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Trichomonas vaginalis perturbs the junctional complex in epithelial cells
Rodrigo Furtado Madeiro da Costa1, Wanderley de Souza, Marlene Benchimol
1Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Morfológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Cell Research
|October 11, 2005
Summary
Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite causing trichomonosis, disrupts human epithelial cell junctions. This interaction, influenced by parasite virulence and iron levels, impacts cell barrier function and protein distribution.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Trichomonas vaginalis is a human urogenital tract parasite.
- Trichomonosis is increasingly linked to cervical cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how T. vaginalis interaction affects epithelial cell junctional complexes.
- To determine the influence of parasite iron concentration on these effects.
Main Methods:
- Caco-2 cells were exposed to two T. vaginalis isolates.
- Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured.
- Distribution of junctional proteins (E-cadherin, occludin, ZO-1) was analyzed.
Main Results:
- T. vaginalis adhered to Caco-2 cells, decreasing TEER.
- Alterations in E-cadherin, occludin, and ZO-1 distribution were observed.
- Parasite virulence, iron concentration, and adhesin expression modulated these effects.
Conclusions:
- T. vaginalis disrupts the epithelial barrier function.
- Iron concentration and parasite virulence are key factors in T. vaginalis-induced epithelial damage.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for addressing trichomonosis-associated pathologies.
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