Change in the isoenzyme composition of acid phosphatase in murine peritoneal macrophages exposed to or infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

The effect of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi on the activity and isoenzyme composition of acid phosphatase within individual murine peritoneal macrophages maintained in vitro was studied. Concentrations of acid phosphatase activity and number of intracellular parasites were quantitated by using a computer-assisted cytospectrophotometry system. Changes in the isoenzyme composition of macrophages during infection with T. cruzi were detected by comparing the patterns of acid phosphatase levels between macrophages treated in the absence and presence of an enzyme inhibitor. It was observed that the concentration levels of acid phosphatase activity in macrophages did not change significantly by infection with T. cruzi. Also, the concentration levels of acid phosphatase activity did not change in macrophages uninfected but exposed to T. cruzi. On the other hand, the isoenzyme composition of acid phosphatase did change in macrophages exposed to or infected with T. cruzi. These results demonstrate that Trypanosoma cruzi affects the acid phosphatase composition of macrophages.