Neutrophils kill the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis using trogocytosis
2018
T. vaginalis, a human-infective parasite, causes the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and contributes to adverse
inflammatory disorders. The immune response to T. vaginalis is poorly understood. Neutrophils (
polymorphonuclear cells[PMNs]) are the major immune cell present at the T. vaginalis–host interface and are thought to clear T. vaginalis. However, the mechanism of PMN clearance of T. vaginalis has not been characterized. We demonstrate that human PMNs rapidly kill T. vaginalis in a dose-dependent, contact-dependent, and
neutrophil extracellular trap(NET)-independent manner. In contrast to phagocytosis, we observed that PMN killing of T. vaginalis involves taking “bites” of T. vaginalis prior to parasite death, using
trogocytosisto achieve pathogen killing. Both
trogocytosisand parasite killing are dependent on the presence of PMN serine proteases and human serum factors. Our analyses provide the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of a mammalian phagocyte using
trogocytosisfor pathogen clearance and reveal a novel mechanism used by PMNs to kill a large, highly motile target.
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