Migration and maturation of human dendritic cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii depend on parasite strain type

Migration and maturation of human dendritic cells derived from CD34(+) progenitor cells (DC) infected by Toxoplasma gondii were studied in an in vitro model. We demonstrated that infection with virulent type I strains RH and ENT or type II low virulent strains PRU and CAL induced DC migration towards MIP-3beta. However, type II strains induced a higher percentage of migrating cells than that induced by type I strains or positive controls (chemical allergen or lipopolysaccharides). Type II strains produced soluble factors responsible of the high migration whereas heat killed tachyzoites did not induced a migration higher than positive controls. We also demonstrated that infection by virulent strains and not by type II stains or heat killed tachyzoites triggers DC maturation. A soluble factor released by type II strains was responsible of the absence of DC maturation. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the interference of T gondii in the behaviour of DC functions is related to the strain types and can be supported by secretion of soluble factors by the parasite. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.