Extracellular H2O2, peroxiredoxin, and glutathione reductase alter Neospora caninum invasion and proliferation in Vero cells

Neospora caninum is a protozoan member of the Apicomplexa phylum and is closely connected with abortion in cattle. The development of the parasite in host cells is characterized by the active secretion of proteins, allied to the tight control of the redox status. In this sense, elucidating the mechanisms related to the role of the redox agents and enzymes during the invasion and proliferation of N. caninum may contribute to developing novel forms of neosporosis control. In this study we verified the effects of the recombinant forms of N. caninum glutathione reductase (rNcGR) and thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase (rNcPrx), as well as H2O2 in the tachyzoite invasion and proliferation. rNcPrx interfered in the N. caninum invasion in a redox state manner. Oxidized rNcPrx inhibited the N. caninum invasion and proliferation with no toxic effects observed in Vero cells. In contrast, lower concentrations of H2O2 (10 μM) stimulated the N. caninum invasion, which was reverted in higher doses (>100 μM). H2O2 inhibited the parasite proliferation in lower concentrations than cytotoxicity in host cells, resulting in a positive selectivity index (1.8). Besides, rNcPrx (reduced and non-reduced) and rNcGR inhibited the parasite proliferation without affecting the host cell. Our results indicate the connection between the N. caninum development and the redox state, contributing to the elucidation of parasite propagation and control mechanisms.