Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

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Elsevier, Experimental Parasitology, (139), p. 49-57, 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.02.008

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The involvement of FAK and Src in the invasion of cardiomyocytes by Trypanosoma cruzi

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The activation of signaling pathways involving protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) has been demonstrated during Trypanosoma cruzi invasion. Hereisn, we describe the participation of FAK/Src in the invasion of cardiomyocytes by T. cruzi. The treatment of cardiomyocytes with genistein, a PTK inhibitor, significantly reduced T. cruzi invasion. Also, PP1, a potent Src-family protein inhibitor, and PF573228, a specific FAK inhibitor, also inhibited T. cruzi entry; maximal inhibition was achieved at concentrations of 25μM PP1 (53% inhibition) and 40μM PF573228 (50% inhibition). The suppression of FAK expression in siRNA-treated cells and tetracycline-uninduced Tet-FAK(WT)-46 cells significantly reduced T. cruzi invasion. The entry of T. cruzi is accompanied by changes in c-Src expression and FAK phosphorylation. An enhancement of FAK activation occurs during the initial stages of T. cruzi-cardiomyocyte interaction (30 and 60 min), with a concomitant increase in the level of c-Src expression and phosphorylation, suggesting that FAK/Src act as an integrated signaling pathway that coordinates parasite entry. These data provide novel insights into the signaling pathways that are involved in cardiomyocyte invasion by T. cruzi. A better understanding of the signal transduction networks involved in T. cruzi invasion may contribute to the development of more effective therapies for the treatment of Chagas' disease.