The effect of Encephalitozoon intestinalis on oxidative stress and cytokine levels in U937 cells*

Aim:Microsporidae,which can accommodated in many vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, are compulsoryintracellular parasites that form spores. Encephalitozoonintestinalis (E.intestinalis) from the group of Microsporidae causelife-threatening diarrhea in immunosuppressed patients as well as; enteritis,small intestinal perforation, cholangitis, cholecystitis, nephritis,bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, keratoconjunctivitis and disseminatedinfections. In this study, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), totalantioxidant capacity (TAC), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10(IL-10) levels were determined in U937 cells infected with E. intestinalis.Materialand Method: In the study, U937 human macrophage cell lineand E. intestinalis 50506 (ATCC)strain were used. U937 cells were stimulated with Phorbol 12-Myristate13-Acetate (PMA) and then infected with the parasite. Nitric oxide, MDA, TAC,TNF-α and IL-10 levels were determined in cell media collected at 6th,12th and 24th hours after infection.Results:Comparedto the control group, NO levels at all time points and MDA levels at 24thhours were significantly increased, in the infected group. Total antioxidant capacity did not differ between the control andinfected groups at the 6th and 12th hours, while thevalues of the infected group decreased at 24th hour statistically. Therewas no statistically significant difference in TNF-α values in both groups andat all time points. In the infected group compared to the control group, IL-10levels showed a significant reduction only at 6th hours.Conclusion: It was concluded that there was an increase in oxidantlevels, a decrease in antioxidant levels, and no significant changes incytokine levels in U937 cells infected withE. intestinalis. Key words: Antioxidant, cytokines, Encephalitozoonintestinalis, oxidative stress.