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Cryptosporidium parvum alters glucose transport mechanisms in infected enterocytes

Cora Delling1, Arwid Daugschies2,3, Berit Bangoura4

  • 1Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. cora.delling@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de.

Parasitology Research
|November 1, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Cryptosporidium parvum infection alters host cell glucose uptake by changing glucose transporter (GLUT and SGLT) expression. These molecular changes suggest host cell adaptation during acute infection phases.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Cryptosporidium parvum infection damages the intestinal brush border, impairing nutrient absorption.
  • Glucose uptake is crucial for host cell function and energy metabolism.
  • Understanding host-parasite interactions at the molecular level is key for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of C. parvum infection on host intestinal epithelial cell (IPEC-J2) glucose transport mechanisms.
  • To analyze changes in the expression of key glucose transporters (GLUT1, GLUT2, SGLT1) at both mRNA and protein levels.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to measure mRNA expression of glucose transporters.
  • Western blot analysis to quantify protein expression of SGLT1 and GLUT2.
  • Comparison of gene and protein expression in infected versus uninfected IPEC-J2 cells over a 24-96 hour infection period.

Main Results:

  • mRNA levels of SGLT1 and GLUT1 increased early (24h) and decreased late (96h) post-infection.
  • GLUT2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased at multiple time points (24h, 72h, 96h) and correlated with infection dose.
  • GLUT2 protein expression significantly increased at 48h post-infection, coinciding with elevated intracellular glucose levels.

Conclusions:

  • C. parvum infection induces complex changes in host cell glucose transporter expression.
  • Increased GLUT2 protein and intracellular glucose levels suggest host cell adaptation during the acute infection phase.
  • Further understanding of these mechanisms could inform future therapeutic strategies against cryptosporidiosis.
Keywords:
C. parvum infectionGlucose transportIPEC-J2 cellsParasite-host interaction

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