Yonsei Med J.  2004 Aug;45(4):751-754. 10.3349/ymj.2004.45.4.751.

Involvement of MAP Kinases in Apoptosis of Macrophage Treated with Trichomonas vaginalis

• Ryang YS
• Chang JH
• Park JY

• KMID: 721432
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2004.45.4.751

Abstract

A primitive protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis selectively activates the signal transduction pathways in macrophages (RAW264.7). This study evaluated the correlation of these signaling pathways and T. vaginalis-induced cell apoptosis. In macrophages infected with T. vaginalis, apoptosis was assessed on the basis of DNA fragmentation on agarose gel electrophoresis. Infection of macrophages with T. vaginalis induced tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins. Infected cells with T. vaginalis were shown to associate with phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) 1/2 kinase, p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases on Western blot analysis. The present finding also demonstrated a link between the ERK1/2, JNK and p38 apoptotic pathways that was modulated by T. vaginalis infection.

Keyword

Trichomonas vaginalis; Tyrosine phosphorylation; MAP kinases; Apoptosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apoptosis/*immunology
Humans
MAP Kinase Signaling System/immunology
Macrophages/*cytology/enzymology/*parasitology
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism
Phosphorylation
Trichomonas Infections/*immunology
Trichomonas vaginalis/*immunology