Stimulatory Effect of Synthetic Carbohydrate-Bearing Molecules on Nitric Oxide Production and Enhancing Macrophages Viability upon Exposure of T. Gondii

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite that affects most types of warm-blooded vertebrate's cells. Individuals at risk for toxoplasmosis include fetuses, newborns, and immunologically impaired patients. Therefore, finding methods for early boosting immune responses cells would help protect against toxoplasmosis. Synthetic carbohydrate bearing moieties (SCs) were used to treat the infected macrophages and to decolonize the tachyzoites. The current research studied the SCs effect on macrophage phagocytosis after 22-24 hours exposure to the Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites (Tg). Macrophage functional analyses were performed, using nitric oxide (NO) release, upon exposure to Tg treated by SCs. The effect of on macrophage viability (MV) and resistance to T. gondii during phagocytosis were studied using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). NO release was dependent on the type and the time of SCs exposure to infected macrophages. FACS analysis demonstrated that SCs affected macrophage survival upon T. gondii exposure. Murine macrophages exposed to SC-treated tachyzoites (M+SC+Tg) increase macrophage viability (MV) from 52.6% of macrophages infected with tachyzoites (M+Tg) up to 65%-75%. The present study provides new SCs candidates that can be used in the development of new therapeutics and immunostimulants against T. gondii.