Premium
Proinflammatory activity of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors derived from Trypanosoma cruzi : structural and functional analyses
Author(s) -
Almeida Igor C.,
Gazzinelli Ricardo T.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.70.4.467
Subject(s) - trypanosoma cruzi , proinflammatory cytokine , biology , chagas disease , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , signal transduction , innate immune system , immunology , inflammation , parasite hosting , immune system , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science
A strong activation of macrophages is observed during acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi . Little is known, however, about the parasite molecules that are responsible for this early activation of innate immunity. Recent studies have shown the stimulatory activity of protozoan‐derived glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors on cultured macrophages. In this review, we provide a detailed analysis of the correlation between structure and proinflammatory activity by T. cruzi ‐derived GPI anchors. We also cover the studies that have identified the Toll‐like receptor 2 as a functional GPI receptor and have partially characterized signaling pathways triggered by T. cruzi ‐derived GPI anchors, which lead to the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings in resistance and pathogenesis during the infection with T. cruzi.