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RNAi knockdown of laminin γ‐1 in the cell blocks Trypanosoma cruzi infection
Author(s) -
Simmons Kaneatra J,
Nde Pius N,
Madison M Nia,
Kleshchenko Yuliya Y,
Lima Maria F,
Villalta Fernando
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1007-c
Subject(s) - trypanosoma cruzi , laminin , gene knockdown , rna interference , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chagas disease , intracellular , extracellular , cell , extracellular matrix , virology , rna , cell culture , gene , parasite hosting , genetics , world wide web , computer science
It is thought that Trypanosoma cruzi , the protozoan that causes Chagas heart disease, modulates the extracellular matrix network to facilitate infection of human cells. However, direct evidence to document this phenomenon is lacking. Here we show that T. cruzi gp83 ligand, a cell surface trans‐sialidase like molecule that the parasite uses to attach to host cells, increases the level of laminin γ‐1 transcript and its expression in mammalian cells, leading to an increase in cellular infection. Stable RNA interference (RNAi) of host cell laminin γ‐1 knocks down the levels of laminin γ‐1 transcript and protein expression in mammalian cells causing a dramatic reduction of cellular infection by T. cruzi . Thus, host laminin γ‐1, which is regulated by the parasite, plays a crucial role in the early process of infection. This is the first report showing that knocking down the expression of a human gene by RNAi inhibits the infection of an intracellular parasite. (Supported by NIH grants)