Trypanosoma cruzi and American Leishmania spp: immunocytochemical localization of a laminin-like protein in the plasma membrane.

Abstract

Patients With Chagas' disease or different clinical forms of American cutaneous leishmaniasis Have antilaminin high antibody levels. An immunogold technique antilaminin Employing a specific antibody was used in the present study to determine the Presence, and define the ultrastructural localization, of laminin-like molecule (s) in American Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. Laminin was found located in T. cruzi trypomastigotes Specifically on the external surface of the plasma membrane, close to the sites Where the flagellar veil attaches to the plasma membrane. Laminin immunoreactivity was lost Rapidly Were trypomastigotes When cultured in liquid medium and no reactivity was found in fresh epimastigotes. American promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania spp. Also Showed a specific localization of laminin immunoreactivity, esta Being limited to the lips of the flagellar pocket and to the parasitic side exactly opposite to the flagellar exit. These results confirm the Presence of a laminin-like molecule (s) in Both trypanosomatids, the specific localization suggesting a presently unknown function for esta protein.