Abstract
BackgroundAcanthamoeba spp. are cosmopolitan protozoans that cause infections in the brain, as well as extracerebral infections in the cornea, lungs and skin. Little is known about the mechanisms of the immunological response to these parasites in organs which are not their main biotope. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the kidneys and heart of Acanthamoeba spp.-infected mice, with respect to the host’s immunological status.MethodsThe mice were grouped into four groups: immunocompetent control mice; immunosuppressed control mice; immunocompetent Acanthamoeba spp.-infected mice; and immunosuppressed Acanthamoeba spp. infected mice. In the study, we used the amoebae T16 genotype which was isolated from a patient. The TLRs expressions in the kidneys and heart of mice were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, we visualized TLR2 and TLR4 proteins in the organs by immunohistochemical staining.ResultsIn the kidneys, we observed a higher TLR2 expression in immunosuppressed mice at 24 days post-Acanthamoeba spp. infection (dpi) compared to the uninfected mice. There were no statistically significant differences in TLR4 expression in the kidneys between the immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice, both of infected and uninfected mice. In the heart, we observed a difference in TLR2 expression in immunocompetent mice at 24 dpi compared to immunocompetent mice at 8 dpi. The immunocompetent Acanthamoeba spp.-infected mice had higher TLR4 expression at 8 dpi compared to the immunocompetent uninfected mice.ConclusionsOur results indicate that TLR2 is involved in response to Acanthamoeba spp. infection in the kidneys, whereas in the heart, both studied TLRs are involved.
Highlights
Acanthamoeba spp. are cosmopolitan protozoans that cause infections in the brain, as well as extrac‐ erebral infections in the cornea, lungs and skin
We found a significantly higher level of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA expression at 24 days post-Acanthamoeba spp. infection compared to uninfected animals (0 dpi; U = 24, P < 0.05), and the levels obtained from mice at 8 dpi (U = 16, P < 0.05; Fig. 1)
The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA expression in the immunosuppressed Acanthamoeba spp.-infected mice was higher at 16 dpi and 24 dpi compared to the immunosuppressed uninfected mice, but the differences were not statistically significant
Summary
Acanthamoeba spp. are cosmopolitan protozoans that cause infections in the brain, as well as extrac‐ erebral infections in the cornea, lungs and skin. Acanthamoebiasis caused by protozoans of the genus Acanthamoeba is an infection that is more frequently found in patients with a low immune response. Development of this opportunistic infection is enhanced by chronic stress, coexisting diseases, and immunosuppressive drugs which are used to inhibit the rejection of transplanted organs [1]. Due to immunosuppression of the host organism, some parasitoses from asymptomatic or scarcely symptomatic infections leads to disseminated parasitic infections. These sudden multi-organ and multi-symptomatic changes may lead to the patient’s death [3].
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