title: Leishmania chagasi heparin-binding protein: Cell localization and participation in L. chagasi infection.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis is a fatal human disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania chagasi that is captured by host cells in a process involving classics receptors mediated phagocytosis. The search for molecules involved in this process is important to design strategies to disease control. In this work, we verified the presence of heparin-binding protein (HBP) in L. chagasi promastigotes forms. HBP is a lectin of the group of ubiquitous proteins, whose main characteristic is to bind to carbohydrates present in glycoproteins or glycolipids, which is poorly studied in Leishmania species. L. chagasi HBP (HBPLc) was purified by affinity chromatography using heparin-agarose column in FPLC automated system. Its localization in the parasite was assessed by immunolabeling and electronic transmission microscopy tests using anti-HBPLc polyclonal antibodies, which showed HBP spread over the parasite outer surface and internally next to the kynetoplast. In addition, we verified that HBPLc participates in the process of parasite infection, since its blocking with heparin generated a partial reduction in the internalization of Leishmania by RAW macrophages "in vitro". According to these results, it is believed that, in further "in vivo" studies, interference on this parasitic protein may provide us prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives against visceral leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil. Electronic address: tata_fialho@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Thaís Viana Fialho
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Vieira
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36570-900; Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Alagoas-IFAL, Alagoas 57035-660, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Vânia Miranda
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sérgio Oliveira
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina e Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia Almeida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Licursi
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo de Almeida
authors.initials: Ede A
authors.lastname: Marques-da-Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000502:physiology; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010587:Phagocytosis; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast; C074285:heparin-binding protein (Leishmania); D006493:Heparin
keywords: Heparin; Lectins; Leishmania; Visceral leishmaniasis