Role of iron in intracellular growth of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Host hypoferremic responses occur during infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, presumably through the transfer of iron to the sites of intracellular parasite replication. Depletion of host intracellular iron stores reduces parasite pathogenicity. It has therefore been hypothesized that T. cruzi requires iron for optimal growth in host cells and that, unlike extracellular pathogens, T. cruzi may benefit from host hypoferremic responses. These hypotheses were examined by the in vitro infection of peritoneal macrophages with T. cruzi. Various doses of desferrioxamine or referrated desferrioxamine were added to the culture medium, and parasite growth was monitored. The influence of treatment on uninfected macrophage morphology, function, and iron content was also verified. Desferrioxamine reduced the rate of amastigote replication in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas referrated desferrioxamine did not. The iron content of desferrioxamine-treated macrophages was decreased by 55% without provoking significant morphological or functional changes. Thus, amastigotes used host cell iron stores for optimal growth, and desferrioxamine reduced growth by depleting host cell iron. Hence, it was suggested that depletion of host intracellular iron stores may protect against T. cruzi and, furthermore, that host responses which transfer iron to the intracellular sites of T. cruzi replication may enhance parasite pathogenicity.