Entamoeba histolytica: Target cells killed by trophozoites undergo DNA fragmentation which is not blocked by Bcl-2

Abstract

Amebic destruction of neutrophils and macrophages is contact-dependent. Adherence is mediated by a galactose-specific surface lectin on the amebic membrane. The pathway by which contact-dependent cytolysis of the target cell occurs is unknown. We hypothesized that target cell death is due to the triggering of apoptosis (programmed cell death) by the amebae. The purpose of this study was to determine whether target cell DNA is fragmented into a ladder pattern characteristic of apoptosis and to test whether overexpression of Bcl-2, a protein that confers resistance to apoptotic death from some stimuli, blocks target cell killing. The murine myeloid cell line FDC-P1 transfected with a retroviru..