Gd. Godbold et Bj. Mann, INVOLVEMENT OF THE ACTIN CYTOSKELETON AND P21(RHO)-FAMILY GTPASES IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF THE HUMAN PROTOZOAN PARASITE ENTAMOEBA-HISTOLYTICA, Brazilian journal of medical and biological research, 31(8), 1998, pp. 1049-1058
It has been estimated that infection with the enteric protozoan parasi
te Entamoeba histolytica kills more than 50,000 people a year. Central
to the pathogenesis of this organism is its ability to directly lyse
host cells and cause tissue destruction. Amebic lesions show evidence
of cell lysis, tissue necrosis, and damage to the extracellular matrix
. The specific molecular mechanisms by which these events are initiate
d, transmitted, and effected are just beginning to be uncovered. In th
is article we review what is known about host cell adherence and conta
ct-dependent cytolysis. We cover the involvement of the actin cytoskel
eton and small CTP-binding proteins of the p21(rho)-family in the proc
ess of cell killing and phagocytosis, and also look at how amebic inte
ractions with molecules of the extracellular matrix contribute to its
cytopathic effects.