RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the protein annexin A1 (ANXA1), a potent endogenous regulator of the inflammatory process, in ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: C57BL/6 female mice were infected using intravitreal injections of either 10(6) tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain; T. gondii) or PBS only (control groups). After 24, 48, and 72 h, animals were sacrificed and their eyes were harvested for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural immunocytochemical analysis of ANXA1. Human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells (ARPE-19) were infected in vitro with T. gondii and collected after 60, 120, 240 min, and 24 h. RESULTS: Compared with non-infected eyes, an intense inflammatory response was observed in the anterior (24 h after infection) and posterior segments (72 h after infection) of the infected eye, characterized by neutrophil infiltration and by the presence of tachyzoites and their consequent destruction along with disorganization of normal retina architecture and RPE vacuolization. T. gondii infection was associated with a significant increase of ANXA1 expression in the neutrophils at 24, 48, and 72 h, and in the RPE at 48 and 72 h. In vitro studies confirmed an upregulation of ANXA1 levels in RPE cells, after 60 and 120 min of infection with T. gondii. CONCLUSIONS: The positive modulation of endogenous ANXA1 in the inflammatory and RPE cells during T. gondii infection suggests that this protein may serve as a therapeutic target in ocular toxoplasmosis.
Asunto(s)
Anexina A1/genética , Segmento Anterior del Ojo/inmunología , Células Epiteliales/inmunología , Segmento Posterior del Ojo/inmunología , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Ocular/veterinaria , Animales , Anexina A1/metabolismo , Segmento Anterior del Ojo/parasitología , Segmento Anterior del Ojo/patología , Células Epiteliales/parasitología , Células Epiteliales/patología , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/inmunología , Humanos , Interferón gamma/biosíntesis , Interferón gamma/inmunología , Inyecciones Intravítreas , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Infiltración Neutrófila/inmunología , Segmento Posterior del Ojo/parasitología , Segmento Posterior del Ojo/patología , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/parasitología , Epitelio Pigmentado de la Retina/patología , Toxoplasma/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/parasitología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/patología , Toxoplasmosis Ocular/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Ocular/parasitología , Toxoplasmosis Ocular/patologíaRESUMEN
A 6-year-old girl presented with signs of severe anterior uveitis. After initiating treatment, a cyst like lesion was observed in the anterior chamber that led to the diagnosis of ocular cysticercosis that was ultimately confirmed with histopathologic analysis. Ocular cysticercosis usually affects the extraocular muscle. Infection of the anterior chamber has been described, although to a lesser extent. Because of the usually poor visual prognosis and the controversy in treatment, physicians should be aware of this disease and its different variants of presentation.