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Ji Y, Zhang R, Bensalel J, Morcol T, Gu R, Gallego-Delgado J, Kennelly EJ, Long C. Metabolomic and chemometric analyses of St. John's wort and related Asian Hypericum species linked to bioactivity. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 329:118163. [PMID: 38588986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Plants in the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae), include more than 500 species worldwide, and many are valued for their medicinal properties, and are used as traditional herbal medicines. However, only H. perforatum is officially recognized as herbal drug in several pharmacopoeias, and used as an antidepressant clinically. Hypericum perforatum had been used as an herbal medicine since the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220 A.D.) in China. It taxonomically belongs to the section Hypericum in the genus Hypericum. There are about 42 species in the section Hypericum, with six species occurring in China. All six are recorded as traditional herbal medicines for treating aliments, including hepatitis, malaria, traumatic hemorrhage, irregular menstruation, wounds, and bruises. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aimed to characterize the chemical profiles of five phylogenetically related Hypericum species, and compare their metabolites with three H. perforatum products. Informed by ethnobotanical use, the extracts prepared from the five species were further investigated into anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiplasmodial activity. This study tested the hypothesis that systematic metabolomic and bioactivity characterization of species in section Hypericum will help to validate their phytotherapeutic use and reveal potential drug lead compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS Targeted and non-targeted metabolic analyses coupled with chemometrics were conducted on H. perforatum and four medicinal species, H. attenuatum, H. enshiense, H. erectum, and H. faberi, native to China from section Hypericum. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC-TQD-MS/MS were used for non-targeted and targeted metabolic analyses, respectively. Cytotoxicity bioassays on four cancer cell lines, anti-inflammation tests and anti-plasmodial activity on Plasmodium falciparum 3D7, selected based on traditional medicinal use, were evaluated on extracts from Hypericum species. Progenesis QI and EZinfo were used for chemometrics analysis to link the chemical profile and bioassay activity to aid in the identification of bioactive compounds. RESULTS In total, 58 compounds were identified from the five species, including compounds with well-characterized bioactivity. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum, and H. perforatum, displayed the highest cytotoxicity, and contain the cytotoxic compounds petiolin A, prolificin A, and hypercohin G, respectively. Hypericum faberi and H. perforatum showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity, with pseudohypericin, quercetin and chlorogenic acid being observed at higher concentrations. Hypericum perforatum and H. erectum showed anti-plasmodial activity, with higher hyperforin and xanthones in these species that may account for the anti-plasmodial activity. CONCLUSIONS This study characterized the chemical differences among five Hypericum species using metabolomics. These ethnomedically important species were tested for their biological activities in three distinct in vitro assays. The ethnobotanical data were useful for identifying bioactive Hypericum species. Hypericum attenuatum, H. erectum and H. faberi are promising phytotherapeutic species, although they are much less studied than H. perforatum, St. John's wort. Combining ethnobotanical surveys with chemometric analyses and bioactivity screening can greatly enhance the discovery of promising active constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Ji
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States.
| | - Ruifei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States.
| | - Johanna Bensalel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Taylan Morcol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Ronghui Gu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Huixia Road in Huaxi District, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Julio Gallego-Delgado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Edward J Kennelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, 10468, United States; Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States.
| | - Chunlin Long
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Metabolomics (Minzu University of China), National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Cheraghipour K, Khudair Khalaf A, Moradpour K, Zivdari M, Beiranvand M, Shakib P, Mahmoudvand H, Marzban A. Synthesis, characterization, and antiparasitic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles-eugenol nanosuspension against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19295. [PMID: 37654466 PMCID: PMC10465954 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles-coated with eugenol (ZnO@Eug) were synthesized and evaluated as a nanosuspension (NSus) formulation against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in vivo. Methods An anti-Toxoplasma activity assay for ZnO@Eug NSus was conducted in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of ZnO@Eug NSus by detecting several functional groups involved; EDX and SEM demonstrated the grain of ZnO-NPs embedded with Eug and compositional purity. Results Surface charge (ZP) and size distribution (DLS) of ZnO@Eug NSus were determined to be -22.7 mV and 109.6 nm, respectively. According to the release kinetics, approximately 60% of the ZnO-NPs and Eug were released in the first 45 min. In the cytotoxicity assay, ZnO-NPs, Eug, and ZnO@Eug NSus had IC50 values of 71.85, 22.39, and 2.02 mg/mL, respectively. The therapeutic efficacy of ZnO@Eug against T. gondii was 56.3%, which was not significantly different from that of spiramycin (58.9%) (Positive-control). The tissue tachyzoites in the liver, spleen, and peritoneum were less than 50% in groups treated with Eug, spiramycin, and ZnO@Eug NSus compared to the control. ZnO@Eug-treated groups showed a survival rate of up to 13 days. Conclusions The ZnO@Eug NSus demonstrated antiparasitic activity against T. gondii with minimal toxic effects and high efficiency in increasing the survival of infected mice. The nanoformulations of ZnO-NPs incorporated with Eug could, in the future, be considered for treating toxoplasmosis in humans and animals if a detailed study was conducted to determine the precise dose and measure side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourosh Cheraghipour
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | | | - Kobra Moradpour
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Zivdari
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Marjan Beiranvand
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Pegah Shakib
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hossein Mahmoudvand
- Hepatitis Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Abdolrazagh Marzban
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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Wu JJ, Zhang J, Xia CY, Ding K, Li XX, Pan XG, Xu JK, He J, Zhang WK. Hypericin: A natural anthraquinone as promising therapeutic agent. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 111:154654. [PMID: 36689857 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypericin is a prominent secondary metabolite mainly existing in genus Hypericum. It has become a research focus for a quiet long time owing to its extensively pharmacological activities especially the anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and neuroprotective effects. This review concentrated on summarizing and analyzing the existing studies of hypericin in a comprehensive perspective. METHODS The literature with desired information about hypericin published after 2010 was gained from electronic databases including PubMed, SciFinder, Science Direct, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and Wan Fang DATA. RESULTS According to extensive preclinical and clinical studies conducted on the hypericin, an organized and comprehensive summary of the natural and artificial sources, strategies for improving the bioactivities, pharmacological activities, drug combination of hypericin was presented to explore the future therapeutic potential of this active compound. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this review offered a theoretical guidance for the follow-up research of hypericin. However, the pharmacological mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and structure activity relationship of hypericin should be further studied in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Wu
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100029, China; Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- School of Life Sciences & School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Cong-Yuan Xia
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Kang Ding
- School of Life Sciences & School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xin-Xin Li
- School of Life Sciences & School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xue-Ge Pan
- School of Life Sciences & School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jie-Kun Xu
- School of Life Sciences & School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Jun He
- Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Wei-Ku Zhang
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100029, China; Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences & Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, 100029, China.
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Gonzalez-Pastor R, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Mayorga-Ramos A, Guamán LP, Barba-Ostria C. Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031068. [PMID: 36770734 PMCID: PMC9920787 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural extracts have been and continue to be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, from infectious diseases to cancer, based on their convenience and therapeutic potential. Natural products derived from microbes, plants, and animals offer a broad variety of molecules and chemical compounds. Natural products are not only one of the most important sources for innovative drug development for animal and human health, but they are also an inspiration for synthetic biology and chemistry scientists towards the discovery of new bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. This is particularly relevant in the current context, where antimicrobial resistance has risen as a global health problem. Thus, efforts are being directed toward studying natural compounds' chemical composition and bioactive potential to generate drugs with better efficacy and lower toxicity than existing molecules. Currently, a wide range of methodologies are used to analyze the in vitro activity of natural extracts to determine their suitability as antimicrobial agents. Despite traditional technologies being the most employed, technological advances have contributed to the implementation of methods able to circumvent issues related to analysis capacity, time, sensitivity, and reproducibility. This review produces an updated analysis of the conventional and current methods to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Gonzalez-Pastor
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Saskya E. Carrera-Pacheco
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Johana Zúñiga-Miranda
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Cristina Rodríguez-Pólit
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Arianna Mayorga-Ramos
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Linda P. Guamán
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
- Correspondence: (L.P.G.); (C.B.-O.)
| | - Carlos Barba-Ostria
- School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito 170901, Ecuador
- Correspondence: (L.P.G.); (C.B.-O.)
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Μatsumoto T, Imahori D, Ohnishi E, Okayama M, Kitagawa T, Ohta T, Yoshida T, Kojima N, Yamashita M, Watanabe T. Chemical structures and induction of cell death via heat shock protein inhibition of the prenylated phloroglucinol derivatives isolated from Hypericum erectum. Fitoterapia 2021; 156:105097. [PMID: 34890752 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2021.105097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Four new prenylated phloroglucinol derivatives (+)-erectumol I (1a), (-)-erectumol I (1b), (-)-erectumol II (2a), and (+)-erectumol II (2b) were isolated from the methanol extracts of the whole plants of Hypericum erectum. These new compounds were isolated as a pair of enantiomers, respectively. The planar chemical structures and relative configurations of the new compounds were suggested by Cu-Kα X-ray diffraction analysis and been confirmed by high-resolution mass and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of the four new compounds were established by comparing the experimental and predicted electronic circular dichroism data. Isolated compounds 1b and 2b induced death of Adriamycin-treated HeLa cells. Their enantiomers 1a and 2a did not. In addition, the apparent mechanism of cell death of 1b was the inhibited expression of heat shock protein 105.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Μatsumoto
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Imahori
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Erika Ohnishi
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Masaya Okayama
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kitagawa
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Tomoe Ohta
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch-Cho, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3298, Japan
| | - Tatsusada Yoshida
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, 2825-7 Huis Ten Bosch-Cho, Sasebo, Nagasaki 859-3298, Japan
| | - Naoto Kojima
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yamashita
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Watanabe
- Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 1 Misasagi-Shichono-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
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Shinjyo N, Nakayama H, Li L, Ishimaru K, Hikosaka K, Suzuki N, Yoshida H, Norose K. Hypericum perforatum extract and hyperforin inhibit the growth of neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii and infection-induced inflammatory responses of glial cells in vitro. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 267:113525. [PMID: 33129946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Hypericum perforatum L. has been widely used as a natural antidepressant. However, it is unknown whether it is effective in treating infection-induced neuropsychiatric disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY In order to evaluate the effectiveness of H. perforatum against infection with neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, this study investigated the anti-Toxoplasma activity using in vitro models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dried alcoholic extracts were prepared from three Hypericum species: H. perforatum, H. erectum, and H. ascyron. H. perforatum extract was further separated by solvent-partitioning. Hyperforin and hypericin levels in the extracts and fractions were analyzed by high resolution LC-MS. Anti-Toxoplasma activities were tested in vitro, using cell lines (Vero and Raw264), murine primary mixed glia, and primary neuron-glia. Toxoplasma proliferation and stage conversion were analyzed by qPCR. Infection-induced damages to the host cells were analyzed by Sulforhodamine B cytotoxicity assay (Vero) and immunofluorescent microscopy (neurons). Infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells were analysed by qPCR and immunofluorescent microscopy. RESULTS Hyperforin was identified only in H. perforatum among the three tested species, whereas hypericin was present in H. perforatum and H. erectum. H. perforatum extract and hyperforin-enriched fraction, as well as hyperforin, exhibited significant anti-Toxoplasma property as well as inhibitory activity against infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells. In addition, H. perforatum-derived hyperforin-enriched fraction restored neuro-supportive environment in mixed neuron-glia culture. CONCLUSIONS H. perforatum and its major constituent hyperforin are promising anti-Toxoplasma agents that could potentially protect neurons and glial cells against infection-induced damages. Further study is warranted to establish in vivo efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Shinjyo
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
| | - Hideyuki Nakayama
- Saga Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Research, 1-20 Hacchounawate, Saga, 849-0925, Japan
| | - Li Li
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kanji Ishimaru
- Department of Biological Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, 1 Honjo, Saga, 840-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Hikosaka
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Suzuki
- Department of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshida
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan
| | - Kazumi Norose
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan
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Shinjyo N, Hikosaka K, Kido Y, Yoshida H, Norose K. Toxoplasma Infection Induces Sustained Up-Regulation of Complement Factor B and C5a Receptor in the Mouse Brain via Microglial Activation: Implication for the Alternative Complement Pathway Activation and Anaphylatoxin Signaling in Cerebral Toxoplasmosis. Front Immunol 2021; 11:603924. [PMID: 33613523 PMCID: PMC7892429 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.603924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic protozoan parasite, which is linked to neurological manifestations in immunocompromised individuals as well as severe neurodevelopmental sequelae in congenital toxoplasmosis. While the complement system is the first line of host defense that plays a significant role in the prevention of parasite dissemination, Toxoplasma artfully evades complement-mediated clearance via recruiting complement regulatory proteins to their surface. On the other hand, the details of Toxoplasma and the complement system interaction in the brain parenchyma remain elusive. In this study, infection-induced changes in the mRNA levels of complement components were analyzed by quantitative PCR using a murine Toxoplasma infection model in vivo and primary glial cells in vitro. In addition to the core components C3 and C1q, anaphylatoxin C3a and C5a receptors (C3aR and C5aR1), as well as alternative complement pathway components properdin (CFP) and factor B (CFB), were significantly upregulated 2 weeks after inoculation. Two months post-infection, CFB, C3, C3aR, and C5aR1 expression remained higher than in controls, while CFP upregulation was transient. Furthermore, Toxoplasma infection induced significant increase in CFP, CFB, C3, and C5aR1 in mixed glial culture, which was abrogated when microglial activation was inhibited by pre-treatment with minocycline. This study sheds new light on the roles for the complement system in the brain parenchyma during Toxoplasma infection, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to Toxoplasma infection-induced neurological disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Brain/immunology
- Brain/metabolism
- Brain/parasitology
- Cells, Cultured
- Complement Factor B/genetics
- Complement Factor B/metabolism
- Complement Pathway, Alternative
- Disease Models, Animal
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Microglia/immunology
- Microglia/metabolism
- Microglia/parasitology
- Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a/genetics
- Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a/metabolism
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Time Factors
- Toxoplasma/immunology
- Toxoplasma/pathogenicity
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal/genetics
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal/immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal/metabolism
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal/parasitology
- Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral/genetics
- Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral/immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral/metabolism
- Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral/parasitology
- Up-Regulation
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Shinjyo
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of Parasitology & Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kenji Hikosaka
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasutoshi Kido
- Department of Parasitology & Research Center for Infectious Disease Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yoshida
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Kazumi Norose
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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