Toxoplasma gondii triggers Gi-dependent PI 3-kinase signaling required for inhibition of host cell apoptosis

J Cell Sci. 2006 May 15;119(Pt 10):2119-26. doi: 10.1242/jcs.02934. Epub 2006 Apr 25.

Abstract

Infection with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii renders cells resistant to multiple pro-apoptotic signals, but underlying mechanisms have not been delineated. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) pathway and the immediate downstream effector protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) play important roles in cell survival and apoptosis inhibition. Here, we show that Toxoplasma infection of mouse macrophages activates PKB/Akt in vivo and in vitro. In a mixed population of infected and non-infected macrophages, activation is only observed in parasite-infected cells. The PI 3-kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 block parasite-induced PKB phosphorylation. PKB activation occurs independently of Toll-like receptor adaptor protein MyD88 but uncoupling of Gi-protein-mediated signaling with pertussis toxin prevents PKB phosphorylation. Moreover, in the presence of PI 3-kinase inhibitors or pertussis toxin, not only PKB activation but also ERK1/2 activation during T. gondii infection is defective. Most importantly, the parasite's ability to induce macrophage resistance to pro-apoptotic signaling is prevented by incubation with PI 3-kinase inhibitors. This study demonstrates that T. gondii exploits host Gi-protein-dependent PI 3-kinase signaling to prevent induction of apoptosis in infected macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / metabolism*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling / methods
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / enzymology*
  • Macrophages / parasitology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toxoplasma / physiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / enzymology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / pathology

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go