EFECTS OF BENZNIDAZOLE ON PLACENTAL ALKALINE

REPOSSI G; SARTORI MJ; MEZZANO L; LIN S; S.P. DE FABRO

Villa Giardino, Córdoba

Jornada; - XV Jornadas Científicas de la Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Córdoba

Introduction: Specific surface membrane components like PlacentalAlkaline Phosphatase (PLAP), a GPI-anchored enzyme, areinvolved in T. cruzi invasion process. It was observed that modificationsof cellular lipid pattern due to T. cruzi infection, are reversiblewith Benznidazole (BNZ), a drug employed to treat acuteChagas Disease. Objectives: To understand the role of some plasmaticmembrane components, such as lipids and PLAP in the T.cruzi invasion to human trophoblast. Methods: placental villi fromnon-infected patients were pretreated with BNZ in culture and thenco-cultured with blood trypomastigotes (Tulahuen strain) isolatedfrom Albino Swiss mice blood. PLAP activity was measured withbiochemical methods and histochemistry; parasitic invasion wasdetermined with microscopy and immunolabelling for T. cruzi.Zymmograms and Western-blotting were performed for PLAP.Results: Placental villi culture pre-treated with BNZ presented asignificant increase in immunologically detectable PLAP and PLAPactivity before infection with T cruzi. Discussion: Pretreatment withBNZ would prevent the effects of T. cruzi invasion on PLAP anddiminish the immunologically detectable T. cruzi.