Programmed cell death in Trypanosoma cruzi induced by Bothrops jararaca venom
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
100(1): 33-38, Feb. 2005. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-398112
RESUMO
Cells die through a programmed process or accidental death, know as apoptosis or necrosis, respectively. Bothrops jararaca is a snake whose venom inhibits the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms causing mitochondrion swelling and cell death. The aim of the present work was to determine the type of death induced in epimastigotes of T. cruzi by this venom. Parasite growth was inhibited after venom treatment, and 50 percent growth inhibition was obtained with 10 æg/ml. Ultrastructural observations confirmed mitochondrion swelling and kinetoplast disorganization. Furthermore, cytoplasmic condensation, loss of mitochondrion membrane potential, time-dependent increase in phosphatidylserine exposure at the outer leaflet plasma membrane followed by permeabilization, activation of caspase like protein and DNA fragmentation were observed in epimastigotes throughout a 24 h period of venom treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that the stress induced in epimastigote by this venom, triggers a programmed cell death process, similar to metazoan apoptosis, which leads to parasite death.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Trypanosoma cruzi
/
Apoptosis
/
Bothrops
/
Crotalid Venoms
/
Mitochondria
/
Antiprotozoal Agents
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2005
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/BR
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