Lipid bodies [lipid droplets (LBs)] are lipid-rich organelles involved in lipid
metabolism, signalling and inflammation. Recent findings suggest a role for LBs in
host response to infection; however, the potential functions of this organelle
in Toxoplasma gondii infection and how it alters macrophage
microbicidal capacity during infection are not well understood. Here, we investigated
the role of host LBs in T. gondii infection in mouse peritoneal
macrophages in vitro. Macrophages cultured with mouse serum (MS) had higher numbers
of LBs than those cultured in foetal bovine serum and can function as a model to
study the role of LBs during intracellular pathogen infection. LBs were found in
association with the parasitophorous vacuole, suggesting that T. gondii
may benefit from this lipid source. Moreover, increased numbers of
macrophage LBs correlated with high prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and decreased
nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. Accordingly, LB-enriched macrophages cultured with MS
were less efficient at controlling T. gondii growth. Treatment of
macrophages cultured with MS with indomethacin, an inhibitor of PGE2 production,
increased the microbicidal capacity against T. gondii. Collectively,
these results suggest that culture with MS caused a decrease in microbicidal activity
of macrophages against T. gondii by increasing PGE2 while lowering
NO production.
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