title: A human astrocytoma cell line is highly susceptible to infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Astrocytes play a vital role in neuronal protection, homeostasis, vascular interchange and the local immune response. Some viruses and parasites can cross the blood-brain barrier and infect glia. Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease, can seriously compromise the central nervous system, mainly in immune-suppressed individuals, but also during the acute phase of the infection. In this report, the infective capacity of T. cruzi in a human astrocyte tumour-derived cell line was studied. Astrocytes exposed to trypomastigotes (1:10 ratio) produced intracellular amastigotes and new trypomastigotes emerged by day 4 post-infection (p.i.). At day 6 p.i., 93% of the cells were infected. Using flow cytometry, changes were observed in both the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules and the chemokine secretion pattern of astrocytes exposed to the parasite. Blocking the low-density lipoprotein receptor on astrocytes did not reduce parasite intracellular infection. Thus, T. cruzi can infect astrocytes and modulate the immune response during central nervous system infection.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Camilo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Vargas-Zambrano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lasso
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Concepción Judith
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Puerta
authors.forename: John Mario
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000502:physiology*