolices did not show TUNEL-positive cells. CD3+ cells were found in both early and advanced lesions and apoptosis mainly co-localized with CD3+ T lymphocytes. This suggests that these cells are constantly undergoing apoptosis and thus die as soon as they arrive at the site of infection. Apoptosis indeed may be one way by which T. solium cysticerci down-regulate the host's cellular immune response in early cysticercosis. Therefore, further research is needed to establish if other cells besides T-lymphocytes are also a target for destruction by cysticerci in early cysticercosis as well as studies to assess if cysteine protease is expressed by viable cysticerci in situ.
ISSN:0031-1820
1469-8161
DOI:10.1017/S0031182008004678