Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus: interaction with fibroblasts and muscle cells - new insights into parasite-mediated host cell cytotoxicity
Vilela, Ricardo Chaves; Benchimol, Marlene.
  • Vilela, Ricardo Chaves; Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho. Rio de Janeiro. BR
  • Benchimol, Marlene; Universidade Santa Úrsula. Rio de Janeiro. BR
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz ; 107(6): 720-727, set. 2012. ilus, graf
Article in English | LILACS | ID: lil-649485
ABSTRACT
Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus are parasitic, flagellated protists that inhabit the urogenital tract of humans and bovines, respectively. T. vaginalis causes the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide and has been associated with an increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection in humans. Infections by T. foetus cause significant losses to the beef industry worldwide due to infertility and spontaneous abortion in cows. Several studies have shown a close association between trichomonads and the epithelium of the urogenital tract. However, little is known concerning the interaction of trichomonads with cells from deeper tissues, such as fibroblasts and muscle cells. Published parasite-host cell interaction studies have reported contradictory results regarding the ability of T. foetus and T. vaginalis to interact with and damage cells of different tissues. In this study, parasite-host cell interactions were examined by culturing primary human fibroblasts obtained from abdominal biopsies performed during plastic surgeries with trichomonads. In addition, mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, primary chick embryo myogenic cells and L6 muscle cells were also used as models of target cells. The parasite-host cell cultures were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy and were tested for cell viability and cell death. JC-1 staining, which measures mitochondrial membrane potential, was used to determine whether the parasites induced target cell damage. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling staining was used as an indicator of chromatin damage. The colorimetric crystal violet assay was performed to ana-lyse the cytotoxicity induced by the parasite. The results showed that T. foetus and T. vaginalis adhered to and were cytotoxic to both fibroblasts and muscle cells, indicating that trichomonas infection of the connective and muscle tissues is likely to occur; such infections could cause serious risks to the infected host.
Subject(s)


Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Trichomonas vaginalis / Cell Adhesion / Tritrichomonas foetus / Muscle Cells / Fibroblasts / Host-Parasite Interactions Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz Journal subject: Tropical Medicine / Parasitology Year: 2012 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR / Universidade Santa Úrsula/BR

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Trichomonas vaginalis / Cell Adhesion / Tritrichomonas foetus / Muscle Cells / Fibroblasts / Host-Parasite Interactions Limits: Animals / Humans Language: English Journal: Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz Journal subject: Tropical Medicine / Parasitology Year: 2012 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR / Universidade Santa Úrsula/BR