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Iacobas DA, Allen H, Iacobas S. Low-Salt Diet Regulates the Metabolic and Signal Transduction Genomic Fabrics, and Remodels the Cardiac Normal and Chronic Pathological Pathways. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2355-2385. [PMID: 38534766 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Low-salt diet (LSD) is a constant recommendation to hypertensive patients, but the genomic mechanisms through which it improves cardiac pathophysiology are still not fully understood. Our publicly accessible transcriptomic dataset of the left ventricle myocardium of adult male mice subjected to prolonged LSD or normal diet was analyzed from the perspective of the Genomic Fabric Paradigm. We found that LSD shifted the metabolic priorities by increasing the transcription control for fatty acids biosynthesis while decreasing it for steroid hormone biosynthesis. Moreover, LSD remodeled pathways responsible for cardiac muscle contraction (CMC), chronic Chagas (CHA), diabetic (DIA), dilated (DIL), and hypertrophic (HCM) cardiomyopathies, and their interplays with the glycolysis/glucogenesis (GLY), oxidative phosphorylation (OXP), and adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes (ASC). For instance, the statistically (p < 0.05) significant coupling between GLY and ASC was reduced by LSD from 13.82% to 2.91% (i.e., -4.75×), and that of ASC with HCM from 10.50% to 2.83% (-3.71×). The substantial up-regulation of the CMC, ASC, and OXP genes, and the significant weakening of the synchronization of the expression of the HCM, CHA, DIA, and DIL genes within their respective fabrics justify the benefits of the LSD recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dumitru A Iacobas
- Undergraduate Medical Academy, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
| | - Haile Allen
- Undergraduate Medical Academy, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
| | - Sanda Iacobas
- Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
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Vega JL, Gutiérrez C, Rojas M, Güiza J, Sáez JC. Contribution of large-pore channels to inflammation induced by microorganisms. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1094362. [PMID: 36699007 PMCID: PMC9868820 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1094362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma membrane ionic channels selectively permeate potassium, sodium, calcium, and chloride ions. However, large-pore channels are permeable to ions and small molecules such as ATP and glutamate, among others. Large-pore channels are structures formed by several protein families with little or no evolutionary linkages including connexins (Cxs), pannexins (Panxs), innexin (Inxs), unnexins (Unxs), calcium homeostasis modulator (CALHMs), and Leucine-rich repeat-containing 8 (LRRC8) proteins. Large-pore channels are key players in inflammatory cell response, guiding the activation of inflammasomes, the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), and the release of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP), which is considered a danger signal. This review summarizes our current understanding of large-pore channels and their contribution to inflammation induced by microorganisms, virulence factors or their toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L. Vega
- Laboratory of Gap Junctions Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Centro de Investigación en Inmunología y Biotecnología Biomédica de Antofagasta (CIIBBA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Centro de Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,*Correspondence: José L. Vega,
| | - Camila Gutiérrez
- Laboratory of Gap Junctions Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Mauro Rojas
- Laboratory of Gap Junctions Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan Güiza
- Laboratory of Gap Junctions Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Experimental Combination Therapy with Amiodarone and Low-Dose Benznidazole in a Mouse Model of Trypanosoma cruzi Acute Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0185221. [PMID: 35138142 PMCID: PMC8826820 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01852-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects approximately 6 to 7 million people in Latin America, with cardiomyopathy being the clinical manifestation most commonly associated with patient death during the acute phase. The etiological treatment of CD is restricted to benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox (Nif), which involve long periods of administration, frequent side effects, and low efficacy in the chronic phase. Thus, combined therapies emerge as an important tool in the treatment of CD, allowing the reduction of Bz dose and treatment duration. In this sense, amiodarone (AMD), the most efficient antiarrhythmic drug currently available and prescribed to CD patients, is a potential candidate for combined treatment due to its known trypanocidal activity. However, the efficacy of AMD during the acute phase of CD and its interaction with Bz or Nif are still unknown. In the present study, using a well-established murine model of the acute phase of CD, we observed that the Bz/AMD combination was more effective in reducing the peak parasitemia than both monotherapy treatments. Additionally, the Bz/AMD combination reduced (i) interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in cardiac tissue, (ii) P-wave duration, and (iii) frequency of arrhythmia in infected animals and (iv) restored gap junction integrity in cardiac tissue. Therefore, our study validates AMD as a promising candidate for combined therapy with Bz, reinforcing the strategy of combined therapy for CD. IMPORTANCE Chagas disease affects approximately 6 to 7 million people worldwide, with cardiomyopathy being the clinical manifestation that most commonly leads to patient death. The etiological treatment of Chagas disease is limited to drugs (benznidazole and nifurtimox) with relatively high toxicity and therapeutic failures. In this sense, amiodarone, the most effective currently available antiarrhythmic drug prescribed to patients with Chagas disease, is a potential candidate for combined treatment due to its known trypanocidal effect. In the present study, we show that combined treatment with benznidazole and amiodarone improves the trypanocidal effect and reduces cardiac damage in acutely T. cruzi-infected mice.
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Urolithin B, a Gut Microbiota Metabolite, Reduced Susceptibility to Myocardial Arrhythmic Predisposition after Hypoxia. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:6517266. [PMID: 35178131 PMCID: PMC8847032 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6517266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyocyte apoptosis, neural remodeling, and gap junction channel change play critical roles in ventricular arrhythmia (VA) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Urolithin B (UB), one of the gut metabolites of ellagitannins, a class of antioxidant polyphenols, has various biological activities, but its direct role in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, neural remodeling, and gap junction channel change after AMI remains elusive. We investigated whether urolithin B reduced susceptibility of myocardial arrhythmic after myocardial infarction (MI). In vitro, the cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia (94% N2/5% CO2/1% O2) for 3 hours. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining and western blotting. Urolithin B was found to decrease the number of apoptotic cells after hypoxia. Moreover, there was a substantial decrease in the expression of neural remodeling markers in the urolithin B treatment group. Urolithin B significantly increased the expression level of gap junction channel protein. Mechanistically, urolithin B inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating Akt/the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and the protection of urolithin B against cardiomyocyte apoptosis was compromised with Akt gene silencing. Furthermore, urolithin B suppressed nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-κB) to facilitate nerve remodeling. Taken together, our findings suggested that UB reduced the occurrence of myocardial arrhythmias after hypoxia via regulation of the Akt/mTOR pathway and NF-κB nuclear translocation, which highlights the potential of UB as a novel therapy for ischemic heart disease.
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Retinal Genomic Fabric Remodeling after Optic Nerve Injury. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030403. [PMID: 33799827 PMCID: PMC7999523 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease, characterized by degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). There has been little progress in developing efficient strategies for neuroprotection in glaucoma. We profiled the retina transcriptome of Lister Hooded rats at 2 weeks after optic nerve crush (ONC) and analyzed the data from the genomic fabric paradigm (GFP) to bring additional insights into the molecular mechanisms of the retinal remodeling after induction of RGC degeneration. GFP considers three independent characteristics for the expression of each gene: level, variability, and correlation with each other gene. Thus, the 17,657 quantified genes in our study generated a total of 155,911,310 values to analyze. This represents 8830x more data per condition than a traditional transcriptomic analysis. ONC led to a 57% reduction in RGC numbers as detected by retrograde labeling with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI). We observed a higher relative expression variability after ONC. Gene expression stability was used as a measure of transcription control and disclosed a robust reduction in the number of very stably expressed genes. Predicted protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis with STRING revealed axon and neuron projection as mostly decreased processes, consistent with RGC degeneration. Conversely, immune response PPIs were found among upregulated genes. Enrichment analysis showed that complement cascade and Notch signaling pathway, as well as oxidative stress and kit receptor pathway were affected after ONC. To expand our studies of altered molecular pathways, we examined the pairwise coordination of gene expressions within each pathway and within the entire transcriptome using Pearson correlations. ONC increased the number of synergistically coordinated pairs of genes and the number of similar profiles mainly in complement cascade and Notch signaling pathway. This deep bioinformatic study provided novel insights beyond the regulation of individual gene expression and disclosed changes in the control of expression of complement cascade and Notch signaling functional pathways that may be relevant for both RGC degeneration and remodeling of the retinal tissue after ONC.
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Multi-assignment clustering: Machine learning from a biological perspective. J Biotechnol 2020; 326:1-10. [PMID: 33285150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A common approach for analyzing large-scale molecular data is to cluster objects sharing similar characteristics. This assumes that genes with highly similar expression profiles are likely participating in a common molecular process. Biological systems are extremely complex and challenging to understand, with proteins having multiple functions that sometimes need to be activated or expressed in a time-dependent manner. Thus, the strategies applied for clustering of these molecules into groups are of key importance for translation of data to biologically interpretable findings. Here we implemented a multi-assignment clustering (MAsC) approach that allows molecules to be assigned to multiple clusters, rather than single ones as in commonly used clustering techniques. When applied to high-throughput transcriptomics data, MAsC increased power of the downstream pathway analysis and allowed identification of pathways with high biological relevance to the experimental setting and the biological systems studied. Multi-assignment clustering also reduced noise in the clustering partition by excluding genes with a low correlation to all of the resulting clusters. Together, these findings suggest that our methodology facilitates translation of large-scale molecular data into biological knowledge. The method is made available as an R package on GitLab (https://gitlab.com/wolftower/masc).
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Nisimura LM, Coelho LL, de Melo TG, Vieira PDC, Victorino PH, Garzoni LR, Spray DC, Iacobas DA, Iacobas S, Tanowitz HB, Adesse D. Trypanosoma cruzi Promotes Transcriptomic Remodeling of the JAK/STAT Signaling and Cell Cycle Pathways in Myoblasts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:255. [PMID: 32626662 PMCID: PMC7313395 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is responsible for more than 10,000 deaths per year and about 6 to 7 million infected people worldwide. In its chronic stage, patients can develop mega-colon, mega-esophagus, and cardiomyopathy. Differences in clinical outcomes may be determined, in part, by the genetic background of the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Trypanosoma cruzi has a high genetic diversity, and each group of strains may elicit specific pathological responses in the host. Conflicting results have been reported in studies using various combinations of mammalian host-T. cruzi strains. We previously profiled the transcriptomic signatures resulting from infection of L6E9 rat myoblasts with four reference strains of T. cruzi (Brazil, CL, Y, and Tulahuen). The four strains induced similar overall gene expression alterations in the myoblasts, although only 21 genes were equally affected by all strains. Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (Clcf1) was one of the genes found to be consistently upregulated by the infection with all four strains of T. cruzi. This cytokine is a member of the interleukin-6 family that binds to glycoprotein 130 receptor and activates the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, which may lead to muscle cell hypertrophy. Another commonly upregulated gene was tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein theta (Ywhaq, 14-3-3 protein Θ), present in the Cell Cycle Pathway. In the present work, we reanalyzed our previous microarray dataset, aiming at understanding in more details the transcriptomic impact that each strain has on JAK/STAT signaling and Cell Cycle pathways. Using Pearson correlation analysis between the expression levels of gene pairs in biological replicas from each pathway, we determined the coordination between such pairs in each experimental condition and the predicted protein interactions between the significantly altered genes by each strain. We found that although these highlighted genes were similarly affected by all four strains, the downstream genes or their interaction partners were not necessarily equally affected, thus reinforcing the idea of the role of parasite background on host cell transcriptome. These new analyses provide further evidence to the mechanistic understanding of how distinct T. cruzi strains lead to diverse remodeling of host cell transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindice M. Nisimura
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Laura L. Coelho
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana G. de Melo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paloma de Carvalho Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro H. Victorino
- Laboratório de Neurogênese, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana R. Garzoni
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - David C. Spray
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dumitru A. Iacobas
- Personalized Genomics Laboratory, Center for Computational Systems Biology, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, United States
| | - Sanda Iacobas
- Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Herbert B. Tanowitz
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Jiang W, Chen C, Huo J, Lu D, Jiang Z, Geng J, Xu H, Shan Q. Comparison between renal denervation and metoprolol on the susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmias in rats with myocardial infarction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10206. [PMID: 29976952 PMCID: PMC6033884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28562-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to compare effects of renal denervation (RDN) and metoprolol on VAs after MI. Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery to induce MI, while 6 rats served as Control. Metoprolol was given 20 mg/kg/day for 5 weeks after MI surgery. RDN/Sham-RDN procedure was performed at 1 week after MI. At 5 weeks after MI, electrical programmed stimulation (EPS) was performed in all groups for evaluation of VAs. After EPS, heart and kidneys were harvested. Compared with MI group, RDN and metoprolol significantly decreased the incidence of VAs, and RDN is superior to metoprolol. Compared with metoprolol group, Masson staining showed that RDN significantly reduced the myocardial fibrosis. Both RDN and metoprolol decreased the protein expression of connexin43 (Cx43) compared with MI group, while only RDN lighted this decrease remarkably. Immunohistochemical staining of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) revealed that RDN and metoprolol had similar effect on reducing densities of sympathetic nerve in infarction border zone. According to this study, RDN is more effective in reducing VAs than metoprolol in ischemic cardiomyopathy model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chu Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Junyu Huo
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Dasheng Lu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Zhixin Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Jie Geng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Hai Xu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Qijun Shan
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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Iacobas DA, Iacobas S, Tanowitz HB, Campos de Carvalho A, Spray DC. Functional genomic fabrics are remodeled in a mouse model of Chagasic cardiomyopathy and restored following cell therapy. Microbes Infect 2018; 20:185-195. [PMID: 29158000 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously found that, in a mouse model of Chagas cardiomyopathy, 18% of the 9390 quantified unigenes were significantly regulated by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. However, treatment with bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) resulted in 84% transcriptomic recovery. We have applied new algorithms to reanalyze these datasets with respect to specific pathways [Chagas disease (CHAGAS), cardiac muscle contraction (CMC) and chemokine signaling (CCS)]. In addition to the levels of expression of individual genes we also calculated gene expression variability and coordination of expression of each gene with all others. These additional measures revealed changes in the control of transcript abundances and gene networking in CHAGAS and restoration following MNC treatment, not accessible using the conventional approach limited to the average expression levels. Moreover, our weighted pathway regulation analysis incorporated the contributions of all affected genes, eliminating the arbitrary cut-off criteria of fold-change and/or p-value for significantly regulated genes. The new analyses revealed that T. cruzi infection had large transcriptomic consequences for the CMC pathway and triggered a huge cytokine signaling. Remarkably, MNC therapy not only restored normal expression levels of numerous genes, but it also recovered most of the CHAGAS, CMC and CCS fabrics that were altered by the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dumitru A Iacobas
- Department of Pathology, New York Medical College School of Medicine, 15 Dana Rd, Valhalla, NY, USA; Center for Computational Systems Biology at Prairie View A&M University, TX 77446, USA.
| | - Sanda Iacobas
- Department of Pathology, New York Medical College School of Medicine, 15 Dana Rd, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Herbert B Tanowitz
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx NY, USA; Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx NY, USA
| | - Antonio Campos de Carvalho
- Center for Computational Systems Biology at Prairie View A&M University, TX 77446, USA; Laboratório de Cardiologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - David C Spray
- Center for Computational Systems Biology at Prairie View A&M University, TX 77446, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx NY, USA
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Pereira IR, Vilar-Pereira G, Silva AAD, Lannes-Vieira J. Severity of chronic experimental Chagas' heart disease parallels tumour necrosis factor and nitric oxide levels in the serum: models of mild and severe disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2016; 109:289-98. [PMID: 24937048 PMCID: PMC4131780 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276140033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart tissue inflammation, progressive fibrosis and electrocardiographic alterations
occur in approximately 30% of patients infected by Trypanosoma
cruzi, 10-30 years after infection. Further, plasma levels of tumour
necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide (NO) are associated with the degree of heart
dysfunction in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). Thus, our aim was to establish
experimental models that mimic a range of parasitological, pathological and cardiac
alterations described in patients with chronic Chagas’ heart disease and evaluate
whether heart disease severity was associated with increased TNF and NO levels in the
serum. Our results show that C3H/He mice chronically infected with the Colombian
T. cruzi strain have more severe cardiac parasitism and
inflammation than C57BL/6 mice. In addition, connexin 43 disorganisation and
fibronectin deposition in the heart tissue, increased levels of creatine kinase
cardiac MB isoenzyme activity in the serum and more severe electrical abnormalities
were observed in T. cruzi-infected C3H/He mice compared to C57BL/6
mice. Therefore, T. cruzi-infected C3H/He and C57BL/6 mice represent
severe and mild models of CCC, respectively. Moreover, the CCC severity paralleled
the TNF and NO levels in the serum. Therefore, these models are appropriate for
studying the pathophysiology and biomarkers of CCC progression, as well as for
testing therapeutic agents for patients with Chagas’ heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Nosanchuk JD, Nosanchuk MD, Rodrigues ML, Nimrichter L, de Carvalho ACC, Weiss LM, Spray DC, Tanowitz HB. The Einstein-Brazil Fogarty: A decade of synergy. Braz J Microbiol 2015; 46:945-55. [PMID: 26691452 PMCID: PMC4704644 DOI: 10.1590/s1517-838246420140975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A rich, collaborative program funded by the US NIH Fogarty program in 2004 has provided for a decade of remarkable opportunities for scientific advancement through the training of Brazilian undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students from the Federal University and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation systems at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The focus of the program has been on the development of trainees in the broad field of Infectious Diseases, with a particular focus on diseases of importance to the Brazilian population. Talented trainees from various regions in Brazil came to Einstein to learn techniques and study fungal, parasitic and bacterial pathogens. In total, 43 trainees enthusiastically participated in the program. In addition to laboratory work, these students took a variety of courses at Einstein, presented their results at local, national and international meetings, and productively published their findings. This program has led to a remarkable synergy of scientific discovery for the participants during a time of rapid acceleration of the scientific growth in Brazil. This collaboration between Brazilian and US scientists has benefitted both countries and serves as a model for future training programs between these countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA
- Send correspondence to J.D. Nosanchuk. Departments of Medicine,
Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA.
E-mail:
| | - Murphy D. Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade
Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade
Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo
Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade
Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Louis M. Weiss
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA
| | - David C. Spray
- Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA
| | - Herbert B. Tanowitz
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine, Bronx, NY, EUA
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12
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Ma Y, Weiss LM, Huang H. Inducible suicide vector systems for Trypanosoma cruzi. Microbes Infect 2015; 17:440-50. [PMID: 25899945 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a major neglected tropical parasitic disease. The pathogenesis of this infection remains disputable. There is no suitable vaccine for the prevention. Attenuated live vaccines can provide strong protection against infection; however, there are the concerns about latent infection or reversion to virulence in such attenuated strains. A method to induce T. cruzi death would provide a critical tool for research into the pathophysiological mechanisms and provide a novel design of safe live attenuated vaccines. We established effective inducible systems for T. cruzi employing the degradation domain based on the Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (ecDHFR). The DHFR degradation domain (DDD) can be stabilized by trimethoprim-lactate and can be used to express detrimental or toxic proteins. T. cruzi lines with Alpha-toxin, Cecropin A and GFP under the control of DDD with a hemagglutinin tag (HA) were developed. Interestingly, amastigotes bearing GFP-DDDHA, Alpha-toxin-DDDHA, Cecropin A-DDDHA and DDDHA all resulted in inducible cell death with these fusions, indicating that DDDHA protein is also detrimental to amastigotes. Furthermore, these strains were attenuated in mouse experiments producing no pathological changes and inoculation with these DDDHA strains in mice provided strong protection against lethal wild type infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfen Ma
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Huan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Jasmin, Jelicks LA, Tanowitz HB, Peters VM, Mendez-Otero R, de Carvalho ACC, Spray DC. Molecular imaging, biodistribution and efficacy of mesenchymal bone marrow cell therapy in a mouse model of Chagas disease. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:923-935. [PMID: 25218054 PMCID: PMC4360918 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Chagasic cardiomyopathy, resulting from infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, was discovered more than a century ago and remains an incurable disease. Due to the unique properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) we hypothesized that these cells could have therapeutic potential for chagasic cardiomyopathy. Recently, our group pioneered use of nanoparticle-labeled MSC to correlate migration with its effect in an acute Chagas disease model. We expanded our investigation into a chronic model and performed more comprehensive assays. Infected mice were treated with nanoparticle-labeled MSC and their migration was correlated with alterations in heart morphology, metalloproteinase activity, and expression of several proteins. The vast majority of labeled MSC migrated to liver, lungs and spleen whereas a small number of cells migrated to chagasic hearts. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that MSC therapy reduced heart dilatation. Additionally metalloproteinase activity was higher in heart and other organs of infected mice. Protein expression analyses revealed that connexin 43, laminin γ1, IL-10 and INF-γ were affected by the disease and recovered after cell therapy. Interestingly, MSC therapy led to upregulation of SDF-1 and c-kit in the hearts. The beneficial effect of MSC therapy in Chagas disease is likely due to an indirect action of the cells of the heart, rather than the incorporation of large numbers of stem cells into working myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
| | - Linda A Jelicks
- Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
| | - Herbert B Tanowitz
- Dept. of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
- Dept. of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
| | - Vera Maria Peters
- Centro de Biologia da Reprodução, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Rosalia Mendez-Otero
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Antonio C Campos de Carvalho
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
| | - David C Spray
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
- Dept. of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA
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Adipocytes in both brown and white adipose tissue of adult mice are functionally connected via gap junctions: implications for Chagas disease. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:893-901. [PMID: 25150689 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Adipose tissue serves as a host reservoir for the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative organism in Chagas disease. Gap junctions interconnect cells of most tissues, serving to synchronize cell activities including secretion in glandular tissue, and we have previously demonstrated that gap junctions are altered in various tissues and cells infected with T. cruzi. Herein, we examined the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in infected adipose tissues. Adipose tissue is the largest endocrine organ of the body and is also involved in other physiological functions. In mammals, it is primarily composed of white adipocytes. Although gap junctions are a prominent feature of brown adipocytes, they have not been explored extensively in white adipocytes, especially in the setting of infection. Thus, we examined functional coupling in both white and brown adipocytes in mice. Injection of electrical current or the dye Lucifer Yellow into adipocytes within fat tissue spread to adjacent cells, which was reduced by treatment with agents known to block gap junctions. Moreover, Cx43 was detected in both brown and white fat tissue. At thirty and ninety days post-infection, Cx43 was downregulated in brown adipocytes and upregulated in white adipocytes. Gap junction-mediated intercellular communication likely contributes to hormone secretion and other functions in white adipose tissue and to nonshivering thermogenesis in brown fat, and modulation of the coupling by T. cruzi infection is expected to impact these functions.
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Role of gap junctions and hemichannels in parasitic infections. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:589130. [PMID: 24236292 PMCID: PMC3819887 DOI: 10.1155/2013/589130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 08/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In vertebrates, connexins (Cxs) and pannexins (Panxs) are proteins that form gap junction channels and/or hemichannels located at cell-cell interfaces and cell surface, respectively. Similar channel types are formed by innexins in invertebrate cells. These channels serve as pathways for cellular communication that coordinate diverse physiologic processes. However, it is known that many acquired and inherited diseases deregulate Cx and/or Panx channels, condition that frequently worsens the pathological state of vertebrates. Recent evidences suggest that Cx and/or Panx hemichannels play a relevant role in bacterial and viral infections. Nonetheless, little is known about the role of Cx- and Panx-based channels in parasitic infections of vertebrates. In this review, available data on changes in Cx and gap junction channel changes induced by parasitic infections are summarized. Additionally, we describe recent findings that suggest possible roles of hemichannels in parasitic infections. Finally, the possibility of new therapeutic designs based on hemichannel blokers is presented.
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Rodríguez-Angulo H, Toro-Mendoza J, Marques J, Bonfante-Cabarcas R, Mijares A. Induction of chagasic-like arrhythmias in the isolated beating hearts of healthy rats perfused with Trypanosoma cruzi-conditioned medium. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 46:58-64. [PMID: 23314340 PMCID: PMC3854352 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20122409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas' myocardiopathy, caused by the intracellular protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is characterized by microvascular alterations, heart failure and arrhythmias. Ischemia and arrythmogenesis have been attributed to proteins shed by the parasite, although this has not been fully demonstrated. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of substances shed by T. cruzi on ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. We performed a triple ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) protocol whereby the isolated beating rat hearts were perfused with either Vero-control or Vero T. cruzi-infected conditioned medium during the different stages of ischemia and subsequently reperfused with Tyrode's solution. ECG and heart rate were recorded during the entire experiment. We observed that triple I/R-induced bradycardia was associated with the generation of auricular-ventricular blockade during ischemia and non-sustained nodal and ventricular tachycardia during reperfusion. Interestingly, perfusion with Vero-infected medium produced a delay in the reperfusion-induced recovery of heart rate, increased the frequency of tachycardic events and induced ventricular fibrillation. These results suggest that the presence of parasite-shed substances in conditioned media enhances the arrhythmogenic effects that occur during the I/R protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Rodríguez-Angulo
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
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Spray DC, Hanstein R, Lopez-Quintero SV, Stout RF, Suadicani SO, Thi MM. Gap junctions and Bystander Effects: Good Samaritans and executioners. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 2:1-15. [PMID: 23565352 DOI: 10.1002/wmts.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The "Bystander" and "Good Samaritan" effects involve the transfer of toxic or beneficial compounds from one cell to a generally adjacent other through gap junction channels and through extracellular routes. The variety of injuries in which bystander cell killing or protection occurs has greatly expanded in the last decade to include infectious agents and therapeutic compounds, radiation injury, chaperones in cell therapy and apoptosis in development. This has been accompanied by the appreciation that both gap junction mediated and paracrine routes are used for the signaling of the "kiss of life" and the "kiss of death" and that manipulations of these pathways and the molecules that use them may find therapeutic utility in treatment of a variety of pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Spray
- Dominick P. Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461 ; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
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Calvet CM, Melo TG, Garzoni LR, Oliveira FOR, Neto DTS, N S L M, Meirelles L, Pereira MCS. Current understanding of the Trypanosoma cruzi-cardiomyocyte interaction. Front Immunol 2012; 3:327. [PMID: 23115558 PMCID: PMC3483718 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, exhibits multiple strategies to ensure its establishment and persistence in the host. Although this parasite has the ability to infect different organs, heart impairment is the most frequent clinical manifestation of the disease. Advances in knowledge of T. cruzi-cardiomyocyte interactions have contributed to a better understanding of the biological events involved in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease. This brief review focuses on the current understanding of molecules involved in T. cruzi-cardiomyocyte recognition, the mechanism of invasion, and on the effect of intracellular development of T. cruzi on the structural organization and molecular response of the target cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia M Calvet
- Laboratório de Ultra-estrutura Celular, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Tanguy S, Grauzam S, de Leiris J, Boucher F. Impact of dietary selenium intake on cardiac health: experimental approaches and human studies. Mol Nutr Food Res 2012; 56:1106-21. [PMID: 22760983 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201100766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Selenium, a dietary trace mineral, essential for humans and animals, exerts its effects mainly through its incorporation into selenoproteins. Adequate selenium intake is needed to maximize the activity of selenoproteins, among which glutathione peroxidases have been shown to play a major role in cellular defense against oxidative stress initiated by excess reactive oxygen species. In humans, a low selenium status has been linked to increased risk of various diseases, including heart disease. The main objective of this review is to present current knowledge on the role of selenium in cardiac health. Experimental studies have shown that selenium may exert protective effects on cardiac tissue in animal models involving oxidative stress. Because of the narrow safety margin of this mineral, most interventional studies in humans have reported inconsistent findings. Major determinants of selenium status in humans are not well understood and several nondietary factors might be associated with reduced selenium status. In this review, we discuss recent studies regarding the role of selenoproteins in the cardiovascular system, the effect of dietary intake on selenium status, the impact of selenium status on cardiac health, and the cellular mechanisms that can be involved in the physiological and toxic effects of selenium.
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Araújo-Jorge TC, Waghabi MC, Bailly S, Feige JJ. The TGF-β Pathway as an Emerging Target for Chagas Disease Therapy. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2012; 92:613-21. [DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2012.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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