TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI INFECTION IN MICE ENHANCES THE MEMBRANE EXPRESSION OF LOW-AFFINITY FC-RECEPTORS FOR IGG AND THE RELEASE OF THEIR SOLUBLE FORMS

The membrane expression of low-affinity Fc receptors for IgG (FcgammaRII/III) on cells and the number of FcgammaRII/III(+) cells were studied by flow cytometry, using the 2-4G2 MoAb, in mice infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Cells from spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and peritoneum were collected on days 10, 20, 30 and 40 post infection (p.i.). The in vivo serum level of soluble FcgammaRII/III, as well as its in vitro release by cells from infected mice were studied. Parasitaemia and IgG1, IgG2a andIgG2b T. cruzi-specific antibody titres were also recorded. Both the expression of FcgammaR on cell membrane and the absolute number of FcgammaR(+) cells increased in spleen and in mesenteric lymph nodes, but not in peritoneum. The modifications in spleen occurred in the early and late parasitaemic phase of infection, i.e., before and after detection of T. cruzi-specific antibodies (from day 10 to 40 p.i.). In mesenteric lymph nodes, the variations were observed only in the early acute infection, when antibodies were not yet detectable at significant levels (on days 10 and 20 p.i.). Higher levels of soluble FcgammaR were detected in sera and in culture supernatants of spleen and lymph node cells from day 20 to 40 p.i. These results show that T. cruzi infection in mice upregulates the expression and the release of FcgammaRII/III, in the acu te phase of infection, before as well as after the rise of antibody response.