Abstract
Backgroung: Cryptosporidium infection leads to life-threatening diarrhea in AIDS patients. Pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis is due to intestinal physiological alterations. We devised an ex-vivo model using ex-vivo Cryptosporidium parvum infection of jejunal tissues derived from SIV-infected macaques and studied the role of substance P (SP) in the pathogenesis of cryptosporidiosis. Methods: We measured jejunal SP protein levels using ELISA, and electrophysiological alterations using the Ussing chamber technique in an ex vivo model of Cryptosporidium infection. Paraformaldehyde-fixed jejunum from SIV-infected macaques with and without naturally occurring cryptosporidiosis was studied for SP protein expression by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence deconvolution microscopy. Results: Ex-vivo Cryptosporidium-infected tissues and tissues from SIV-infected macaques with naturally occurring cryptosporidiosis demonstrated elevated SP protein levels compared with tissues from SIV-infected animals without ex-vivo C. parvum infection or tissues from SIV-infected animals that have no evidence of cryptosporidiosis. In our ex-vivo model of Cryptosporidium infection, we demonstrated pathophysiological alterations that were blocked by SP-receptor antagonist treatment. Conclusions: These studies suggest that SP-receptor antagonists could prove useful for treatment of AIDS-related cryptosporidiosis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 109-115 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of medical primatology |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2008 |
Keywords
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Macaques
- Substance P
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- General Veterinary