Sanchez Yuriko, Rosado Juan de Dios, Vega Libia, Elizondo Guillermo, Estrada-Muñiz Elizabeth, Saavedra Rafael, Juárez Imelda, Rodríguez-Sosa Miriam
Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CP 54090, o. Tlalnepantla, Edo. de México, Mexico.
J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010;2010:505694. doi: 10.1155/2010/505694. Epub 2010 Jan 11.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is part of a signaling system that is mainly triggered by xenobiotic agents. Increasing evidence suggests that AhR may regulate immunity to infections. To determine the role of AhR in the outcome of toxoplasmosis, we used AhR-/- and wild-type (WT) mice. Following an intraperitoneal infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), AhR-/- mice succumbed significantly faster than WT mice and displayed greater liver damage as well as higher serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, nitric oxide (NO), and IgE but lower IL-10 secretion. Interestingly, lower numbers of cysts were found in their brains. Increased mortality was associated with reduced expression of GATA-3, IL-10, and 5-LOX mRNA in spleen cells but higher expression of IFN-gamma mRNA. Additionally, peritoneal exudate cells from AhR-/- mice produced higher levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma but lower TLR2 expression than WT mice. These findings suggest a role for AhR in limiting the inflammatory response during toxoplasmosis.
芳烃受体（AhR）是一种信号系统的组成部分，该信号系统主要由外源性物质触发。越来越多的证据表明，AhR可能调节对感染的免疫反应。为了确定AhR在弓形虫病结局中的作用，我们使用了AhR基因敲除小鼠和野生型（WT）小鼠。经腹腔感染刚地弓形虫（T. gondii）后，AhR基因敲除小鼠比WT小鼠死亡明显更快，表现出更严重的肝脏损伤以及更高的血清肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α、一氧化氮（NO）和IgE水平，但白细胞介素-10分泌较低。有趣的是，在它们的大脑中发现的包囊数量较少。死亡率增加与脾细胞中GATA-3、IL-10和5-脂氧合酶（5-LOX）mRNA表达降低但干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）mRNA表达升高有关。此外，与WT小鼠相比，AhR基因敲除小鼠的腹腔渗出细胞产生更高水平的IL-12和IFN-γ，但Toll样受体2（TLR2）表达较低。这些发现表明AhR在限制弓形虫病期间的炎症反应中发挥作用。
