Recombinant Microneme Proteins MIC1 and MIC4 from Toxoplasma gondii Cause Cytotoxic Effects in the Human Jurkat T-Lymphocyte Cell Line

<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a potentially devastating disease to fetuses and immunocompromised individuals. Among its microneme proteins, MIC1 and MIC4 play crucial roles in host-parasite interactions, facilitating adhesion by binding glycans on host cells. Beyond these roles, these lectins have been implicated in modulating immune responses and inducing apoptosis, but their effects on human immune cells remain unclear. Here, we investigated the interaction of recombinant MIC1 (rMIC1) and rMIC4 with Jurkat T lymphocytes, a human immune cell model. Both lectins bound Jurkat cells in a carbohydrate-dependent manner, with rMIC4 showing competitive binding over rMIC1. Importantly, we observed that rMIC1 and rMIC4 reduced Jurkat cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner, inducing apoptosis through caspase activation by extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. The apoptosis was driven by reactive oxygen species production via the NADPH oxidase complex and the activation of p38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathways, emphasizing the ability of these lectins to modulate cellular signaling cascades. This study offers insights into the mechanisms involved in MIC1 and MIC4 interactions with immune cells.