Impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on TM3 Leydig cells: Alterations in testosterone and cytokines levels.
Acta Trop
; 220: 105938, 2021 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33932363
ABSTRACT
Leydig cells play pivotal roles in eliciting male characteristics by producing testosterone and any damage to these cells can compromise male fertility Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasite capable to invade any nucleated cell, including cells from male reproductive system. Herein, we evaluated the capacity of RH strain of T. gondii to infect TM3 Leydig cells and the impact of this infection on testosterone and inflammatory mediators production. We first, by performing adherence, infection, and intracellular proliferation assays, we found a significant increase in the number of infected Leydig cells, peaking 48 h after the infection with T. gondii. Supernatants of TM3 infected cells exhibited, in a time-dependent manner, increased levels of testosterone as well as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which is correlated with the robust T. gondii infection. In conclusion, our study provides new insights regarding the harmful effects of T. gondii infection on male reproductive system.
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Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Testosterona
/
Toxoplasmose
/
Células Intersticiais do Testículo
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Brasil