弓形虫 z-bo 2020-09-18 359

　　Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasma gondii) is a pathogen that parasitizes cells and can infect almost all warm-blooded animals including humans. Pulmonary diseases caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection are particularly dangerous for newborns, children and people with weakened immune systems (AIDS, bone marrow transplantation, organ transplantation, etc.).

　　Respiratory tract epithelial cells can regulate the body's immune response to a variety of pathogens. However, it is still unclear the specific impact of Toxoplasma infection on respiratory epithelial cells.

　　The research team of Sun Yat-sen University and the University of California found that Toxoplasma infection inhibits the secretion of chloride ions in the respiratory tract and affects its ability to eliminate pathogens. This result was published in PNAS, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on March 23. The corresponding authors of the article are Professor Zhao-Rong Lun and Wen-Liang Zhou of the School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University. Professor and Francisco J. Ayala of the University of California.

　　The mucociliary system that is breathed can eliminate inhaled pathogens, and the secretion of chloride ions mediated by CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance factor) plays an important role in this process. The researchers used the short-circuit current technique (Isc) to analyze the atp-induced chloride secretion in the tracheal epithelial cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Studies have shown that Toxoplasma infection can significantly inhibit this ATP-induced chloride secretion.

　　Researchers also found through real-time quantitative PCR that the P2Y2 receptor mRNA expression level increased significantly in the trachea of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This shows that the underlying mechanism of Toxoplasma infection in the respiratory tract is related to the P2Y2 receptor.

　　Research has pointed out that Toxoplasma gondii infection can affect the chloride ion secretion of host cells through P2Y2-R. This discovery will help people further understand the impact of Toxoplasma infection on the host, and develop corresponding treatment strategies on this basis.