Figure 3
From: The α-helical regions of KERP1 are important in Entamoeba histolytica adherence to human cells
Expression of KERP1 coiled-coil domains in E. histolytica reduces the capacity to adhere to human cells without affecting cytotoxicity.
Functional assays of adherence and cytotoxicity using E. histolytica transfectants TetOCat and TeTOCat-KCS with (+) or without (−) induction by tetracycline, interacting with human cells LSEC or Caco2. Assays were performed in a ratio of 1:5 amoebas to human Caco2 cells and 1:10 to human LSEC. (a). Percentage values of adherence to LSEC (p value: 0.004). (b). Percentage values of adherence to Caco2 cells (p value: 0.002). A statistically significant reduction of 60% in adherence is observed for trophozoites expressing KCS (TetOCat-KCS+) compared to the control (TetOCat), independently of the human cell type. Cytotoxicity assays were performed using the same ratio as before with a control sample without parasites, indicating the 100% rate of survival of the human cells during the experiment. (c). Percentage values of LSEC survival (p value *: 0.02; **: 0.006). (d). Percentage values of Caco2 cell survival. No difference in the percentage of survival between the different human cell lines was observed upon comparison with the control.
