Laminin on Toxoplasma gondii mediates parasite binding to the beta 1 integrin receptor alpha 6 beta 1 on human foreskin fibroblasts and Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We investigated the role of parasite-bound laminin and the host cell beta 1 integrin receptors for this extracellular matrix protein in Toxoplasma gondii binding to fibroblasts. Laminin but not fibronectin was detected on extracellular tachyzoites by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Binding of parasites to CHO cells was inhibited by polyclonal antibodies to laminin and by a monoclonal antibody directed against the globular carboxyl-terminal portion of the long arm of laminin (at or near the suggested ligand-binding sites for alpha 3 beta 1 and alpha 6 beta 1), but not by a monoclonal antibody directed against the lateral short arms of laminin near the cross region of the molecule. Antibodies to the alpha 6 but not the alpha 2, alpha 3, or alpha 5 chains of the beta 1 family of integrins blocked parasite attachment to human foreskin fibroblasts and CHO cells. Attachment of T. gondii to cells via laminin on the parasite surface and laminin receptors on the mammalian cell is consistent with the capacity of the parasite to invade almost all nucleated cells.