Recruitment of galectin-3 during cell invasion and intracellular trafficking of Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes

The invasion of host cells by the intracellular protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi requires interactions with host cell molecules, and the replication of the parasite requires escape from a parasitophorous vacuole into the host cell cytosol. Galectin-3, a member of beta-galactosidase-binding lectin family, has numerous extracellular and intracellular functions. in this study, we investigated the role of galectin-3 during the invasion and intracellular trafficking of T. cruzi extracellular amastigotes (EAs). Endogenous galectin-3 from mouse peritoneal macrophages accumulated around the pathogen during cell invasion by EAs. in addition, galectin-3 accumulated around parasites after their escape from the parasitophorous vacuole. Thus, galectin-3 behaved as a novel marker of phagolysosome lysis during the infection of host cells by T. cruzi.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Fed Uberlandia, Lab Tripanosomatideos, Disciplina Imunol, Inst Ciencias Biomed, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPEMIG: PIBIC B 004/2009FAPEMIG: APQ-00621-11FAPEMIG: APQ-00305-12CAPES: 23038.005295/2011-40Web of Scienc