Biomaterial Database

Experimental infection of murine splenic lymphocytes and granulocytes with Toxoplasma gondii RH tachyzoites. 1997

J Y Chai, and J Kook, and S M Guk, and Y P Chang, and C K Yun

Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan infecting many kinds of eukaryotic cells, has been used to experimentally infect macrophages, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and various cancer cells, but rarely T and B lymphocytes or granulocytes. The present study was performed to determine the susceptibility of murine (BALB/c or CBA) splenic T and B lymphocytes, and granulocytes to infection with T. gondii RH tachyzoites. The ultrastructure of the infected host cells was observed by TEM, and the degree of intracellular parasite proliferation was quantified using 3H-uracil uptake assay. At 24 hrs post-culture, the host cell cytoplasm was found to contain 1 or 2, or a maximum of 7-8 tachyzoites. Infected T lymphocytes demonstrated a peripherally displaced nucleus, a parasitophorous vacuole enveloping the parasite, and an increased number of mitochondria. In B lymphocytes infected with tachyzoites, RER was not well developed compared to uninfected B lymphocytes. Uninfected granulocytes contained many electron-dense granules, but T. gondii-infected granulocytes demonstrated a decreased number of granules. Based on the 3H-uracil uptake assay, the susceptibility of T and B lymphocytes, and granulocytes, to infection with T. gondii tachyzoites was fairly high irrespective of cell type and strain of mouse. This strongly suggests deterioration in the functioning of infected host immune cells.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008214	Lymphocytes	White blood cells formed in the body's lymphoid tissue. The nucleus is round or ovoid with coarse, irregularly clumped chromatin while the cytoplasm is typically pale blue with azurophilic (if any) granules. Most lymphocytes can be classified as either T or B (with subpopulations of each), or NATURAL KILLER CELLS.	Lymphoid Cells,Cell, Lymphoid,Cells, Lymphoid,Lymphocyte,Lymphoid Cell
D008297	Male		Males
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D008808	Mice, Inbred CBA	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.	Mice, CBA,Mouse, CBA,Mouse, Inbred CBA,CBA Mice,CBA Mice, Inbred,CBA Mouse,CBA Mouse, Inbred,Inbred CBA Mice,Inbred CBA Mouse
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D006098	Granulocytes	Leukocytes with abundant granules in the cytoplasm. They are divided into three groups according to the staining properties of the granules: neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic. Mature granulocytes are the NEUTROPHILS; EOSINOPHILS; and BASOPHILS.	Granulocyte
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013154	Spleen	An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.
D014122	Toxoplasma	A genus of protozoa parasitic to birds and mammals. T. gondii is one of the most common infectious pathogenic animal parasites of man.	Toxoplasma gondii,Toxoplasma gondius,Toxoplasmas,gondius, Toxoplasma
D014124	Toxoplasmosis, Animal	Acquired infection of non-human animals by organisms of the genus TOXOPLASMA.	Animal Toxoplasmoses,Animal Toxoplasmosis,Toxoplasmoses, Animal