Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles Can Control Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Both Human Trophoblast Cells and Villous Explants

The combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine plus folinic acid is the conventional treatment for congenital toxoplasmosis. However, this classical treatment presents teratogenic effects and bone marrow suppression. In this sense, new therapeutic strategies are necessary to reduce these effects and improve the control of infection. In this context, biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) appear as a promising alternative since they have antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic activity. The purpose of this study to investigate the action of AgNp-Bio in BeWo cells, HTR-8/SVneo cells and villous explants and its effects against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Both cells and villous explants were treated with different concentrations of AgNp-Bio or combination of sulfadiazine + pyrimethamine (SDZ + PYZ) in order to verify the viability. After, cells and villi were infected and treated with AgNp-Bio or SDZ + PYZ in different concentrations to ascertain the parasite proliferation and cytokine production profile. AgNp-Bio treatment did not reduce the cell viability and villous explants. Significant reduction was observed in parasite replication in both cells and villous explants treated with silver nanoparticles and classical treatment. The AgNp-Bio treatment increased of IL-4 and IL-10 by BeWo cells, while HTR8/SVneo cells produced macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and IL-4. In the presence of T. gondii, the treatment induced high levels of MIF production by BeWo cells and IL-6 by HTR8SV/neo. In villous explants, the AgNp-Bio treatment downregulated production of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 after infection. In conclusion, AgNp-Bio can decrease T. gondii infection in trophoblast cells and villous explants. Therefore, this treatment demonstrated the ability to reduce the T. gondii proliferation with induction of inflammatory mediators in the cells and independent of mediators in chorionic villus which we consider the use of AgNp-Bio promising in the treatment of toxoplasmosis in BeWo and HTR8/SVneo cell models and in chorionic villi.

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Enrofloxacin and toltrazuril are able to control Toxoplasma gondii infection in human trophoblast cells

Placenta ◽

10.1016/j.placenta.2015.01.490 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 502 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R.J. Silva ◽

A.O. Gomes ◽

J.R. Mineo ◽

N.M. Silva ◽

E.A.V. Ferro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Trophoblast Cells ◽

Human Trophoblast ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Human Trophoblast Cells

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Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) reduce Toxoplasma gondii infection and proliferation in HeLa cells, and induce autophagy and death of tachyzoites by apoptosis-like mechanism

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106070 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106070

Author(s):

Raquel Arruda da Silva Sanfelice ◽

Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti ◽

Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier ◽

Taylon Felipe Silva ◽

Larissa Rodrigues Bosqui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Hela Cells ◽

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction in Human BeWo Trophoblast Cells Decreases Toxoplasma gondii Proliferation in Association With the Upregulation of p38 MAPK Phosphorylation and IL-6 Production

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.659028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marcos Paulo Oliveira Almeida ◽

Caroline Martins Mota ◽

Tiago Wilson Patriarca Mineo ◽

Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro ◽

Bellisa Freitas Barbosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

P38 Mapk ◽

Heme Oxygenase ◽

Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽

Trophoblast Cells ◽

Human Trophoblast ◽

Mapk Phosphorylation ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Bewo Cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) enzyme exerts beneficial effects at the maternal-fetal interface, especially in trophoblasts, being involved in survival and maturation of these cell phenotypes. Trophoblast cells play essential roles throughout pregnancy, being the gateway for pathogens vertically transmitted, such as Toxoplasma gondii. It was previously shown that HO-1 activity was involved in the control of T. gondii infection in vivo; however, its contribution in trophoblast cells during T. gondii infection, remain undefined. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of HO-1 in T. gondii-infected BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo human trophoblast cells. For this purpose, trophoblast cells were infected and the HO-1 expression was evaluated. T. gondii-infected BeWo cells were treated with hemin or CoPPIX, as inducers of HO-1, or with bilirubin, an end-product of HO-1, and the parasitism was quantified. The involvement of p38 MAPK, a regulator of HO-1, and the cytokine production, were also evaluated. It was found that T. gondii decreased the HO-1 expression in BeWo but not in HTR-8/SVneo cells. When treated with the HO-1 inducers or bilirubin, BeWo cells reduced the parasite proliferation. T. gondii also decreased the p38 MAPK phosphorylation in BeWo cells; on the other hand, HO-1 induction sustained its activation. Finally, the IL-6 production was upregulated by HO-1 induction in T. gondii-infected cells, which was associated with the control of infection.

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110. EFFECTS OF cAMP AND SERUM ON HUMAN TROPHOBLAST CELL VIABILITY AND DIFFERENTIATION

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/srb09abs110 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Y. Chen ◽

M. Allars ◽

C. Abou-Seif ◽

R. C. Nicholson

Keyword(s):

Cell Viability ◽

Syncytium Formation ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Trophoblast Cell ◽

Bewo Cell ◽

Trophoblast Cells ◽

Human Trophoblast ◽

Serum Free ◽

Bewo Cells ◽

Free Media

The formation of syncytium is a pivotal event for trophoblast cells to interact with the placental bed. While cAMP is regarded as an inducer of syncytialisation, the affect of different culture conditions on this cAMP effect has not been explored. Therefore, the effects of cAMP on cell differentiation and viability in the presence or absence of serum were investigated in the human choriocarcinoma cell lines, BeWo and JEG-3. We observed that in the absence of cAMP, BeWo cells grew best in media containing 10% FCS, followed by media containing charcoal-stripped 10% FCS (10%CCS), and less well in serum-free media. In the presence of cAMP ( 0.25~1.5 mM ), our observations suggest different cellular programmes may be in play. Treatment of BeWo cells with 0.75 mM cAMP for 24h and 48h, in the absence of serum, increased cell viability (MTT assay) by 25.1% and 46.1% respectively, compared to the control cells. Interestingly, this cAMP effect on cell viability was not observed in the JEG-3 cell line. In contrast, BeWo cell viability was decreased by 49.5% and 25.2%, and by 27.5% and 31.1% in JEG-3 cells, when the cAMP stimulated cells were cultured for 48h in 10% CCS and 10% FCS media, respectively. In addition, we observed a change in BeWo, but not JEG-3, cell morphology to a spindle-like shape with pseudopodia when cAMP stimulated cells were cultured in media containing 10% CCS or 10% FCS for greater than 24h. Since the process of syncytialisation may involve apoptotic events, we speculate that the different effects of cAMP on cell viability in trophoblast cells may be related to syncytialising factors contained in serum media. Further study will clarify whether serum promotes syncytium formation, while the lack of serum based factors could switch the cellular programme from one of syncytialisation toward a more proliferative type.

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The development of the Sabin–Pinkerton triad despite prenatal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis

Pediatria i Medycyna Rodzinna ◽

10.15557/pimr.2021.0042 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 270-274

Author(s):

Urszula Dryja ◽

◽

Anna Niwald ◽

Ewa Majda-Stanisławska ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Prenatal Screening ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Congenital Infection ◽

First Trimester ◽

Imaging Findings ◽

Pregnant Mother ◽

First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Antiparasitic Treatment

The paper presents a case of a boy who developed the symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis: hydrocephalus, retinitis, choroiditis and intracranial calcifications (the Sabin–Pinkerton triad). Despite prenatal screening in the first trimester of pregnancy (in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health), which indicated the diagnosis of asymptomatic primary Toxoplasma gondii infection in the pregnant mother, no antiparasitic therapy was used. The presented serological and imaging findings, as well as specialist consultations confirm the intensified effects of congenital infection in the child. Although the child was put on anti-toxoplasma therapy immediately after birth, he developed severe psychophysical development disorders. The paper discusses recommendations for maternal diagnosis and antiparasitic treatment that could have prevented the full-blown congenital toxoplasmosis in the described patient.

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Presence of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts in human semen

10.1101/2021.10.27.466215 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wen Han Tong ◽

Jana Hlaváčová ◽

Samira Abdulai-Saiku ◽

Šárka Kaňková ◽

Jaroslav Flegr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Sexual Transmission ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

Specific Gene ◽

Human Populations ◽

Human Semen ◽

Latently Infected ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Toxoplasma gondii is a widely prevalent protozoan parasite in human populations. This parasite is thought to be primarily transmitted through undercooked meat and contamination by cat feces. Here, we demonstrate that Toxoplasma gondii cysts can be found within human semen, thus suggesting a potential for sexual transmission. We visualized Toxoplasma gondii cysts in ejaculates of immune-competent and latently infected human volunteers. We confirmed the encystment by probing transcription of a bradyzoite-specific gene in these structures. These observations extend previous observations of the parasite in semen of several non-human host species, including rats, dogs, and sheep. Toxoplasma gondii infection is a clinically significant infection, in view of its high prevalence, its purported role in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, as well as in the more serious form of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our demonstration of intact Toxoplasma gondii cysts in the ejaculate supports the possibility of sexual transmission of the parasite and provides an impetus for further investigations.

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Copaifera spp. oleoresins impair Toxoplasma gondii infection in both human trophoblastic cells and human placental explants

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72230-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Samuel Cota Teixeira ◽

Guilherme de Souza ◽

Bruna Cristina Borges ◽

Thádia Evelyn de Araújo ◽

Alessandra Monteiro Rosini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Direct Action ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Host Cells ◽

Bewo Cells ◽

Trophoblastic Cells ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

M Phase ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Parasite Replication ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Abstract The combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is the standard care in cases of congenital toxoplasmosis. However, therapy with these drugs is associated with severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects. The investigation of phytotherapeutic alternatives to treat parasitic diseases without acute toxicity is essential for the advancement of current therapeutic practices. The present study investigates the antiparasitic effects of oleoresins from different species of Copaifera genus against T. gondii. Oleoresins from C. reticulata, C. duckei, C. paupera, and C. pubiflora were used to treat human trophoblastic cells (BeWo cells) and human villous explants infected with T. gondii. Our results demonstrated that oleoresins were able to reduce T. gondii intracellular proliferation, adhesion, and invasion. We observed an irreversible concentration-dependent antiparasitic action in infected BeWo cells, as well as parasite cell cycle arrest in the S/M phase. The oleoresins altered the host cell environment by modulation of ROS, IL-6, and MIF production in BeWo cells. Also, Copaifera oleoresins reduced parasite replication and TNF-α release in villous explants. Anti-T. gondii effects triggered by the oleoresins are associated with immunomodulation of the host cells, as well as, direct action on parasites.

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