Biogenic silver nanoparticles reduce adherence, infection, and proliferation of toxoplasma gondii RH strain in HeLa cells without inflammatory mediators induction

Laís Fernanda Machado; Raquel Arruda Sanfelice; Larissa Rodrigues Bosqui; João Paulo Assolini; Sara Scandorieiro; Italmar Teodorico Navarro; Allan Henrique Depieri Cataneo; Pryscilla Fanini Wowk; Gerson Nakazato; Juliano Bordignon; Wander Rogerio Pavanelli; Ivete Conchon-Costa; Idessania Nazareth Costa

doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107853

Biogenic silver nanoparticles reduce adherence, infection, and proliferation of toxoplasma gondii RH strain in HeLa cells without inflammatory mediators induction

Exp Parasitol. 2020 Feb 17:211:107853. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107853. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Patologia Experimental - Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia Das Doenças Negligenciadas e Câncer. Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
² Departamento de Microbiologia - Laboratório de Bacteriologia Básica e Aplicada. Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
³ Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva - Laboratório de Zoonoses e Saúde Pública. Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR, Brazil.
⁴ Laboratório de Virologia Molecular. Instituto Carlos Chagas, ICC/ Fiocruz, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
⁵ Departamento de Patologia Experimental - Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia Das Doenças Negligenciadas e Câncer. Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. Electronic address: idessania@uel.br.

PMID: 32061628
DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107853

Abstract

The highlights of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNp-Bio) include low toxicity - depending on size and concentration - and efficient antiparasitic activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the action of the AgNp-Bio on HeLa cells in an infection with strain of RH Toxoplasma gondii. Firstly, we performed a cellular viability test and characterized the AgNp-Bio to proceed with the infection of HeLa cells with T. gondii to be treated using AgNp-Bio or conventional drugs. Subsequently, we determined the level of standard cytokines Th1/Th2 as well as the content of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results indicated a mean size of 69 nm in diameter for the AgNp-Bio and obtained a dose-dependent toxicity. In addition, the concentrations of 3 and 6 μM promoted a significant decrease in adherence, infection, and intracellular proliferation. We also found lower IL-8 and production of inflammatory mediators. Thus, the nanoparticles reduced the adherence, infection, and proliferation of ROS and NO, in addition to immunomodulating the IL-8. Therefore, our data proved relevant to introduce a promising therapeutic alternative to toxoplasmosis.

Keywords: HeLa cells; Silver nanoparticles; Toxoplasmosis; Treatment.