Programmed cell death in Trypanosoma cruzi induced by Bothrops jararaca venom.
Cells die through a programmed process or accidental death, know as apoptosis or necrosis, respectively. Bothrops jararaca is a snake whose venom inhibits the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms causing mitochondrion swelling and cell death. The aim of the present work was to determine the type of death induced in epimastigotes of T. cruzi by this venom. Parasite growth was inhibited after venom treatment, and 50% growth inhibition was obtained with 10 microg/ml. Ultrastructural observations confirmed mitochondrion swelling and kinetoplast disorganization. Furthermore, cytoplasmic condensation, loss of mitochondrion membrane potential, time-dependent increase in phosphatidylserine exposure at the outer leaflet plasma membrane followed by permeabilization, activation of caspase like protein and DNA fragmentation were observed in epimastigotes throughout a 24 h period of venom treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that the stress induced in epimastigote by this venom, triggers a programmed cell death process, similar to metazoan apoptosis, which leads to parasite death.
Deolindo
Poliana
P
Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, 28013-600 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
Teixeira-Ferreira
André S
AS
Melo
Edésio J T
EJ
Arnholdt
Andrea Cristina Veto
AC
Souza
Wanderley de
Wd
Alves
Elias W
EW
DaMatta
Renato A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017837:Bothrops; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D003435:Crotalid Venoms