Actin-rich structures formed during the invasion of cultured cells by infective forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

Previous work has shown that Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes as well as metacyclic trypomastigotes infect cultured cells in a highly specific parasite form-cell type interaction. In this work we have investigated the mode of interaction of both forms with HeLa and Vero cells using scanning electron and confocal fluorescence microscopy. We examined the distribution of several host cell components as well as extracellular matrix elements during cell invasion by both T. cruzi infective forms. Scanning electron microscopy showed that membrane expansions formed during the invasion of cells by extracellular amastigotes. These expansions correspond to small cup-like structures in HeLa cells and are comparatively larger “crater”-like in Vero cells. We detected by confocal microscopy actin-rich structures associated with the internalisation of both infective forms of the parasite that correspond to the membrane expansions. Confocal fluorescence microscopy combining DIC images of cells labelled with monoclonal antibodies to phosphotyrosine, cytoskeletal elements, integrins, and extracellular matrix components revealed that some of the components like gelsolin and a-actinin accumulate in actin-rich structures formed in the invasion of amastigotes of both cell types. Others, like vinculin and α2 integrin may be present in these structures without evident accumulation. And finally, some actin-rich processes may be devoid of components like fibronectin or αV integrin. These studies provide evidence that the repertoire of host cell/extracellular matrix components that engage in the invasion process of T. cruzi forms is cell type- and parasite form-dependent.