PLoS ONE (Jan 2012)

A recombinant protein based on Trypanosoma cruzi P21 enhances phagocytosis.

  • Adele A Rodrigues,
  • Tatiana M Clemente,
  • Marlus A Dos Santos,
  • Fabrício C Machado,
  • Rafael G B Gomes,
  • Heline Hellen T Moreira,
  • Mário C Cruz,
  • Paula C Brígido,
  • Paulo C F Dos Santos,
  • Flávia A Martins,
  • Diana Bahia,
  • Juliana T Maricato,
  • Luiz M R Janini,
  • Eduardo H Reboredo,
  • Renato A Mortara,
  • Claudio V da Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0051384
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 12
p. e51384

Abstract

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BACKGROUND: P21 is a secreted protein expressed in all developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the recombinant protein based on P21 (P21-His(6)) on inflammatory macrophages during phagocytosis. FINDINGS: Our results showed that P21-His(6) acts as a phagocytosis inducer by binding to CXCR4 chemokine receptor and activating actin polymerization in a way dependent onthe PI3-kinase signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our results shed light on the notion that native P21 is a component related to T. cruzi evasion from the immune response and that CXCR4 may be involved in phagocytosis. P21-His(6) represents an important experimental control tool to study phagocytosis signaling pathways of different intracellular parasites and particles.