Entamoeba histolytica: Overexpression of the gal/galnac lectin, ehcp2 and ehcp5 genes in an in vivo model of amebiasis

The parasite Entamoeba histolytica causes intestinal amebiasis and amebic liver abscess as its main extraintestinal manifestation. To study the in vivo events related to inflammation and the interactions between hosts and parasites during amebiasis, we designed a novel model of host-parasite interactions using cellulose membrane dialysis bags containing E. histolytica trophozoites. A bag is placed into the hamster peritoneal cavity, as has been reported in previous studies of programmed cell death (PCD) in E. histolytica trophozoites. To determine if virulence factors such as cysteine proteinases (EhCP2 and EhCP5) and Gal/GalNAc lectin could be involved in the host-parasite interaction using this model, we examined the relative expression of the ehcp2 and ehcp5 genes and the carbohydrate recognition domain (crd) of Gal/GalNAc lectin using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). All analyzed genes were over-expressed 0.5 h after the initiation of the host-parasite interaction and were then progressively down-regulated. However, Gal/GalNAc lectin had the greatest increase in gene expression 1.5 h after host-parasite interaction; Gal/GalNAc lectin had a 250-fold increase with respect to the axenically grown trophozoites, which over-express Gal/GalNAc lectin in in vivo models. These results support the important role of these molecules in the initiation of cell damage by E. histolytica.