title: Apoptotic-like activity of staurosporine in axenic cultures of Trypanosoma evansi.
abstract: Trypanosoma evansi is a blood protozoan parasite of the genus Trypanosoma which is responsible for surra (Trypanosomosis) in domestic and wild animals. This study addressed apoptotic-like features in Trypanosoma evansi in vitro. The mechanism of parasite death was investigated using staurosporine as an inducing agent. We evaluated its effects through several cytoplasmic features of apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, phosphatidylserine exposure, maintenance of plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial trans-membrane potential. For access to these features we have used the flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy with cultures in the stationary phase and adjusted to a density of 10(6) cells/mL. The apoptotic effect of staurosporine in T. evansi was evaluated at 20 nM final concentration. There was an increase of phosphatidylserine exposure, whereas mitochondrial potential was decreased. Moreover, no evidence of cell permeability increasing with staurosporine was observed in this study, suggesting the absence of a necrotic process. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the possible pathways associated with this form of cell death in this hemoparasite.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología de Parásitos, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruges
authors.forename: Meyerling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: March
authors.forename: Evangelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mijares
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D061245:Axenic Culture; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019311:Staurosporine