A recombinant protein based on Trypanosoma cruzi P21 enhances phagocytosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

P21 is a secreted protein expressed in all developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the recombinant protein based on P21 (P21-His(6)) on inflammatory macrophages during phagocytosis.

Findings

Our results showed that P21-His(6) acts as a phagocytosis inducer by binding to CXCR4 chemokine receptor and activating actin polymerization in a way dependent onthe PI3-kinase signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Thus, our results shed light on the notion that native P21 is a component related to T. cruzi evasion from the immune response and that CXCR4 may be involved in phagocytosis. P21-His(6) represents an important experimental control tool to study phagocytosis signaling pathways of different intracellular parasite

SUBMITTER: Rodrigues AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3519637 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature