RESPONSE OF TROPHOBLAST CELLS (BEWO CELL LINE) IN THE PRESENCE OF Trypanosoma cruzi INFECTION

BENIZIO, E.; MOREIRA ESPINOZA, M.J.; TRIQUELL, M.F.; MEZZANO, L.; PIEGARI, M.; DÍAZ LUJAN, C.; FRETES, R.E.

Tucuman

Congreso; 3 Reunion Conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de Argentina; 2015

Sociedad de Biología

Chagas is an endemic disease caused by the obligated intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). The congenital transmission is responsible for one-third of new cases each year. During congenital transmission, the parasite breaks down the placental barrier formed by the trophoblast, basal laminae and villous stroma. The observation that only 5% of infected mothers transmit the parasite to the fetus implies that the placenta may impair parasite transmission. This study aimed to evaluate the role of trophoblast cells (BeWo cell line) in the presence of T. cruzi infection. We analized syncytialisation capacity of BeWo cells by immunofluorescence assays and staining of nuclei. The effect of repetitive reinfections by trypomastigotes of T. cruzi (Tulahuen strain) on both types of trophoblast cells cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast was studied and also nitrite production in the supernatant. BeWo cells forming syncytiotrophoblast are more resistant to infection with T. cruzi (21% lesser infection, p< 0.05), and produced 1.3 times more nitrites, being the nitrosative stress a cause of decreased viability of the parasite affecting its propagation. There were no significant differences between reinfected and control groups respect to the multiplication of the parasite capacity after 96 h of culture. These results suggest that trophoblast cells are able to modulate T. cruzi infection, independently of their reinfection, by forming syncytiotrophoblast and the production of harmful metabolites for the parasite. Grants: PICT2012-1061, SECyT-UNC, SECyT-UNLaR, MINCyT-Cba.