Open AccessTransmission ofToxoplasma gondiifrom Infected Dendritic Cells to Natural Killer Cells
Author(s) -
Catrine M. Persson,
Henrik Lambert,
Polya P. Vutova,
Isabel Dellacasa-Lindberg,
Joanederby,
Hideo Yagita∥,
HansGustaf Ljunggren,
Alf Grandien,
Antonio Barragán,
Benedict J. Chambers
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.00833-08
Subject(s) - biology , toxoplasma gondii , nk 92 , interleukin 12 , immune system , effector , intracellular parasite , perforin , interleukin 21 , virology , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , cytotoxic t cell , antibody , t cell , cd8 , in vitro , biochemistry
The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii can actively infect any nucleated cell type, including cells from the immune system. In the present study, we observed that a large number of natural killer (NK) cells were infected by T. gondii early after intraperitoneal inoculation of parasites into C57BL/6 mice. Interestingly, one mechanism of NK cell infection involved NK cell-mediated targeting of infected dendritic cells (DC). Perforin-dependent killing of infected DC led to active egress of infectious parasites that rapidly infected adjacent effector NK cells. Infected NK cells were not efficiently targeted by other NK cells. These results suggest that rapid transfer of T. gondii from infected DC to effector NK cells may contribute to the parasite's sequestration and shielding from immune recognition shortly after infection.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom