Apoptotic mimicry in Leishmania spp.: role in host/parasite interaction. / Mimetismo apoptótico em Leishmania spp.: papel na interação parasita/hospedeiro

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2004

RESUMO

Promastigotes of Leishmania are found in the midgut environment of the vector insect and can be grown in some culture medium. In culture the genetically regulated differentiation from procyclic to infective metacyclic can be observed. Amastigotes are intracellular parasites and which multiply inside phagolysosomes of macrophages. Metacyclics and amastigotes are endowed with the capacity to evade from the innate and adaptive immune system of the vertebrate host and to establish successful infections. Apoptosis, in multicellular organisms, is a form genetically controlled cellular suicide. The elimination of apoptotic cells is made by phagocytes without initiating an inflammatory event. In Leishmania, the events of apoptosis are similar to those observed in multicellular organisms such as: decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential, caspase activation, cleavage of caspase substrates besides exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) and its role in the modulation of phagocytosis. Our data showed that Leishmania is capable of mimicking one of the features of apoptosis, mainly PS exposure, and to use as an adaptive mechanism for survival in mammalian hosts.

ASSUNTO(S)

5externalização de fosfatidilserina 6apoptose 5apoptosis 4atividade caspases 1leishmania spp 2promastigotas 3amastigotas 3amastigotes 6exposure of phosphatidylserine 1leishmania spp 2promastigotes 4caspases

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