title: Stable RNA interference of host thrombospondin-1 blocks Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
abstract: Interactions between Trypanosoma cruzi and the extracellular matrix play an important role in cellular invasion. Here we show that T. cruzi increases the levels of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) expression in host cells during early infection. Stable RNA interference of host cell TSP-1 knocks down the levels of TSP-1 transcripts and protein expression in mammalian cells causing inhibition of T. cruzi infection. Addition of TSP-1 to these cells restores infection. Thus, host TSP-1, regulated by the parasite, plays a crucial role in early infection. This is the first report showing that a human parasite modulates TSP-1 expression to facilitate infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immune Response, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN 37208, USA.
authors.forename: Kaneatra J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Pius N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nde
authors.forename: Yuliya Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kleshchenko
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villalta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi
chemical_list: D019700:Thrombospondin 1