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An in vivo role for Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin in antiangiogenesis

María C Molina1, Viviana Ferreira, Carolina Valck

  • 1Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, ICBM, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, 1027 Santiago, Chile.

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
|March 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT) exhibits significant antiangiogenic properties, similar to human calreticulin. This finding suggests TcCRT may contribute to the anti-cancer effects observed in experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infections.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Immunology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Calreticulin (CRT) is a protein involved in various cellular functions, including immune response and angiogenesis.
  • Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT) shares high homology with human CRT and has potential antiangiogenic activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antiangiogenic potential of Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT).
  • To compare the antiangiogenic effects of TcCRT with its human counterpart, HuCRT.
  • To explore the implications of TcCRT's antiangiogenic properties in the context of cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning, sequencing, and expression of the Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin gene (TcCRT).
  • Assessment of antiangiogenic effects using the chick embryonic chorioallantoid membrane (CAM) assay.
  • Evaluation of recombinant (r) and native (n) TcCRT, as well as a plasmid construct (pSecTag/TcCRT).

Main Results:

  • Both recombinant and native TcCRT demonstrated significant antiangiogenic effects in the in vivo CAM assay.
  • The plasmid construct pSecTag/TcCRT also exhibited significant antiangiogenic properties.
  • TcCRT's antiangiogenic activity was comparable to that of its human homolog, HuCRT.

Conclusions:

  • TcCRT possesses potent antiangiogenic properties, similar to human calreticulin.
  • These findings suggest that TcCRT's antiangiogenic activity may contribute to the anti-neoplastic effects of Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
  • TcCRT represents a potential therapeutic target for anti-cancer strategies focused on inhibiting angiogenesis.

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