Alterations of the gap junctions in the process of infection with toxoplasma gondii on the intestinal epithelial cell

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The gastrointestinal tract is therefore a major route of T. gondii infection in most cases. For this reason the intestinal epithelium is a cellular model that provides to study the first line of defense against oral infections. The gap junctions, mediated by connexin 43 (Cx43), that have the role of mediating the interactions between adjacent cells. In the intestinal epithelial cell gap junction formed by Cx43 may be important in modulating the response of the cell to infectious processes, and by allowing the passage of important agents into the body in the process of infection. Although the invasion of parasites into host cells is a known event, the effects of this infection are not yet well established. In view of this, we investigated possible alterations in the positioning and expression of connexin 43 in the intestinal epithelial cell during the infection process of the protozoan T. gondii. For this, Immunofluorescence and Westen Blot assays were performed before and after infection, and a statistical analysis of these data was carried out. IEC-6 cells infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii showed disorganization of F-actin filaments, followed by reduced positioning and expression of connexin 43. This can greatly reduce intercellular communication and consequently the functions of the intestinal epithelium.