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Exogenous nitric oxide induces apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites via a calcium signal transduction pathway

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2003

B.-W. PENG ,
J. LIN ,
J.-Y. LIN ,
M.-S. JIANG  and
T. ZHANG
B.-W. PENG
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China, 350004 Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wuhan University, 39 Donghu Rd, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China, 430071
J. LIN
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China, 350004
J.-Y. LIN
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China, 350004
M.-S. JIANG
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wuhan University, 39 Donghu Rd, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China, 430071
T. ZHANG
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiaotong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, P.R. China, 350004
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Abstract

The mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO)-dependent cytotoxicity acts against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites is poorly understood. An NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was used to induce death in T. gondii tachyzoites in vitro as a model for investigating (i) whether NO is capable of inducing apoptosis-like death in tachyzoites and (ii) whether a calcium signal transduction pathway is involved. Exposure to 2 mM SNP resulted in a pattern of tachyzoite death that shares many features with metazoan apoptosis and it may involve a calcium signal transduction pathway. Motility and cell survival in these parasites showed a gradual decline with increasing levels of SNP. Features common to metazoan apoptosis are observed after exposure to 2 mM SNP. Ethylene glycol bis-(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetra-acetic acid (EGTA), Verapamil and bis-(o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetra-acetic acid/acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM) partially increased the cell survival concomitant with decreased [Ca2+]i in cells exposed to SNP. An NO scavenger (N-acetylcysteine), the analogue of SNP (devoid of NO), inhibited the rate of apoptosis after SNP treatment compared with SNP treatment without scavenger, but alone did not induce apoptosis. Taken together, the results indicate that SNP is capable of inducing apoptosis in T. gondii tachyzoites via a calcium signal transduction pathway.

Keywords

Toxoplasma gondiitachyzoitesnitric oxideapoptosiscalcium signal
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 126 , Issue 6 , June 2003 , pp. 541 - 550
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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