Use of Liposomes for Directed Drug Delivery Against Entamoeba histolytica.

摘要

The ability of purified glycosphingolipids to enhance liposome stimulated Entamoeba histolytica actin polymerization was assessed as a means to define the specificity of mammalian cell membrane lipid glycan recognition by this parasite. Synthetic liposomes containing a variety of individual glycosphingolipids bearing neutral, straight chain oligomeric glycans with galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine termini stimulated rapid (90 sec) polymerization of amoeba actin. Glycans with terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residues were not, or only weakly, stimulatory. Glycans with glucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, galatose and N-acetylgalactosamine as the penultimate residue were recognized. Attachment of N-acetylneuraminate to the terminal residue of stimulatory glycosphingolipid eliminated activity; attachment of fucose to the penultimate sugar reduced activity. Subject terms: Liposomes; Entamoeba histolytica; Drugs; Glycosphingolipids; Phagocytosis; Lipids; Actin. (JS)