Anaphylactic reaction induced by Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) is a virulent molecule specific for tachyzoites of T. gondii. The expression of T.g.HSP70 rapidly increases just before death of the host, indicating that T.g.HSP70 functions as a danger signal during lethal acute T. gondii infection. In the present study, T.g.HSP70 was proven to be capable of inducing lethal anaphylactic reaction in T. gondii-infected wild-type (WT) mice. Anaphylactic reaction appeared within the first hour after intraperitoneal injection of T.g.HSP70 and was characterized by a series of consequent symptoms until death. T.g.HSP70-induced anaphylactic reaction was not observed in IFN-gamma knockout (GKO) mice, indicating the involvement of IFN-gamma in the reaction. The anaphylactic reaction was transferable to GKO mice by splenocytes but not serum from infected WT mice. Also, this reaction occurred in B cell-deficient mice, indicating that T.g.HSP70-induced anaphylactic reaction occurred through an Ig-independent pathway. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IFN-gamma increased significantly in splenocytes from T. gondii-infected WT mice after T.g.HSP70 injection. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of platelet-activating factor (PAF) acetylhydrolase in WT, but not GKO mice, distinctly increased during the occurrence of T.g.HSP70-induced anaphylactic reaction, indicating the involvement of PAF in T.g.HSP70-induced anaphylactic reaction. Treatment with PAF receptor antagonist rescued WT mice from the anaphylactic reaction. These data demonstrated the involvement of IFN-gamma-dependent PAF activation in T.g.HSP70-induced anaphylactic reaction.