Korean J Parasitol.  2013 Aug;51(4):479-484. 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.4.479.

Superoxide Anion Production by Human Neutrophils Activated by Trichomonas vaginalis

• Song HO
• Ryu JS

• KMID: 1715697
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2013.51.4.479

Abstract

Neutrophils are the predominant inflammatory cells found in vaginal discharges of patients infected with Trichomonas vaginalis. In this study, we examined superoxide anion (O2(.-)) production by neutrophils activated by T. vaginalis. Human neutrophils produced superoxide anions when stimulated with either a lysate of T. vaginalis, its membrane component (MC), or excretory-secretory product (ESP). To assess the role of trichomonad protease in production of superoxide anions by neutrophils, T. vaginalis lysate, ESP, and MC were each pretreated with a protease inhibitor cocktail before incubation with neutrophils. Superoxide anion production was significantly decreased by this treatment. Trichomonad growth was inhibited by preincubation with supernatants of neutrophils incubated for 3 hr with T. vaginalis lysate. Furthermore, myeloperoxidase (MPO) production by neutrophils was stimulated by live trichomonads. These results indicate that the production of superoxide anions and MPO by neutrophils stimulated with T. vaginalis may be a part of defense mechanisms of neutrophils in trichomoniasis.

Keyword

Trichomonas vaginalis; neutrophil; superoxide anion; myeloperoxidase; growth inhibition

MeSH Terms

Anions/*metabolism
Female
Humans
Neutrophils/enzymology/*metabolism/parasitology
Peroxidase/metabolism
Superoxides/*metabolism
Trichomonas Infections/enzymology/*metabolism/parasitology
Trichomonas vaginalis/*isolation & purification/physiology
Anions
Superoxides
Peroxidase