AUTHOR=Wei Zhengkai , Wang Zedong , Liu Xiao , Wang Chaoqun , Han Zhen , Wu Di , Zhang Yong , Zhang Xichen , Yang Zhengtao , Liu Quan 

TITLE=Toxoplasma gondii Triggers Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Release in Dogs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.00429

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.00429

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> (<italic>T. gondii</italic>) can cause zoonotic toxoplasmosis worldwide. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been known as a novel effector mechanism against <italic>T. gondii</italic> infection in the innate system of humans, cats, and sheep. Dogs are the intermediate host of <italic>T. gondii</italic>, in which the use of NETs against <italic>T. gondii</italic> infection remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to examine the effects of <italic>T. gondii</italic> on NETs release in dogs, and to further investigate the mechanism involved in the process. <italic>T. gondii</italic>-triggered NETs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence confocal microscopy, and the mechanism of <italic>T. gondii</italic>-triggered NETs release was determined by using inhibitors and a fluorometric reader. The results showed that <italic>T. gondii</italic> tachyzoites significantly triggered NETs-like structures, which consisted of DNA decorated with neutrophil elastase (NE) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Further investigations revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-, NADPH oxidase-, Rac 1- or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling pathways were relevant to <italic>T. gondii</italic> tachyzoites-triggered NETs release. Moreover, zymosan-triggered NETs release was strikingly degraded by <italic>T. gondii</italic> tachyzoites treatment, indicating that <italic>T. gondii</italic> may escape from the NETs-based capture strategy. Taken together, promoting NETs release is suggested to limit motility and evade infection of <italic>T. gondii</italic> in dogs.</p>