Trypanosoma cruzi: location of a specific antigen on the surface of bloodstream trypomastigote and culture epimastigote forms.

The nature of surface antigens of culture epimastigote and bloodstream trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated by light and electron microscopy using indirect immunofluorescence and peroxidase labeling techniques and antisera against unique, common, and contaminant antigens. A specific antigen, identified by monospecific rabbit antiserum (anti-component 5 antiserum), is the major constituent of the cell surface and flagellar membrane of both the culture epimastigote and bloodstream trypomastigote forms. Antigens of heterologous stercorarian trypanosomes (Trypanosoma rangeli) and of culture medium proteins could not be detected on the cell surface of culture epimastigote forms and bloodstream trypomastigote forms.     

Involvement of TSSA (trypomastigote small surface antigen) in Trypanosoma cruzi invasion of mammalian cells

TSSA (trypomastigote small surface antigen) is a polymorphic mucin-like molecule displayed on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote forms. To evaluate its functional properties, we undertook comparative biochemical and genetic approaches on isoforms present in parasite stocks from extant evolutionary lineages (CL Brener and Sylvio X-10). We show that CL Brener TSSA, but not the Sylvio X-10 counterpart, exhibits dose-dependent and saturable binding towards non-macrophagic cell lines. This binding triggers Ca(2+)-based signalling responses in the target cell while providing an anchor for the invading parasite. Accordingly, exogenous addition of either TSSA-derived peptides or specific antibodies significantly inhibits invasion of CL Brener, but not Sylvio X-10, trypomastigotes. Non-infective epimastigote forms, which do not express detectable levels of TSSA, were stably transfected with TSSA cDNA from either parasite stock. Although both transfectants produced a surface-associated mucin-like TSSA product, epimastigotes expressing CL Brener TSSA showed a ~2-fold increase in their attachment to mammalian cells. Overall, these findings indicate that CL Brener TSSA functions as a parasite adhesin, engaging surface receptor(s) and inducing signalling pathways on the host cell as a prerequisite for parasite internalization. More importantly, the contrasting functional features of TSSA isoforms provide one appealing mechanism underlying the differential infectivity of T. cruzi stocks.     

Comparative studies on surface antigenicity of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes from infected mouse blood and infected L-cell cultures

Differences in the antigenicities of surface components of blood-form trypomastigotes and trypomastigotes derived from L-cell cultures were studied by agglutination and indirect immunofluorescent tests on living parasites using various antisera from rabbits and mice. Antisera from rabbits immunized with L-cell-derived trypomastigotes and antisera obtained from rabbits infected with L-cell-derived trypomastigotes showed similar titers in both the agglutination and immunofluorescent test. Moreover, both antisera exhibited higher titers against trypomastigotes derived from L-cell cultures than against blood-form trypomastigotes. No detectable agglutination titer against either blood-form or L-cell-derived trypomastigotes was observed with sera from (a) mice infected with blood-form trypomastigotes after previous immunization with blood-form trypomastigotes, (b) mice infected with blood-form trypomastigotes and then treated with Lampit, or (c) mice infected with slightly less virulent trypomastigotes from L-cells. However, detectable and almost equal titers were observed with sera from (a), (b) and (c) in indirect immunofluorescent tests. Mouse sera also exhibited higher titers against trypomastigotes derived from L-cells than against the blood-form type. However, mouse sera showed more pronounced differences than rabbit sera. These results suggest that there may be two types of trypomastigotes in infected animals and that the surface components of blood-form trypomastigotes have lower antigenicity.     

Agglutination of Trypanosoma cruzi in infected cells treated with serum from chronically infected mice

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. The chronic stage of infection is characterized by a production of neutralizing antibodies in the vertebrate host. A polyclonal antibody, anti-egressin, has been found to inhibit egress of parasites from the host cell late in the intracellular cycle, after the parasites have transformed from the replicative amastigote into the trypomastigote. It has also been found that BALB/c mouse fibroblasts in the late stages of parasite infection become permeable to molecules as large as antibodies, leading to the possibility that anti-egressin affects the intracellular parasites. This project addresses the fate of the intracellular trypomastigotes that have been inhibited from egressing the host cell. Extended cultures of infected fibroblasts treated with chronic mouse serum reduced parasite egress at all time points measured. Parasites released from infected fibroblasts treated with chronic serum had a reduced ability to infect fibroblasts in culture, yet did not lose infectivity entirely. Absorption of chronic serum with living trypomastigotes removed the anti-egressin effect. The possibility that the target of anti-egressin is a parasite surface component is further indicated by the agglutination of extracellular trypomastigotes by chronic serum. The possibility that cross-linking by antibody occurs intracellularly, thus inhibiting egress, was reinforced by cleaving purified IgG into Fab fragments, which did not inhibit egress when added to infected cultures. From this work, it is proposed that the current, best explanation of the mechanism of egress inhibition by anti-egressin is intracellular agglutination, preventing normal parasite-driven egress.     

A carbohydrate-containing antigen from Trypanosoma cruzi and its detection in the circulation of infected mice.

A polysaccharide-containing fraction has been prepared from the water-soluble material of a phenol-water extract of epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Sera from rabbits immunized with this material have been used to detect trypanosome-derived polysaccharide in plasma of mice acutely infected with this parasite. The polysaccharide nature of the circulating antigen is suggested by its heat stability, resistance to proteinase and nucleases, and destruction by sodium metaperiodate, as well as by its periodic acid-Schiff staining and precipitation with concanavalin A. The antigen appears to be present in different strains of the parasite and in different stages in the life cycle of the parasite.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: expression of antigens on the membrane surface of parasitized cells

A direct immunofluorescent antibody test with an anti-Trypanosoma cruzi F(ab')2 conjugate was used to demonstrate antigens of T. cruzi on the membrane surface of intact live or fixed macrophages and L929 mouse fibroblasts infected with the organism. Antigens were demonstrated in 5 to 50% of infected cells, and their presence was not directly related to the number of intracellular organisms. Cells with as few as four intracellular amastigotes had demonstrable surface antigens, whereas some cells with as many as twelve or more organisms did not. Capping of antigen-antibody complexes was noted to begin a few minutes after the addition of the anti-T cruzi F(ab')2 conjugate; by 30 min, most of the parasitized cells had eliminated the complexes, and no surface antigen of parasitic nature could be demonstrated. Although capping may have caused a negative result in a previously positive cell, other mechanisms may be involved, because antigens were not demonstrated in some heavily parasitized cells examined immediately after completion of the test. Treatment of the infected cells with trypsin or chymotrypsin resulted in the absence of demonstrable parasite antigens on the cell membrane surface. However, the antigens were again demonstrated 12 hr after the enzymes were removed. The reappearance of parasite antigens on the surface of infected cells was prevented by treatment of the monolayers with puromycin or tunicamycin. A T cell-enriched population of spleen lymphocytes from mice chronically infected with T. cruzi recognized the membrane-bound antigens and proceeded to destroy the host cell and the intracellular organisms. In this process, noninfected cells were also destroyed, possibly because they were coated with antigens released from intact infected cells or from infected cells that had been lysed by the action of the sensitized lymphocytes or their products.     

Cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in Wistar rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagasic cardiomyopathy is a major life-threatening complication of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in human beings. This study focuses on the hypertrophic and hyperplastic mechanisms underlying the structural changes of the heart during experimental infection. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, transversal diameter, nuclear area, and number of nuclei per unit volume were determined in the ventricular myocytes of T. cruzi-infected Wistar rats. PCNA expression was enhanced throughout the inflamed myocardium and in the spared areas of the left ventricular wall and the septum. Myocyte width increased from 26 to 75% at the inflammation-free myocardium (P < 0.0001), whereas it decreased 25% at the inflamed left ventricular wall areas (P < 0.001). Nuclear size increased in the inflammation-free myocardium of the left ventricle and the septum (> 10-36%, P < 0.01 and >0.2-32%, P < 0.03, respectively) and decreased at the inflamed areas of the left ventricular wall (10-22%. P < 0.02) with respect to the controls. The number of nuclei per unit volume decreased at the inflamed myocardium regardless of topographical location (36-65%) with respect to the controls (P < 0.0001) and in the inflammation-free myocardium of the right ventricle and the septum (<21-37%, P < 0.002 and <8-39%, P < 0.002, respectively). These results show that the heart responds to T. cruzi infection with DNA repair and cell multiplication in the inflamed sites and with hypertrophy of the unaffected myocardium.     

Intraspecific variation in Trypanosoma cruzi: effect of temperature on the intracellular differentiation in tissue culture.

Inhibition of T. cruzi amastigote-trypomastigote differentiation in tissue culture at 37 C is a strain-dependent event. When eight T. cruzi strains were submitted to two environmental temperatures (33 and 37 C), the following patterns of differentiation were obtained: in three strains, transformation was inhibited at 37 C but readily occurred at 33 C; in three other strains differentiation took place at both temperatures; finally, in the two remaining strains, a partial inhibition was detected at 37 C. The authors discuss the meaning of this intraspecific variation and the possible relationship with the occurrence of temperature-sensitive mutants among protozoa.     

Mechanism of action of a nitroimidazole-thiadiazole derivate upon Trypanosoma cruzi tissue culture amastigotes

Megazol (CL 64,855) a very effective drug in experimental infections by Trypanosoma cruzi, and also in in vitro assays with vertebrate forms of the parasite, had its activity upon macromolecule biosynthesis tested using tissue culture-derived amastigote forms. Megazol presented a drastic inhibition of [3H]-leucine incorporation, and only a partial inhibition of [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-uridine incorporation, suggesting a selective activity upon protein synthesis. Comparing the three drugs, megazol was more potent than nifurtimox and benznidazole in inhibiting protein and DNA synthesis. Megazol showed a 91% of inhibition of [3H]-leucine incorporation whereas nifurtimox and benznidazole, 0% and 2%, respectively. These latter two drugs inhibited the incorporation of all the precursors tested at similar levels, but the concentration of benznidazole was always three times higher, suggesting different mechanisms of action or, more probably, a greater efficiency of the 5-nitrofuran derivate in relation to the 2-nitroimidazole. So, we conclude that the mode of action of megazol is different from the ones of nifurtimox and benznidazole and that its primary effect is associated with an impairment of protein synthesis.     

Purification of Trypanosoma cruzi surface proteins involved in adhesion to host cells

We have identified four surface 83 kDa proteins of pI values 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 in T. cruzi trypomastigotes which specifically bind to rat heart myoblasts. These proteins were purified by isoelectric focusing and anion-exchange chromatography in an FPLC system. These 83 kDa proteins inhibit the attachment of trypomastigotes to myoblasts in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that these trypomastigote proteins mediate the attachment of trypomastigotes to heart myoblasts.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: orchiectomy and dehydroepiandrosterone therapy in infected rats

The ability of gonadal hormones to influence and induce diverse immunological functions during the course of a number of parasitic infections has been extensively studied in the latest decades. Dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate are the most abundant steroid hormones secreted by the human adrenal cortex and are considered potent immune-activators. The effects of orchiectomy on the course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rats, treated and untreated with DHEA were examined, by comparing blood and cardiac parasitism, macrophage numbers, nitric oxide and IFN-γ levels. Orchiectomy enhanced resistance against infection with elevated numbers of macrophages, enhanced concentrations of NO and IFN-γ and reduced amastigote burdens in heart when compared to control animals. DHEA replacement exerted a synergistic effect, up-modulating the immune response. Male sex steroids appear to play fundamental role in determining the outcome of disease, through the regulation and modulation of the activity of the immune response.