title: Efficacy of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposome against African trypanosomes.
abstract: We demonstrate here that dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome has an antitrypanosomal effect, especially against the bloodstream forms (BSFs) of African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma congolense, T. brucei rhodesiense, and T. brucei brucei). The DPPC liposome significantly decreased the in vitro percentage of viable and motile BSF African trypanosomes but only marginally reduced the percentage of viable and motile procyclic form (PCF) of trypanosomes. The DPPC liposome absorption was much more pronounced to BSF than to PCF trypanosomes. Administration of the DPPC liposome showed a slight but significant reduction in the early development of parasitemia in T. congolense-infected mice. These results suggest that parasites were killed by specific binding of the DPPC liposome to the trypanosomes. This work demonstrates for the first time that a liposome has antitrypanosomal activity.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Noritaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuboki
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008081:Liposomes; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014348:Trypanosoma congolense / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine