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Cellular signaling during the macrophage invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi

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Abstract

We have reported that protein tyrosine kinases play an important role in the invasion of Trypanosoma cruzi into primary resident macrophages. In the present study we carry out immunofluorescence assays, using monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies, to reveal an accumulation of tyrosine-phosphorylated residues at the site of parasite association with the macrophage surface, colocalizing with host cell F-actin-rich domains. SDS-PAGE analysis of macrophage cell line IC-21 tyrosine phosphoproteins, labeled with [35S]l-methionine, revealed several peptides with increased levels of phosphorylation upon interaction with the parasite. Among them, were detected bands of 140, 120, 112, 94, 73, 67, and 56 kDa that match the molecular weights of proteins described as being tyrosine phosphorylated during events that lead to actin assembly in mononuclear phagocytes. The pretreatment of IC-21 macrophages with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor tyrphostin 23 inhibited trypomastigote uptake showing that tyrosine phosphorylation is important for the parasite penetration in this particular cell line. Immunofluorescence microscopy, using antibodies against p85, the regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), placed this enzyme also in the same sites, in accordance to what is reported for phagocytosis. We suggest that once the components of T. cruzi trypomastigotes surface are recognized by macrophage receptors, they trigger the activation of a tyrosine phosphorylation cascade, PI 3-kinase recruitment, and assembly of actin filaments at the site of initial cell-to-cell contact, resembling the events described during phagocytosis. These achievements support the model for a phagocytic-like actin-dependent invasion mechanism for T. cruzi trypomastigotes into macrophages.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank to Dr. Roberto Docampo for opening his laboratory to conclusion of part of the assays made in this study, Mrs. Marlene Cazuza, Mr. Antonio Bosco, Mrs. Linda Brown, and Mr. James Mulligam for technical support, Dr. Luis Carlos da Silva and Dr. Tetsuya Furuya for help with the immunoprecipitation and fluorography assays, and Dr. Ana Alves-Vieira for suggestions concerning the manuscript preparation. This work was supported by CAPES, CNPq, and PRONEX.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, bloco G, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, CEP: 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Mauricio Vieira, Juliana M. F. Dutra, Tecia M. U. de Carvalho, Narcisa L. Cunha-e-Silva & Wanderley de Souza

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 S Lincoln Avenue VMBSB 2522, 61802, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Mauricio Vieira

  3. Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Ultraestrutura, Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, bloco G, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, CEP: 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Thaïs Souto-Padrón

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  1. Mauricio Vieira
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  2. Juliana M. F. Dutra
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  3. Tecia M. U. de Carvalho
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Correspondence to Wanderley de Souza.

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This paper honors Dr. Hertha Meyer in her birthday centennial year

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Vieira, M., Dutra, J.M.F., de Carvalho, T.M.U. et al. Cellular signaling during the macrophage invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi . Histochem Cell Biol 118, 491–500 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-002-0477-0

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