Intraspecies variation in Trypanosoma cruzi GPI-mucins: biological activities and differential expression of α-galactosyl residues

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jul;87(1):87-96. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0015.

Abstract

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored mucins of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes play an important immunomodulatory role during the course of Chagas disease. Here, some biological activities of tGPI-mucins from four T. cruzi isolates, including benznidazole-susceptible (BZS-Y), benznidazole-resistant (BZR-Y), CL, and Colombiana, were evaluated. GPI-mucins were able to differentially trigger the production of interleukin-12 and nitric oxide in BALB/c macrophages and modulate LLC-MK2 cell invasion. The significance of these variations was assessed after analysis of the terminal α-galactosyl residues. Enzymatic treatment with α-galactosidase indicated a differential expression of O-linked α-galactosyl residues among the strains, with higher expression of this sugar in BZS-Y and BZR-Y T. cruzi populations followed by Colombiana and CL. Unweighted pair group method analysis of the carbohydrate anchor profile and biological parameters allowed the clustering of two groups. One group includes Y and CL strains (T. cruzi II and VI), and the other group is represented by Colombiana strain (T. cruzi I).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / chemistry
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / isolation & purification
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / metabolism*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Mucins / chemistry
  • Mucins / isolation & purification
  • Mucins / metabolism*
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Species Specificity
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Glycosylphosphatidylinositols
  • Mucins
  • Nitrites