Changes in macrophage membrane properties during early Leishmania amazonensis infection differ from those observed during established infection and are partially explained by phagocytosis.

Understanding the impact of intracellular pathogens on the behavior of their host cells is key to designing new interventions. We are interested in how Leishmania alters the electrical function of the plasma membrane of the macrophage it infects. The specific question addressed here is the impact of Leishmania infection on macrophage membrane properties during the first 12h post-infection. A decrease of 29% in macrophage membrane capacitance at 3h post-infection indicates that the phagolysosome membrane is donated on entry by the macrophage plasma membrane. Macrophage membrane potential depolarized during the first 12h post-infection, which associated with a decreased inward potassium current density, changed in inward rectifier conductance and increased outward potassium current density. Decreased membrane capacitance and membrane potential, with no changes in ion current density, were found in macrophages after phagocytosis of latex beads. Therefore we suggest that the macrophage membrane changes observed during early Leishmania infection appear to be associated with the phagocytic and activation processes. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.