TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI INFECTION INDUCES THE EXPRESSION OF WNT/FRIZZLED SIGNALING PATHWAY PROTEINS INVOLVED IN MODULATE THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

VOLPINI XIMENA; AMBROSIO, LAURA F.; CARINA ELIZALDE; MOTRAN, CLAUDIA CRISTINA

Congreso; LXII Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología-SAI; 2014

Wnt proteins comprise a family of 19 highly conserved secreted cysteine-rich glycoproteins that have crucial roles in the regulation of diverse processes, including cell proliferation, survival, migration, polarity, and specification of cell fate. Wnt proteins signal through canonical (β-catenin-dependent) and noncanonical (β-catenin- independent) pathways. Recently it was demonstrated that wnt signaling in macrophages (Mo) and dendritic cells (DCs) regulates inflammatory responses. To evaluate the role of Wnt pathways activation in Trypanosoma cruzi experimental infection, we studied the expression of b-catenin, wnt-3a and wnt 5a, wnt proteins involved in infectious process, was evaluated in spleen mononuclear cells (SMC) from T. cruzi infected C57BL/6 mice and bone marrow derived macrophages (Mo) and dendritic cells (DC) infected in vitro. C57Bl/6 mice (n=5) were infected with 3000 trypomastigotes (tp) of T.cruzi and the expression of these proteins was determined in SMC by Western blot at different times post-infection (pi). T cruzi infection induced a significant up-regulation of Wnt5a protein (usually involved in activation of the Wnt/non canonical pathway) and β-catenin transcription factor expression at peak of parasitemia (day 17 pi) compared with non-infected mice (n=5). In addition, Mo and DC infected in vitro with T. cruzi tp (cells:tp= 1:3) by 12 h showed a significant up- regulation (p<0.05) of wnt3a, wnt5a and β-catenin that was partially dependent of TLR 4 expression.