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Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi infectivity, proliferation, and cytokine patterns in gut and pancreatic epithelial cells maintained in vitro

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Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi infects all nucleated cells in both humans and experimental animals. As a prelude to our studies of T. cruzi pathogenesis in the gastrointestinal system, we have initiated in vitro cultures of gut (Caco-2 and HT-29) and pancreatic (Panc-1) epithelial cells. We show that along with primary human fibroblasts, all three cell lines are susceptible to infection and support proliferation of T. cruzi. Infection with T. cruzi modified dramatically the cytokines elaborated by these cells. Substantially greater quantities of IL-5 and TGF-β1 were produced by fibroblasts and Caco-2 and Panc-1 cells, whereas secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α was greatly reduced in all three cell types. Since these cells are not known to be the primary sources of IFN-γ, we examined IFN-γ mRNA expression in these cells. Both Caco-2 and Panc-1 cells were found to express IFN-γ mRNA, validating its secretion. These findings may provide insight into signaling pathways that mediate innate immunity to T. cruzi and pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic alterations in Chagas disease.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Basic Research Support grant 57872 from the State University of New York. FSM was supported by CNPq and FAPEMIG, and HBT was supported by NIH grant AI-076248. We gratefully acknowledge Andrei Gourov, Ph.D.; Rodney Romain; and Justin Ulrich-Lewis for their technical assistance.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Laura A. Martello, Raj Wadgaonkar & M. A. Haseeb

  2. Department of Cell Biology (MSC 44), Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Raj Wadgaonkar, Eduardo Mascareno & M. A. Haseeb

  3. Department of Pathology, Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Raavi Gupta & M. A. Haseeb

  4. Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology and the Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Fabiana S. Machado

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Downstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Michael G. Walsh

  6. Department of Pathology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA

    Herbert B. Tanowitz

Authors
  1. Laura A. Martello
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  2. Raj Wadgaonkar
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  3. Raavi Gupta
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  4. Fabiana S. Machado
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  5. Michael G. Walsh
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  6. Eduardo Mascareno
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  7. Herbert B. Tanowitz
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  8. M. A. Haseeb
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Correspondence to Laura A. Martello or M. A. Haseeb.

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Martello, L.A., Wadgaonkar, R., Gupta, R. et al. Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi infectivity, proliferation, and cytokine patterns in gut and pancreatic epithelial cells maintained in vitro. Parasitol Res 112, 4177–4183 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3609-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3609-7

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