Key result
Bovine embryo skeletal muscle (BESM) cells were 2-fold more attractive to Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes than HeLa cells and 10-fold more attractive than Vero cells.
Demonstrates an in vitro video technique to quantify T. cruzi attraction to vertebrate cells, showing preferential attraction to skeletal muscle cells.
In vitro assay reveals muscle cell tropism; leaves open translation to Chagas disease pathogenesis.
A video technic is described that permits a quantification of the degree of attraction of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes to vertebrate cells in vitro. Bovine embryo skeletal muscle cells (BESM), HeLa cells and Vero cells all attract a myotropic strain of T. cruzi trypomastigotes. BESM cells, however, are 2-fold more attractive to trypomastigotes than HeLa cells and 10-fold more attractive than Vero cells. Heat-inactivation of BESM cells abolishes their ability to respire and also to attract T. cruzi trypomastigotes. As there is no difference in the endogenous oxygen consumption between BESM, HeLa, and Vero cells, it is unlikely that differences in the attraction of trypomastigotes to the 3 cell types are due to variations in the magnitude of pO2 or pCO2 gradients in the milieu around the cells.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Dvorak et al. (1976) studied Trypanosoma cruzi infection (in vitro). Vertebrate cells (BESM, HeLa, Vero) vs. Heat-inactivated BESM cells was evaluated on Degree of attraction of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. Bovine embryo skeletal muscle (BESM) cells were 2-fold more attractive to Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes than HeLa cells and 10-fold more attractive than Vero cells.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: