Effect of Transforming Growth Factor-? upon Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps Cysticerci.

ABSTRACT: Taeniids exhibit a great adaptive plasticity, which facilitates their establishment, growth, and reproduction in a hostile inflammatory microenvironment. Transforming Growth Factor-? (TGF?), a highly pleiotropic cytokine, plays a critical role in vertebrate morphogenesis, cell differentiation, reproduction, and immune suppression. TGF? is secreted by host cells in sites lodging parasites. The role of TGF? in the outcome of T. solium and T. crassiceps cysticercosis is herein explored. Homologues of the TGF? family receptors (TsRI and TsRII) and several members of the TGF? downstream signal transduction pathway were found in T. solium genome, and the expression of Type-I and -II TGF? receptors was confirmed by RT-PCR. Antibodies against TGF? family receptors recognized cysticercal proteins of the expected molecular weight as determined by Western blot, and different structures in the parasite external tegument. In vitro, TGF? promoted the growth and reproduction of T. crassiceps cysticerci and the survival of T. solium cysticerci. High TGF? levels were found in cerebrospinal fluid from untreated neurocysticercotic patients who eventually failed to respond to the treatment (P?=?0.03) pointing to the involvement of TGF? in parasite survival. These results indicate the relevance of TGF? in the infection outcome by promoting cysticercus growth and treatment resistance.

SUBMITTER: Adalid-Peralta L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5617888 | biostudies-other | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other