Tracking acute phase protein response during acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection

Osman Safa Terzi,Tugce Sumer,Hasan Tarik Atmaca,Aycan Nuriye Gazyagci,Gungor Cagdas Dincel

doi:10.1186/s42826-019-0007-z

Osman Safa Terzi, Tugce Sumer + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s42826-019-0007-z

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Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which occurs worldwide in mammals and birds. Brain is the primary target organ because Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous intracellular parasite that causes most frequently life-threatening encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Relation of tissue cysts number, histopathology score and acute phase proteins were investigated. In this study, 36 mice are infected with Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. The control group has 6 healthy mice. After inoculation of Toxoplasma gondii, at 10., 15., 20., 30., 45., 60. days, 6 each mice euthanized after collection of blood samples. Hemopexin, haptoglobulin, macroglobulin, serum amyloid A and clusterin levels are determined by ELISA. Then, brain tissues were investigated histopathologically and lesions were scored. The average cyst numbers were determined by counting three samples (25 μl each) of each brain homogenate under light microscopy. Inflammatory reaction was observed on day 10 days after inoculation (d.a.i.) The lesions were characterized by perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration, focal mononuclear cell infiltration in the meninges, and glial proliferation. Tissue cysts were observed in all Toxoplasma gondii-infected groups. The highest lesion score was observed at 60 d.a.i. And the most tissue cyst number were on day 30. d.a.i. Serum levels of hemopexin, haptoglobulin, macroglobulin, serum amyloid A and clusterin were significantly higher than the control group on day 10–20., 10., 10–30., 10.,10–45 d.a.i., respectively. High level of acute phase proteins in mice on certain days infected with Toxoplasma gondii was exhibited a relationship between brain lesions and tissue cysts.

Highlights

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic disease caused by apicomplexan protozoan and disease named as Toxoplasmosis which occurs in mammals and birds [1]
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dependent changes and correlation in the serum concentrations of haptoglobin, α-macroglobulin, hemopexin, clusterin and serum amyloid A with tissue cysts number and inflammatory score in brain of mice experimentally infected by Toxoplasma gondii
In this study it is found that, serum amyloid A, haptoglobulin, hemopexin, α-macroglobulin and clusterin have been identified as major acute phase proteins and was found to quickly peaked in the first 10-day period after infection Toxoplasma gondii infection induced in mice

Summary

Introduction

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic disease caused by apicomplexan protozoan and disease named as Toxoplasmosis which occurs in mammals and birds [1]. Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection primarily affects the brain and can cause fatal toxoplasmic encephalitis in immunocompromised patients [2]. Toxoplasma gondii invades astrocytes, neurons, and other neuroglia [3]. Immunity can not overcome chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Throughout the life of the host, tissue cysts rupture in different times. Inflammatory reactions may block the multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii but the formation of new tissue cysts may be generated. Toxoplasma gondii only can only be isolated from patients secretion, excretion or body tissue obtained from biopsies or by administration to test animals, or with the fluid or postmortem pathological examination [5]

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