Differences in iNOS and arginase expression and activity in the macrophages of rats are responsible for the resistance against T. gondii infection

Gruner, AC, Li, Z, Zhao, ZJ, Zhu, XQ, Ren, QS, Nie, FF, Gao, JM, Gao, XJ, Yang, TB, Zhou, WL, Shen, JL, Wang, Y, Lu, FL, Chen, XG, Hide, G ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3608-0175, Ayala, FJ and Lun, ZR 2012, 'Differences in iNOS and arginase expression and activity in the macrophages of rats are responsible for the resistance against T. gondii infection' , PLoS ONE, 7 (4) , e35834.

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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii infects humans and warm blooded animals causing devastating disease worldwide. It has long been a mystery as to why the peritoneal macrophages of rats are naturally resistant to T. gondii infection while those of mice are not. Here, we report that high expression levels and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and low levels of arginase-1 (Arg 1) activity in the peritoneal macrophages of rats are responsible for their resistance against T. gondii infection, due to high nitric oxide and low polyamines within these cells. The opposite situation was observed in the peritoneal macrophages of mice. This discovery of the opposing functions of iNOS and Arg 1 in rodent peritoneal macrophages may lead to a better understanding of the resistance mechanisms of mammals, particularly humans and livestock, against T. gondii and other intracellular pathogens.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Health and Wellbeing
Schools:	Schools > School of Environment and Life Sciences > Biomedical Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS ONE
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1932-6203
Depositing User:	Users 29196 not found.
Date Deposited:	11 Sep 2012 14:37
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 14:33
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/23593

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