title: In vitro and ex vivo permissivity of hepatocytes for Leishmania donovani.
abstract: Using models of ex vivo infection of murine, rat, and human primary hepatocytes by Leishmania donovani, we showed that hepatocytes are permissive for Leishmania at a low level. We then modeled the in vitro infection of a human hepatoma-derived cell line to examine the parasite's capability to proliferate and to cause direct damage to hepatocytes. Results showed that L. donovani can infect hepatocytes, but do not massively proliferate. This slight infection under our experimental conditions resulted in limited damage to hepatocytes. These results bring into question a possible role for hepatocytes as a parasite reservoir during latent infection.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM, U-522, 35000 Rennes, France. jean-pierre.gangneux@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gangneux
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lemenand
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guiguen
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guguen-Guillouzo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gripon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan