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Published on: August 4, 2019

Encephalitozoon microsporidia modulates p53-mediated apoptosis in infected cells

C del Aguila1, F Izquierdo, A G Granja

  • 1Laboratorio de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain. cagupue@ceu.es

International Journal for Parasitology
|June 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Encephalitozoon microsporidia inhibit host cell apoptosis by blocking p53 activation. This study shows intracellular parasites can multiply without triggering the p53 apoptotic pathway, a novel finding in parasite-host interactions.

Area of Science:

  • * Mycology
  • * Parasitology
  • * Cell Biology

Background:

  • * Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites related to fungi.
  • * Encephalitozoon species cause significant human illness.
  • * Microsporidia may influence host cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate the effect of Encephalitozoon microsporidia infection on host cell apoptosis.
  • * To determine if microsporidia interfere with the p53 signaling pathway.

Main Methods:

  • * Vero cells were infected with Encephalitozoon microsporidia.
  • * Caspase-3 cleavage was assessed.
  • * p53 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and transcriptional activity (via luciferase assays) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • * Caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited during infection.
  • * p53 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation were prevented.
  • * p53 transcriptional function was impaired, preventing apoptosis induction.

Conclusions:

  • * Encephalitozoon microsporidia actively inhibit the p53-mediated apoptotic pathway in host cells.
  • * This is the first demonstration of an intracellular parasite multiplying without activating host cell p53 apoptosis.
  • * No changes in Bcl-2 or Bax expression were observed.

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