Mast cells are crucial in the resistance against Toxoplasma gondii oral infection |
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Authors: | Aline Cruz Érica Araújo Mendes Marcus Vinícius Melo de Andrade Vanuza Chagas do Nascimento Christiane T Cartelle Rosa M E Arantes José Renan da Cunha Melo Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli Catherine Ropert |
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Institution: | 1. School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;2. Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;3. Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil;4. Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil |
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Abstract: | During oral infection, mucosal immunity assumes a predominant role. Here, we addressed the role of mast cells (MCs), which are mainly located in mucosa during oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii, using MC‐deficient (W/Wv) mice. We show that in the absence of MCs the resistance of W/Wv mice to oral infection was considerably reduced. W/Wv mice uniformly succumbed within 15 days of infection after administration of cysts of the ME49 strain of T. gondii. The rapid lethality of T. gondii in W/Wv mice correlated with a delayed Th1‐cell response, since IFN‐γ and IL‐12 levels peaked in the later phase of the infection. In vitro, BM‐derived MCs were able to recognize parasite lysate in a MyD88‐dependent way, reaffirming the role of this TLR adapter in immune responses to T. gondii. The importance of MCs in vivo was confirmed when W/Wv mice reconstituted with BM‐derived MCs from control mice retrieved an early strong Th1‐cell response and specially a significant IL‐12 production. In conclusion, MCs play an important role for the development of a protective immune response during oral infection with T. gondii. |
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Keywords: | Mast cells Mucosal immunity Oral infection Th1‐cell response Toxoplasma gondii |
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