MODULATION OF GAP JUNCTIONS IN THE HUMAN FIBROBLASTS CELL LINES INFECTED WITH Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of wide worldwide prevalence, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoa Toxoplasma gondii. Once infected, the host may present several changes in the organism. Some of these changes are associated with intercellular communication, mediated by gap junctions. The gap junctions are responsible for the exchange of ions and small messengers that assist in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Thus, morphological and microenvironmental changes were observed in vitro of human foreskin fibroblast cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii over 72 hours through (1) phase contrast micrographs of the culture of cells of the HFF control strain and infected with Toxoplasma gondii in the period of 24, 48 and 72h; (2) evaluation of the cell mortality rate and (3) immunofluorescence assays of the Cx43 protein by confocal microscopy and Apotome epifluorescence. HFF cells infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii showed morphological changes and a significant increase in cell death. It was also observed the alteration of the positioning of Cx43 in infected cells, allowing the debate on a possible positive regulation of Cx43 in the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in this cell lineage.