title: Extracellular Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin in the host-parasite interplay.
abstract: Calreticulin (CRT) from vertebrates is a calcium-binding protein present mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). There, it directs the conformation of proteins and controls calcium levels. This review will focus on several extracellular roles of Trypanosoma cruzi CRT (TcCRT) in relation to its capacity to inhibit the complement system, mediate parasite infectivity, interfere with angiogenesis and, as a possible consequence, with tumor growth. The TcCRT antiangiogenic effect parallels with the capacity of T. cruzi infection to inhibit tumor development in vivo. Thus, the TcCRT, complement, and endothelial cell interactions seem to be an evolutionary adaptation to promote prolonged parasite-host relationships.
authors.affiliation: Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Galia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valck
authors.forename: Viviana P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Nandy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D037282:Calreticulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D037282:Calreticulin