The Potential Contribution of ABO, Lewis and Secretor Histo-Blood Group Carbohydrates in Infection by Toxoplasma gondii.

Luiz Carlos De Mattos,Ana Iara Costa Ferreira,Karina Younan De Oliveira,Cinara Cássia Brandão,Fabiana Nakashima

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.671958

Luiz Carlos De Mattos, Ana Iara Costa Ferreira + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.671958

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Abstract

The glycosyltransferases encoded by genes from the human ABO, Lewis, and Secretor histo-blood group systems synthesize part of the carbohydrate antigens in hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic tissues. The combined action of these glycosyltransferases strongly influences cell, tissue, mucosa, and exocrine secretion carbohydrate phenotypes, including those serving as habitat for mutualistic and pathogenic microorganisms. A set of reports investigated associations between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the ABO histo-blood group system, but the results are contradictory. As T. gondii uses the gastrointestinal tract as a route for infection, and in this organ, the expression of ABO, Lewis, and Secretor histo-blood group carbohydrates occurs, it is reasonable to suppose some biological relationship between them. This text reviewed association studies published in recent decades focusing on the potential contribution of the ABO, Lewis, and Secretor histo-blood group carbohydrates and infection by T. gondii.

Highlights

Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, was first identified in 1908 by Alphonso Splendore, in São Paulo, Brazil, in tissues of a rabbit, and by Nicolle and Manceaux in Tunisia, North Africa, in the tissues of a rodent Ctenodoactylus gundi (Ferguson, 2009; Innes, 2010)
Determining the correct histo-blood group carbohydrate profile is crucial to establish correct associations with infections and diseases (Henry et al, 1995). These approaches were critical in studies investigating the human gastrointestinal pathogen Helicobacter pylori, which is able to bind the histo-blood group carbohydrate Lewis b (Leb) expressed in the stomach mucosae (Borén et al, 1993; Martins et al, 2006)
This study considered that the expression of ABO histo-blood group carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract is under control of the FUT2 gene

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, was first identified in 1908 by Alphonso Splendore, in São Paulo, Brazil, in tissues of a rabbit, and by Nicolle and Manceaux in Tunisia, North Africa, in the tissues of a rodent Ctenodoactylus gundi (Ferguson, 2009; Innes, 2010). A set of host risk factors are known (Pinto-Ferreira et al, 2019), but others need to be investigated further This text discusses the potential contribution of histo-blood group carbohydrates from ABO, Lewis, and Secretor systems in infection by T. gondii. Determining the correct histo-blood group carbohydrate profile is crucial to establish correct associations with infections and diseases (Henry et al, 1995) These approaches were critical in studies investigating the human gastrointestinal pathogen Helicobacter pylori, which is able to bind the histo-blood group carbohydrate Lewis b (Leb) expressed in the stomach mucosae (Borén et al, 1993; Martins et al, 2006).

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Findings

CONCLUDING REMARKS