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Role of NK cells and gamma interferon in transplacental passage of Toxoplasma gondii in a mouse model of primary infection.

ABSTRACT: Protective immunity in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii is mainly mediated by NK cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells, and type 1 cytokines, such as gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). To clarify the roles of NK cells and IFN-gamma in protection against primary congenital toxoplasmosis, we used recombination activating gene 2 knockout (RAG-2(-/-)) mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes, in comparison with the wild-type BALB/c model. RAG-2(-/-) mice had a significantly lower risk of fetal toxoplasmosis than BALB/c mice (25 versus 63.9%; P = 0.003). This protection was associated with an increased number of maternal NK cells, IFN-gamma secretion by spleen cells, and decreased parasitemia. In the RAG-2(-/-) mice, NK cell depletion increased both the rate of fetal infection, to 56.5% (P = 0.02), and the blood parasite burden. Conversely, in the BALB/c mice, this treatment did not modify maternofetal transmission or the blood parasite burden. Neutralization of IFN-gamma in both infected RAG-2(-/-) and BALB/c mice decreased congenital Toxoplasma transmission, contrasting with an exacerbation of maternal infection. These data suggest that a partially protective immunity against congenital toxoplasmosis is achieved due to the increased number of NK cells in RAG-2(-/-) mice. However, it seems that IFN-gamma enhances, directly or indirectly, the transplacental transmission.

SUBMITTER: Abou-Bacar A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC356035 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Role of NK cells and gamma interferon in transplacental passage of Toxoplasma gondii in a mouse model of primary infection.

Abou-Bacar Ahmed A Pfaff Alexander W AW Georges Sophie S Letscher-Bru Valérie V Filisetti Denis D Villard Odile O Antoni Elisabeth E Klein Jean-Paul JP Candolfi Ermanno E

Infection and immunity 20040301 3

Protective immunity in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii is mainly mediated by NK cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells, and type 1 cytokines, such as gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). To clarify the roles of NK cells and IFN-gamma in protection against primary congenital toxoplasmosis, we used recombination activating gene 2 knockout (RAG-2(-/-)) mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes, in comparison with the wild-type BALB/c model. RAG-2(-/-) mice had a significantly lower risk of fetal toxoplasmosis than BA ...[more]

PMID: 14977944

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Project description:Toxoplasma gondii evades host immunity to establish a chronic infection. Here, we assessed the role of parasitophorous vacuole (PV) membrane (PVM)- and intravacuolar network (IVN) membrane-localized dense granule (GRA) proteins in the development of acute and chronic Toxoplasma infection. Deletion of PVM-associated GRA3, GRA7, GRA8, and GRA14 or IVN membrane-associated GRA2, GRA9, and GRA12 in the low-virulence type II Prugniaud (Pru) strain induced severe defects in the development of chronic-stage cysts in vivo without affecting the parasite growth rate or the ability to differentiate into cysts in vitro Acute virulence of the Pru?gra2, Pru?gra3, and Pru?gra4 mutants was reduced but not abolished. In contrast, the Pru?gra12 mutant was avirulent in mice and Pru?gra12 parasites failed to establish a chronic infection. High-virulence type I strain RH?gra12 parasites also exhibited a major defect in acute virulence. In gamma interferon (IFN-?)-activated macrophages, type I RH?gra12 and type II Pru?gra12 parasites resisted the coating of the PVM with host immunity-related GTPases as effectively as the parental type I RH?ku80 and type II Pru?ku80 strains, respectively. Despite this resistance, ?gra12 PVs ultimately succumbed to IFN-?-activated host cell innate immunity. Our findings uncover a key role for GRA12 in mediating resistance to host IFN-? and reveal that many other IVN membrane-associated GRA proteins, as well as PVM-localized GRA proteins, play important roles in establishing chronic infection.IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii cysts reactivate during immune deficiency and cause fatal encephalitis. Parasite molecules that coordinate the development of acute and chronic infection are poorly characterized. Here, we show that many intravacuolar network membrane and parasitophorous vacuole membrane-associated dense granule (GRA) proteins orchestrate the development of chronic cysts in vivo A subset of these GRA proteins also modulate acute virulence, and one protein that associates with the intravacuolar network membranes, namely GRA12, was identified as a major virulence factor required for parasite resistance to host gamma interferon (IFN-?). Our results revealed that many parasitophorous vacuole membrane and intravacuolar network membrane-associated GRA proteins are essential for successful chronic infection.

Dataset Information

Role of NK cells and gamma interferon in transplacental passage of Toxoplasma gondii in a mouse model of primary infection.

Publications

Role of NK cells and gamma interferon in transplacental passage of Toxoplasma gondii in a mouse model of primary infection.

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