Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) restore testosterone levels and increase TNF- α and IL-6 in Leydig cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) on tachyzoite forms and Leydig cells infected with T. gondii. We observed that the AgNp-Bio reduced the viability of the tachyzoites and did not exhibit cytotoxicity against Leydig cells at low concentrations. Additionally, treatment with AgNp-Bio reduced the rate of infection and proliferation of the parasite, and lowered the testosterone levels in the infected cells. It increased the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced the levels of IL- 10. Among the morphological and ultrastructural changes, AgNp-Bio induced a reduction in the number of intracellular tachyzoites and caused changes in the tachyzoites with accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and a decrease in the number of tachyzoites inside the parasitophorous vacuoles. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the AgNp-Bio affect T. gondii tachyzoites by activating microbicidal and inflammatory mechanisms and could be a potential alternative treatment for toxoplasmosis.PMID:35944696 | DOI:10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108343

Source: Experimental Parasitology - August 9, 2022 Category: Parasitology Authors: Sara Sofia Lopes Semedo Raquel Arruda da Silva Sanfelice Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier Taylon Felipe Silva Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti Gabriela Correia de Oliveira Gl áucia Eloisa Munhoz de Lion Siervo Larissa Rodrigues Bosqui Danielle Lazarin-Bid ó Source Type: research