title: Entry of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense into microvascular endothelial cells of the human blood-brain barrier.
abstract: Using an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier consisting of human brain microvascular endothelial cells we recently demonstrated that Trypanosoma brucei gambiense bloodstream-forms efficiently cross these cells via a paracellular route while Trypanosoma brucei brucei crosses these cells poorly. Using a combination of techniques that include fluorescence activated cell sorting, confocal and electron microscopy, we now show that some T.b. gambiense blood stream form parasites have the capacity to enter human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The intracellular location of the trypanosomes was demonstrated in relation to the endothelial cell plasma membrane and to the actin cytoskeleton. These parasites may be a terminal stage within a lysosomal compartment or they may be viable trypanosomes that will be able to exit the brain microvascular endothelial cells. This process may provide an additional transcellular route by which the parasites cross the blood-brain barrier.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street, Park 256, Park 256, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Nikolskaia
authors.forename: Yuri V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kovbasnjuk
authors.forename: Kee Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Grab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000469:parasitology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D014347:Trypanosoma brucei gambiense / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology