Trypanosoma cruzi induces trophoblast differentiation: A potential local antiparasitic mechanism of the human placenta?

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Introduction: The congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is responsible for one-third of new Chagas disease cases each year. During congenital transmission, the parasite breaks down the placental barrier formed by the trophoblast, basal laminae and villous stroma. The observation that only 5% of infected mothers transmit the parasite to the fetus implies that the placenta may impair parasite transmission. The trophoblast undergoes continuous epithelial turnover, which is considered part of innate immunity. Therefore, we propose that T. cruzi induces differentiation in the trophoblast as part of a local antiparasitic mechanism of the placenta. Methods: We analyzed β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and syncytin protein expression in HPCVE and BeWo cells using immunofluorescence and western blotting. Additionally, b-hCG secretion into the culture medium was measured by ELISA. We assessed the differentiation of troph