Role of Gap Junctions and Hemichannels in Parasitic Infections

Figure 2

Trypanosoma cruzi increases the ethidium uptake in Cx43 HeLa cells. Representative images of ethidium (red) uptake by Cx43-HeLa cells exposed to metacyclic trypomastigotes (4 : 1 parasites/cell) of strain CL Brener of T. cruzi. In some cases, cells were pretreated with carbenoxolone (100 μM CBX) for 30 min before exposure to T. cruzi. Dextran-rhodamine dye (10 Kda) was added to demonstrate plasma membrane damage. Note that dextran-rhodamine did not stain the cells, indicating integrity of the cell membranes. Uninfected cells were used as control. Bar: 50 μm.