Trichinella spp.: Differential expression of acid phosphatase and myofibrillar proteins in infected muscle cells

Abstract

Major alterations are induced in muscle cells infected by either Trichinella spiralis or Trichinella pseudospiralis. To investigate the response of muscle to these infections we have analyzed the expression of acid phosphatase (ACP, EC 3.1.3.2), adult skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain, and muscle tropomyosin proteins in infected mouse skeletal muscle cells. Using T. spiralis-infected cells, we provide strong evidence that the tartrate-sensitive ACP of these cells was synthesized by the infected cell and localized in lysosomes. Isoenzyme analysis indicated that the ACP activity was of host muscle cell origin and the specific activity of this ACP was 2.5 times greater than that in associated inflammatory cells. Increased ACP activity was also demonstrated in muscle cells infected by T. pseudospiralis. In synchronized muscle infections, increased ACP activity was detected at 5 days post-muscle infection for both parasites. ACP activity was further increased in infected muscle cells at later times tested. This increased infected cell ACP activity represents the earliest positive enzyme marker yet described indicating expression of the infected cell phenotype. In contrast, myofibrillar proteins were not detected in muscle cells chronically infected by T. spiralis but were detected in muscle cells infected by T. pseudospiralis. Decrease in myofibrillar protein levels was detected by 10 days post-muscle infection by T. spiralis. The data presented demonstrate significant differences and similarities in the phenotypes of muscle cells infected by these two parasites and establish criteria that could facilitate identification of parasite factors that may be involved in these phenomena.