trans-Smlidase fromTvypanosoma cvuziInduces... : Journal of Infectious Diseases (original) (raw)

trans -Smlidase from Tvypanosoma cvuzi Induces Apoptosis in Cells from the Immune System In Vivo

Susana M. Leguizamön
Esteban Mocetti
Hernan Garcia Rivello
Pablo Argibay
Oscar Campetella

Journal of Infectious Diseases

180

(

)

1398

1402

October 1999

| DOI: 10.1086/315001

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, expresses _trans_-sialidase, an enzyme able to direct transfer of sialyl residues among macromolecules. The enzyme is shed and can be detected in blood during the acute phase of the disease. Several alterations of the immune response and apoptosis of cellular components of the immune system are observed early in the infection. The possible involvement of bloodstream _trans_-sialidase on these events was analyzed here. The enzyme induced apoptosis in cells of the immune system in the spleen, thymus, and peripheral ganglia. Both natural and recombinant _trans_-sialidases induced apoptosis to a similar extent. No effect was detected when enzymatically inactive recombinant molecules were used. In dose-response assays, apoptosis was observed even when an amount of _trans_-sialidase was administered that was enzymatically undetectable in blood. These findings strongly suggest a role for sialic acid mobilization in _T. cruzi_-induced apoptosis of immune system cells.