Amir Abdoli1,2, Fatemeh Ghaffarifar3, Zohreh Sharifi4, Leila Zaki1. 1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran. 2. Zoonoses Research Center, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran. 3. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran. ghafarif@modares.ac.ir. 4. Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Toxoplasmosis can induce various hormonal and behavioral alterations in humans and rodents. Previous studies revealed alterations of sex hormones; especially testosterone, in infected humans and rodents, but little is known about the effects of sex hormones on the propagation of T. gondii. Hence, we aimed to investigate whether testosterone and progesterone influence on T. gondii propagation in neural cells. METHODS: The glioblastoma cells (U-87MG) were treated with different concentrations of testosterone and progesterone and the infection was done by tachyzoites of the RH strain of T. gondii. The number of infected cells, viability of T. gondii-infected cells, and parasite burden were measured by direct counting under a light microscope, MTT assay, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that testosterone at concentrations of 100 and 250 nM significantly increased the number of infected cells and parasite burden 24 and 48 h post-treatment compared to untreated controls. Progesterone had no significant effects in the same manner. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that testosterone could augment the propagation of T. gondii in in vitro.
PURPOSE: Toxoplasmosis can induce various hormonal and behavioral alterations in humans and rodents. Previous studies revealed alterations of sex hormones; especially testosterone, in infected humans and rodents, but little is known about the effects of sex hormones on the propagation of T. gondii. Hence, we aimed to investigate whether testosterone and progesterone influence on T. gondii propagation in neural cells. METHODS: The glioblastoma cells (U-87MG) were treated with different concentrations of testosterone and progesterone and the infection was done by tachyzoites of the RH strain of T. gondii. The number of infected cells, viability of T. gondii-infected cells, and parasite burden were measured by direct counting under a light microscope, MTT assay, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that testosterone at concentrations of 100 and 250 nM significantly increased the number of infected cells and parasite burden 24 and 48 h post-treatment compared to untreated controls. Progesterone had no significant effects in the same manner. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that testosterone could augment the propagation of T. gondii in in vitro.
Authors: Aliesha González-Arenas; Marisol De la Fuente-Granada; Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo; Carmen J Zamora-Sánchez; Ana Gabriela Piña-Medina; Julia Segura-Uribe; Christian Guerra-Araiza Journal: Arch Med Res Date: 2019-09-26 Impact factor: 2.235