The ex vivo infection of human placental chorionic villi explants withtrypanosoma cruzi and toxoplasma gondii is mediated by different toll-likereceptors

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the causative agent of Chagas disease, and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), responsible for Toxoplasmosis are two parasites that can cross the placental barrier. T. cruzi and T. gondii present low and high congenital transmission rates, respectively. Toll-like receptors (TLR) -2, -4 and -9, expressed by the human placenta, recognize both parasites. Therefore, T. cruzi and T. gondii induced activation of those placental TLRs may be involved in the defense mechanism against both parasites and might determine the probability of transmission. Objectives: To study the protein expression of TLR-2, -4 and -9, part of the associated cytokine profile and their possible role during parasite infection Methods: Human placental chorionic villi explants (HPCVE) were incubated, during 2 hours, in presence and absence of 105 T. cruzi trypomastigotes or 105 T. gondii tachizoites and in the presence or absence of blocking antibodies (TLR-2, -4) or suppressive oligonucleotides (TLR-9). LPS and CpG-DNA were used as positive controls. TLRs protein expression was determined by Western blotting and parasite infection was analyzed by real time PCR. The presence of Il-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-g and TNF-a in the culture media was determined by ELISA.