Title |
Autophagic elimination of Trypanosoma cruzi in the presence of metals |
Author |
Laís Pessanha de Carvalho and Edésio José Tenório de Melo* |
Address |
Laboratory of Tissue and Cell Biology, State University of North Fluminense – Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-602, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Bibliography |
Journal of Microbiology, 57(10),918-926, 2019,
|
DOI |
10.1007/s12275-019-9018-6
|
Key Words |
autophagy, cadmium, mercury, nonessential metals,
Trypanosoma cruzi, zinc |
Abstract |
Trypanosoma cruzi is an obligate intracellular parasite transmitted
to vertebrate hosts by blood-sucking insects. Molecules
present in parasites and mammalian cells allow the recognition
and parasite internalization. Metallic ions play an essential
role in the establishment and maintenance of hostparasite
interaction. However, little is known about how parasites
handle with essential and nonessential metal quotas.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of metal ions
on the biological processes of T. cruzi infected cells. Infected
cells were incubated with ZnCl2, CdCl2, and HgCl2 for 12 h
and labeled with different specific dyes to investigate the cellular
events related to intracellular parasite death and elimination.
Infected host cells and parasite’s mitochondria underwent
functional and structural disorders, in addition to
parasite’s DNA condensation and pH decrease on host cells,
which led to parasite death. Further investigations suggested
that lysosomes were involved in pH decrease and the double
membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum formed vacuoles
surrounding damaged parasites, which indicate the occurrence
of autophagy for parasite elimination. In conclusion,
low concentrations of nonessential and essential metals cause
a series of damage to Trypanosoma cruzi organelles, leading
to its loss of viability, death, and elimination, with no removal
of the host cells. |