Binding and Endocytosis of Bovine Hololactoferrin by the Parasite Entamoeba histolytica

Figure 6

B-holo-Lf is primarily endocytosed via clathrin-coated vesicles in both variants of E. histolytica; however, virulent trophozoites also endocytose B-holo-Lf through a cholesterol-dependent route. ((a) and (c)) Amoebae (2 × 10⁵ cells) in low iron were preincubated at 37°C for 30 min in medium with one of the indicated inhibitors. Next, they were incubated for 30 min with fresh medium containing FITC-B-holo-Lf. The samples were fixed and processed for fluorescence quantification by flow cytometry. (b) Amoebae were preincubated for 30 min at the concentration indicated of lipid-rafts inhibitors and processed as in (a). In all cases, white and black bars indicate the nonvirulent amoebae and virulent amoebae, respectively. Values are means of three independent experiments performed in triplicate ± SD.

(a)

(b)

(c)