title: [Signaling role of exogenous arachidonic acid in the invasion of macrophages by Toxoplasma gondii].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the signaling role of arachidonic acid in the invasion of RAW264.7 macrophage by Toxoplasma gondii.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of infection was calculated by both light microscope and flow cytometer. Fluorescent emission spectra were recorded using a microspectrofluometer for the concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Calcium concentration in macrophages and rate of infection increased with a higher concentration of exogenous arachidonic acid in a dose-dependent manner. The invasion was dependent on the mobilization of calcium from the extracellular medium and from intracellular stores and followed the influx of calcium into the parasitized cell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arachidonic acid may enhance the rate of infection via calcium transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Molecular Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004.
authors.forename: Bi-wen
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Qing-ling
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-yin
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming-sen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002118:Calcium