Junction Communication in the Immune System: Modulation of the Gap Junctions by Infection With Toxoplasma Gondii / Comunicação Juncional No Sistema Imunológico: Modulação Das Junções Gap Em Infecção Por Toxoplasma Gondii

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, and may be causing any problems in different systems. Some of these complications are associated with the change of intercellular communication mediated by Junctions Communicators that allows direct communication between tissues. However, there are still systems that are not fully consistent with the junctional communication, including the innate immune system, represented by Macrophages. Thus, we used J774-G8 macrophage cell line culture infected by the RH strain of Toxoplasma in its tachyzoite form. The results revealed that in J774-G8 cells The Cx43 and Phalloidin proteins interact in the plasma membrane of the J774-G8 lineage, and they undergo a sensitive reduction in the membrane after 72 hours of infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The evaluation of the Cx43 protein expression by immunoelectrophoretic transfer has been shown to be altered (elevated) in J774-G8 macrophage cells infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii 24 and 48 hours compared to uninfected cells.