Effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on Natural Killer Cells activity, in vitro

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect humans and most warm-blooded vertebrates, including birds and mammals, and it is the cause of Toxoplasmosis, a widespread disease worldwide. Natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant innate lymphocyte subsets, mainly involved in the recognition and destruction of cells infected by intracellular pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) or tumor cells and their deficiency aggravate infection in the early and acute stages of the disease. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the differentiation and activity of NK cells during infection by tachyzoites of Type I and II strains of Toxoplasma gondii, CD56 and CD57 markers were examined using cord blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry and Western blotting. Results: Lower heights of expression were observed for all markers on MNCs infected by highly virulent tachyzoites of Type I strain of T. gondii in comparison to MNCs infected by Type II strain.