title: Programmed cell death in Entamoeba histolytica induced by the aminoglycoside G418.
abstract: This study presents morphological and biochemical evidence of programmed cell death (PCD) in Entamoeba histolytica induced by exposure of trophozoites to the aminoglycoside antibiotic G418. Morphological characteristics of PCD, including cell shrinkage, reduced cellular volume, nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation and vacuolization were observed, with preservation of trophozoite membrane integrity. PCD is orchestrated biochemically by alterations in intracellular ion fluxes. In G418-treated trophozoites, overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased intracellular K+, increased cytosolic calcium, and decreased intracellular pH levels were observed. However, externalization of phosphatidylserine was not detected. These results suggest that amoebae can undergo PCD under stress conditions, and that this PCD shares several properties with PCD reported in mammals and in a variety of unicellular organisms.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Biomedicina Molecular ENMyH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CP 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: J D'Artagnan
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Villalba
authors.affiliation: Programa de Biomedicina Molecular ENMyH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CP 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Programa de Biomedicina Molecular ENMyH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CP 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Medel
authors.affiliation: Escuela Militar de Graduados de Sanidad, UDEFA CP 11620, Mexico.|Programa de Biomedicina Molecular ENMyH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CP 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, IIB, UNAM, Mexico.
authors.forename: Julio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carrero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Experimental CINVESTAV-IPN, CP 07300, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mineko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.affiliation: Programa de Biomedicina Molecular ENMyH, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CP 07320, Mexico.
authors.forename: D Guillermo Pérez
authors.initials: DGP
authors.lastname: Ishiwara
mesh_terms: D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D005839:Gentamicins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C010680:antibiotic G 418; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium