title: Trypanosoma cruzi invasion is associated with trogocytosis.
abstract: Trogocytosis was originally thought to be restricted to the interaction of cells of the immune system with cancer cells. Such membrane exchanges are probably a general process in cell biology, and membrane exchange has been demonstrated to occur between non-immune cells within an organism. Herein, we report that membrane and protein exchange, consistent with trogocytosis, between Trypanosoma cruzi (both the Brazil and Tulahuen strains) and the mammalian cells it infects. Transfer of labeled membrane patches was monitored by labeling of either parasites or host cells, i.e. human foreskin fibroblasts and rat myoblasts. Trypomastigotes and amastigotes transferred specific surface glycoproteins to the host cells along with membranes. Exchange of membranes between the parasite and host cells occurred during successful invasion. Extracellular amastigotes did not transfer membrane patches and were did not transfer either membranes or proteins to the host cells. Membrane exchange was also found to occur between interacting epimastigotes in cell-free culture and may be important in parasite-parasite interactions as well. Further studies should provide new insights into pathogenesis and provide targets for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA. Electronic address: sankar.mukhopadhyay@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Shankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA; Department of Physiology, Presidency University, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Grasiella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andriani
authors.affiliation: Program in Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine/Interdisciplinary, Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Faculty of Medicine, and the Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Science, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Simão
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Division of Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Louis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA. Electronic address: herbert.tanowitz@einstein.yu.edu.
authors.forename: Herbert B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Tanowitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D021381:Protein Transport; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015800:Protozoan Proteins
keywords: Chagas disease; Trogocytosis; Trypanosoma cruzi