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Alonaizan R. Molecular regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation during parasitic infection. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231918. [PMID: 38623843 PMCID: PMC11096646 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases are a serious global health concern, causing many common and severe infections, including Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome belongs to the NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich-repeat-containing proteins) family, which are cytosolic proteins playing key roles in the detection of pathogens. NLRP3 inflammasomes are activated in immune responses to Plasmodium, Leishmania, Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Trypanosoma cruzi, and other parasites. The role of NLRP3 is not fully understood, but it is a crucial component of the innate immune response to parasitic infections and its functions as a sensor triggering the inflammatory response to the invasive parasites. However, while this response can limit the parasites' growth, it can also result in potentially catastrophic host pathology. This makes it essential to understand how NLRP3 interacts with parasites to initiate the inflammatory response. Plasmodium hemozoin, Leishmania glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and E. histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin can stimulate NLRP3 activation, while the dense granule protein 9 (GRA9) of T. gondii has been shown to suppress it. Several other parasitic products also have diverse effects on NLRP3 activation. Understanding the mechanism of NLRP3 interaction with these products will help to develop advanced therapeutic approaches to treat parasitic diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge of the NLRP3 inflammasome's action on the immune response to parasitic infections and aims to determine the mechanisms through which parasitic molecules either activate or inhibit its action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Alonaizan
- Faculty of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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2
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de Oliveira RM, Paiva MUB, Picossi CRC, Paiva DVN, Ricart CAO, Ruperez FJ, Barbas C, Atik FA, Martins AMA. Metabolomic insights in advanced cardiomyopathy of chronic chagasic and idiopathic patients that underwent heart transplant. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9810. [PMID: 38684702 PMCID: PMC11059181 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53875-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) studies typically focus on ischemic and idiopathic heart diseases. Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is a progressive degenerative inflammatory condition highly prevalent in Latin America that leads to a disturbance of cardiac conduction system. Despite its clinical and epidemiological importance, CCC molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we characterize and discriminate the plasma metabolomic profile of 15 patients with advanced HF referred for heart transplantation - 8 patients with CCC and 7 with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) - using gas chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Compared to the 12 heart donor individuals, also included to represent the control (CTRL) scenario, patients with advanced HF exhibited a metabolic imbalance with 21 discriminating metabolites, mostly indicative of accumulation of fatty acids, amino acids and important components of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. CCC vs. IDC analyses revealed a metabolic disparity between conditions, with 12 CCC distinctive metabolites vs. 11 IDC representative metabolites. Disturbances were mainly related to amino acid metabolism profile. Although mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of metabolic flexibility may be a central mechanistic event in advanced HF, metabolic imbalance differs between CCC and IDC populations, possibly explaining the dissimilar clinical course of Chagas' patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaela M de Oliveira
- School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Carolina R C Picossi
- Center of Excellence in Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, University of San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego V N Paiva
- School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Carlos A O Ricart
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Francisco J Ruperez
- Center of Excellence in Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, University of San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain
| | - Coral Barbas
- Center of Excellence in Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, University of San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando A Atik
- School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
- Institute of Cardiology and Transplantation of the Federal District, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Aline M A Martins
- School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
- Center of Excellence in Metabolomics and Bioanalysis, University of San Pablo CEU, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Rossi IV, de Souza DAS, Ramirez MI. The End Justifies the Means: Chagas Disease from a Perspective of the Host- Trypanosoma cruzi Interaction. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:488. [PMID: 38672758 PMCID: PMC11050810 DOI: 10.3390/life14040488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The neglected Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Despite CD dispersion throughout the world, it prevails in tropical areas affecting mainly poor communities, causing devastating health, social and economic consequences. Clinically, CD is marked by a mildly symptomatic acute phase, and a chronic phase characterized by cardiac and/or digestive complications. Current treatment for CD relies on medications with strong side effects and reduced effectiveness. The complex interaction between the parasite and the host outlines the etiology and progression of CD. The unique characteristics and high adaptability of T. cruzi, its mechanisms of persistence, and evasion of the immune system seem to influence the course of the disease. Despite the efforts to uncover the pathology of CD, there are many gaps in understanding how it is established and reaches chronicity. Also, the lack of effective treatments and protective vaccines constitute challenges for public health. Here, we explain the background in which CD is established, from the peculiarities of T. cruzi molecular biology to the development of the host's immune response leading to the pathophysiology of CD. We also discuss the state of the art of treatments for CD and current challenges in basic and applied science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izadora Volpato Rossi
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81531-980, PR, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Carlos Chagas Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PR), Curitiba 81310-020, PR, Brazil;
| | - Denise Andréa Silva de Souza
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Carlos Chagas Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PR), Curitiba 81310-020, PR, Brazil;
| | - Marcel Ivan Ramirez
- Graduate Program in Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 81531-980, PR, Brazil;
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Carlos Chagas Institute/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-PR), Curitiba 81310-020, PR, Brazil;
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Radisic MV, Santoro Lopes G, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Eichenberger EM, Hall VG, Pujato NR, Clemente WT. Interesting case from Argentina: Kidney transplant recipient with skin lesions-A Latin American perspective. Transpl Infect Dis 2024; 26:e14243. [PMID: 38407514 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
This is a case of a kidney transplant recipient who presented with skin lesions, low-grade fevers, and pancytopenia 2 months after his transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Víctor Radisic
- Departamento de Infectología, Instituto de Trasplante y Alta Complejidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guilherme Santoro Lopes
- Medicine School and Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Emily M Eichenberger
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Victoria G Hall
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natalia Rosana Pujato
- Departamento de Infectología, Instituto de Trasplante y Alta Complejidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Wanessa Trindade Clemente
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Liver Transplant Program-Transplant Infectious Disease, Hospital das Clínicas EBSERH/UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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5
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Ewald S, Nasuhidehnavi A, Feng TY, Lesani M, McCall LI. The intersection of host in vivo metabolism and immune responses to infection with kinetoplastid and apicomplexan parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0016422. [PMID: 38299836 PMCID: PMC10966954 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00164-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYProtozoan parasite infection dramatically alters host metabolism, driven by immunological demand and parasite manipulation strategies. Immunometabolic checkpoints are often exploited by kinetoplastid and protozoan parasites to establish chronic infection, which can significantly impair host metabolic homeostasis. The recent growth of tools to analyze metabolism is expanding our understanding of these questions. Here, we review and contrast host metabolic alterations that occur in vivo during infection with Leishmania, trypanosomes, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium. Although genetically divergent, there are commonalities among these pathogens in terms of metabolic needs, induction of the type I immune responses required for clearance, and the potential for sustained host metabolic dysbiosis. Comparing these pathogens provides an opportunity to explore how transmission strategy, nutritional demand, and host cell and tissue tropism drive similarities and unique aspects in host response and infection outcome and to design new strategies to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Lesani
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Jones KM, Zhan B, Ernste KJ, Villar MJ, Bisht N, Nguyen D, Chang LY, Poveda C, Robinson GJ, Trivedi AJ, Hofferek CJ, Decker WK, Konduri V. Immunomodulatory proteins from hookworms reduce cardiac inflammation and modulate regulatory responses in a mouse model of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. FRONTIERS IN PARASITOLOGY 2023; 2:1244604. [PMID: 38239430 PMCID: PMC10795693 DOI: 10.3389/fpara.2023.1244604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Hookworms are parasitic helminths that secrete a variety of proteins that induce anti-inflammatory immune responses, stimulating increased CD4 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and IL-10 production. Hookworm-derived recombinant proteins AIP-1 and AIP-2 have been shown to reduce inflammation in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory airway disease by inducing CD4+Foxp3+ cells and IL-10 production. In contrast, chronic infection with the protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, leads to chronic inflammation in tissues. Persistence of the parasites in tissues drives chronic low-grade inflammation, with increased infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, accompanied by increased production of inflammatory cytokines. There are no current antiparasitic drugs that effectively reduce or prevent chronic myocarditis caused by the onset of Chagas disease, thus new therapies are urgently needed. Therefore, the impact of AIP-1 and AIP-2 on myocarditis was investigated in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection. Methods Female BALB/c mice infected with bioluminescent T. cruzi H1 strain trypomastigotes for 70 days were treated once daily for 7 days with 1mg/kg AIP-1 or AIP-2 protein by intraperitoneal injection. Control mice were left untreated or treated once daily for 14 days with 25mg/kg aspirin in drinking water. At 84 days of infection, splenocytes, cardiac tissue and serum were collected for evaluation. Results Treatment with both AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins significantly reduced cardiac cellular infiltration, and reduced cardiac levels of IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-2. AIP-2 treatment reduced cardiac expression of COX-2. Further, while incubation with AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins did not induce a significant upregulation of an immunoregulatory phenotype in dendritic cells (DC), there was a modest upregulation of CD11c +CD11b+MHCII+SIRPα+ expression, suggesting a regulatory phenotype. Ex-vivo stimulation of splenocytes from the treatment groups with AIP-1 loaded DC induced reduced levels of cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory T cells, stimulation with AIP-2 loaded DC specifically induced enhanced levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells among treatment groups. Discussion All in vivo and in vitro results demonstrate that hookworm-derived AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins reduce T. cruzi induced cardiac inflammation, possibly through multiple anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Jones
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bin Zhan
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Keenan J. Ernste
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nalini Bisht
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Duc Nguyen
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Li-Yen Chang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Cristina Poveda
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gonteria J. Robinson
- Molecular & Human Genetics Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Akshar J. Trivedi
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Colby J. Hofferek
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - William K. Decker
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vanaja Konduri
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Vieira da Silva Torchelsen FK, Fernandes Pedrosa TC, Rodrigues MP, de Aguiar AR, de Oliveira FM, Amarante GW, Sales-Junior PA, Branquinho RT, Gomes da Silva SP, Talvani A, Fonseca Murta SM, Martins FT, Braun RL, Teixeira RR, Furtado Mosqueira VC, Lana MD. Novel diamides inspired by protein kinase inhibitors as anti- Trypanosoma cruzi agents: in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:1469-1489. [PMID: 37650735 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Chagas disease is a life-threatening illness caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. The involvement of serine-/arginine-rich protein kinase in the T. cruzi life cycle is significant. Aims: To synthesize, characterize and evaluate the trypanocidal activity of diamides inspired by kinase inhibitor, SRPIN340. Material & Methods: Synthesis using a three-step process and characterization by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry were conducted. The selectivity index was obtained by the ratio of CC50/IC50 in two in vitro models. The most active compound, 3j, was evaluated using in vitro cytokine assays and assessing in vivo trypanocidal activity. Results: 3j activity in the macrophage J774 lineage showed an anti-inflammatory profile, and mice showed significantly reduced parasitemia and morbidity at low compound dosages. Conclusion: Novel diamide is active against T. cruzi in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tamiles Caroline Fernandes Pedrosa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | | | - Alex Ramos de Aguiar
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 30130-171, Brazil
| | | | - Giovanni Wilson Amarante
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 36036-900, Brazil
| | | | - Renata Tupinambá Branquinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Sirlaine Pio Gomes da Silva
- Programa de pós-graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Escola de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - André Talvani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
- Programa de pós-graduação em Saúde e Nutrição, Escola de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Terra Martins
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, 74001-970, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ligabue Braun
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Róbson Ricardo Teixeira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 30130-171, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Carla Furtado Mosqueira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
| | - Marta de Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, 35400-000, Brazil
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8
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Gómez I, López MC, Egui A, Palacios G, Carrilero B, Benítez C, Simón M, Segovia M, Carmelo E, Thomas MC. Differential expression profile of genes involved in the immune response associated to progression of chronic Chagas disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011474. [PMID: 37440604 PMCID: PMC10368263 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with chronic Chagas disease present marked clinical and immunological heterogeneity. During the disease, multiple immune mechanisms are activated to fight the parasite. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of genes involved in relevant immunological processes throughout the disease in patients with chronic Chagas disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS High-throughput RT-qPCR with QuantStudio 12K Flex real-time PCR system was used to evaluate the expression of 106 immune-related genes in PBMC from a cohort of cardiac Chagas disease patients (CCC I), asymptomatic patients (IND) and healthy donors (HD) after being stimulated with T. cruzi soluble antigens. Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis and volcano plots were used to identify differentially expressed genes. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed to identify the enriched immunological pathways in which these genes are involved. PCA revealed the existence of a statistically divergent expression profile of the 36 genes correlated with PC1 between CCC I patients and HD (p < 0.0001). Differential gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of 41 genes (expression fold-change > 1.5) and downregulation of 14 genes (expression fold-change < 0.66) (p = 8.4x10-13 to p = 0.007) in CCC I patients versus HD. Furthermore, significant differences in the expression level of specific genes have been identified between CCC I and IND patients (8 up and 1 downregulated). GSEA showed that several upregulated genes in CCC I patients participate in immunological pathways such as antigen-dependent B cell activation, stress induction of HSP regulation, NO2-dependent IL12 pathway in NK cells, cytokines-inflammatory response and IL-10 anti-inflammatory signaling. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac Chagas disease patients show an antigen-specific differential gene expression profile in which several relevant immunological pathways seem to be activated. Assessment of gene expression profiles reveal unique insights into the immune response that occurs along chronic Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Gómez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Adriana Egui
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Génesis Palacios
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Bartolomé Carrilero
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Celia Benítez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Marina Simón
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Segovia
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emma Carmelo
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - M Carmen Thomas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
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Alvim JM, Venturini G, Oliveira TGM, Seidman JG, Seidman CE, Krieger JE, Pereira AC. mTOR signaling inhibition decreases lysosome migration and impairs the success of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and replication in cardiomyocytes. Acta Trop 2023; 240:106845. [PMID: 36709791 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and, among all the chronic manifestations of the disease, Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the most severe outcome. Despite high burden and public health importance in Latin America, there is a gap in understanding the molecular mechanisms that results in CCC development. Previous studies showed that T. cruzi uses the host machinery for infection and replication, including the repurposing of the responses to intracellular infection such as mitochondrial activity, vacuolar membrane, and lysosomal activation in benefit of parasite infection and replication. One common signaling upstream to many responses to parasite infection is mTOR pathway, previous associated to several downstream cellular mechanisms including autophagy, mitophagy and lysosomal activation. Here, using human iPSC derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSCCM), we show the mTOR pathway is activated in hiPSCCM after T. cruzi infection, and the inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin reduced number of T. cruzi 48 h post infection (hpi). Rapamycin treatment also reduced lysosome migration from nuclei region to cell periphery resulting in less T. cruzi inside the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in the first hour of infection. In addition, the number of parasites leaving the PV to the cytoplasm to replicate in later times of infection was also lower after rapamycin treatment. Altogether, our data suggest that host's mTOR activation concomitant with parasite infection modulates lysosome migration and that T. cruzi uses this mechanism to achieve infection and replication. Modulating this mechanism with rapamycin impaired the success of T. cruzi life cycle independent of mitophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M Alvim
- Heart Institute, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Venturini
- Heart Institute, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, United States.
| | - Theo G M Oliveira
- Heart Institute, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Christine E Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, United States; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), United States
| | - José E Krieger
- Heart Institute, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre C Pereira
- Heart Institute, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology, Clinical Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, United States
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10
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Macaluso G, Grippi F, Di Bella S, Blanda V, Gucciardi F, Torina A, Guercio A, Cannella V. A Review on the Immunological Response against Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020282. [PMID: 36839554 PMCID: PMC9964664 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a chronic systemic infection transmitted by Trypanosoma cruzi. Its life cycle consists of different stages in vector insects and host mammals. Trypanosoma cruzi strains cause different clinical manifestations of Chagas disease alongside geographic differences in morbidity and mortality. Natural killer cells provide the cytokine interferon-gamma in the initial phases of T. cruzi infection. Phagocytes secrete cytokines that promote inflammation and activation of other cells involved in defence. Dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages modulate the adaptive immune response, and B lymphocytes activate an effective humoral immune response to T. cruzi. This review focuses on the main immune mechanisms acting during T. cruzi infection, on the strategies activated by the pathogen against the host cells, on the processes involved in inflammasome and virulence factors and on the new strategies for preventing, controlling and treating this disease.
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González-Herrera F, Clayton NS, Guzmán-Rivera D, Carrillo I, Castillo C, Catalán M, Anfossi R, Quintero-Pertuz H, Quilaqueo ME, Olea-Azar C, Rivera-Meza M, Kemmerling U, Ridley AJ, Vivar R, Maya JD. Statins change the cytokine profile in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected U937 macrophages and murine cardiac tissue through Rho-associated kinases inhibition. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1035589. [PMID: 36713380 PMCID: PMC9874148 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1035589] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is the most severe manifestation of Chagas disease.CCC is characterized by cardiac inflammation and fibrosis caused by a persistent inflammatory response. Following infection, macrophages secrete inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α to control parasitemia. Although this response contains parasite infection, it causes damage to the heart tissue. Thus, the use of immunomodulators is a rational alternative to CCC. Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) 1 and 2 are RhoA-activated serine/threonine kinases that regulate the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Both ROCKs have been implicated in the polarization of macrophages towards an M1 (pro-inflammatory) phenotype. Statins are FDA-approved lipid-lowering drugs that reduce RhoA signaling by inhibiting geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthesis. This work aims to identify the effect of statins on U937 macrophage polarization and cardiac tissue inflammation and its relationship with ROCK activity during T. cruzi infection. Methods PMA-induced, wild-type, GFP-, CA-ROCK1- and CA-ROCK2-expressing U937 macrophages were incubated with atorvastatin, or the inhibitors Y-27632, JSH-23, TAK-242, or C3 exoenzyme incubated with or without T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 30 min to evaluate the activity of ROCK and the M1 and M2 cytokine expression and secretion profiling. Also, ROCK activity was determined in T. cruzi-infected, BALB/c mice hearts. Results In this study, we demonstrate for the first time in macrophages that incubation with T. cruzi leads to ROCK activation via the TLR4 pathway, which triggers NF-κB activation. Inhibition of ROCKs by Y-27632 prevents NF-κB activation and the expression and secretion of M1 markers, as does treatment with atorvastatin. Furthermore, we show that the effect of atorvastatin on the NF-kB pathway and cytokine secretion is mediated by ROCK. Finally, statin treatment decreased ROCK activation and expression, and the pro-inflammatory cytokine production, promoting anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in chronic chagasic mice hearts. Conclusion These results suggest that the statin modulation of the inflammatory response due to ROCK inhibition is a potential pharmacological strategy to prevent cardiac inflammation in CCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola González-Herrera
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Natasha S. Clayton
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Guzmán-Rivera
- Escuela de Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ileana Carrillo
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mabel Catalán
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Renatto Anfossi
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Helena Quintero-Pertuz
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Elena Quilaqueo
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio Olea-Azar
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario Rivera-Meza
- Department of Chemical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Integrative Biology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Anne J. Ridley
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Raúl Vivar
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Juan Diego Maya, ; Raúl Vivar,
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Juan Diego Maya, ; Raúl Vivar,
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Borgna E, Prochetto E, Gamba JC, Marcipar I, Cabrera G. Role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 375:117-163. [PMID: 36967151 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is the third largest parasitic disease burden globally. Currently, more than 6 million people are infected, mainly in Latin America, but international migration has turned CD into an emerging health problem in many nonendemic countries. Despite intense research, a vaccine is still not available. A complex parasite life cycle, together with numerous immune system manipulation strategies, may account for the lack of a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine. There is substantial experimental evidence supporting that T. cruzi acute infection generates a strong immunosuppression state that involves numerous immune populations with regulatory/suppressive capacity. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), regulatory dendritic cells and B regulatory cells are some of the regulatory populations that have been involved in the acute immune response elicited by the parasite. The fact that, during acute infection, MDSCs increase notably in several organs, such as spleen, liver and heart, together with the observation that depletion of those cells can decrease mouse survival to 0%, strongly suggests that MDSCs play a major role during acute T. cruzi infection. Accumulating evidence gained in different settings supports the capacity of MDSCs to interact with cells from both the effector and the regulatory arms of the immune system, shaping the outcome of the response in a very wide range of scenarios that include pathological and physiological processes. In this sense, the aim of the present review is to describe the main knowledge about MDSCs acquired so far, including several crosstalk with other immune populations, which could be useful to gain insight into their role during T. cruzi infection.
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Volpini X, Natali L, Brugo MB, de la Cruz-Thea B, Baigorri RE, Cerbán FM, Fozzatti L, Motran CC, Musri MM. Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Promotes Vascular Remodeling and Coexpression of α-Smooth Muscle Actin and Macrophage Markers in Cells of the Aorta. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2271-2290. [PMID: 36083791 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an emerging global health problem; however, it remains neglected. Increased aortic stiffness (IAS), a predictor of cardiovascular events, has recently been reported in asymptomatic chronic Chagas patients. After vascular injury, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can undergo alterations associated with phenotypic switch and transdifferentiation, promoting vascular remodeling and IAS. By studying different mouse aortic segments, we tested the hypothesis that Trypanosoma cruzi infection promotes vascular remodeling. Interestingly, the thoracic aorta was the most affected by the infection. Decreased expression of SMC markers and increased expression of proliferative markers were observed in the arteries of acutely infected mice. In acutely and chronically infected mice, we observed cells coexpressing SMC and macrophage (Mo) markers in the media and adventitia layers of the aorta, indicating that T. cruzi might induce cellular processes associated with SMC transdifferentiation into Mo-like cells or vice versa. In the adventitia, the Mo cell functional polarization was associated with an M2-like CD206+arginase-1+ phenotype despite the T. cruzi presence in the tissue. Only Mo-like cells in inflammatory foci were CD206+iNOS+. In addition to the disorganization of elastic fibers, we found thickening of the aortic layers during the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Our findings indicate that T. cruzi infection induces a vascular remodeling with SMC dedifferentiation and increased cell populations coexpressing α-SMA and Mo markers that could be associated with IAS promotion. These data highlight the importance of studying large vessel homeostasis in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Volpini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Lautaro Natali
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Maria Belén Brugo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Benjamin de la Cruz-Thea
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina
| | - Ruth Eliana Baigorri
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Fabio Marcelo Cerbán
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Laura Fozzatti
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Claudia Cristina Motran
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Melina Mara Musri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCEFyN-UNC). Av. Velez Sarfield 299, Centro, Córdoba, PC X5000JJC, Argentina
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Almeida-Silva J, Menezes DS, Fernandes JMP, Almeida MC, Vasco-Dos-Santos DR, Saraiva RM, Viçosa AL, Perez SAC, Andrade SG, Suarez-Fontes AM, Vannier-Santos MA. The repositioned drugs disulfiram/diethyldithiocarbamate combined to benznidazole: Searching for Chagas disease selective therapy, preventing toxicity and drug resistance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:926699. [PMID: 35967878 PMCID: PMC9372510 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.926699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) affects at least 6 million people in 21 South American countries besides several thousand in other nations all over the world. It is estimated that at least 14,000 people die every year of CD. Since vaccines are not available, chemotherapy remains of pivotal relevance. About 30% of the treated patients cannot complete the therapy because of severe adverse reactions. Thus, the search for novel drugs is required. Here we tested the benznidazole (BZ) combination with the repositioned drug disulfiram (DSF) and its derivative diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC) upon Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro and in vivo. DETC-BZ combination was synergistic diminishing epimastigote proliferation and enhancing selective indexes up to over 10-fold. DETC was effective upon amastigotes of the BZ- partially resistant Y and the BZ-resistant Colombiana strains. The combination reduced proliferation even using low concentrations (e.g., 2.5 µM). Scanning electron microscopy revealed membrane discontinuities and cell body volume reduction. Transmission electron microscopy revealed remarkable enlargement of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae besides, dilated mitochondria with decreased electron density and disorganized kinetoplast DNA. At advanced stages, the cytoplasm vacuolation apparently impaired compartmentation. The fluorescent probe H2-DCFDA indicates the increased production of reactive oxygen species associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation in parasites incubated with DETC. The biochemical measurement indicates the downmodulation of thiol expression. DETC inhibited superoxide dismutase activity on parasites was more pronounced than in infected mice. In order to approach the DETC effects on intracellular infection, peritoneal macrophages were infected with Colombiana trypomastigotes. DETC addition diminished parasite numbers and the DETC-BZ combination was effective, despite the low concentrations used. In the murine infection, the combination significantly enhanced animal survival, decreasing parasitemia over BZ. Histopathology revealed that low doses of BZ-treated animals presented myocardial amastigote, not observed in combination-treated animals. The picrosirius collagen staining showed reduced myocardial fibrosis. Aminotransferase de aspartate, Aminotransferase de alanine, Creatine kinase, and urea plasma levels demonstrated that the combination was non-toxic. As DSF and DETC can reduce the toxicity of other drugs and resistance phenotypes, such a combination may be safe and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Almeida-Silva
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Diego Silva Menezes
- Parasite Biology Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Juan Mateus Pereira Fernandes
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Márcio Cerqueira Almeida
- Parasite Biology Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Deyvison Rhuan Vasco-Dos-Santos
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roberto Magalhães Saraiva
- Laboratory of Clinical Research on Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas Infectious Disease Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Lifsitch Viçosa
- Experimental Pharmacotechnics Laboratory, Department of Galenic Innovation, Institute of Drug Technology - Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sandra Aurora Chavez Perez
- Project Management Technical Assistance, Institute of Drug Technology - Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sônia Gumes Andrade
- Experimental Chagas Disease Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Ana Márcia Suarez-Fontes
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcos André Vannier-Santos
- Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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15
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Oliveira DSD, Leite ALJ, Pedrosa TCF, Mota LWR, Costa GDP, Souza DMSD, Perucci LO, Talvani A. Insights into IL-33 on inflammatory response during in vitro infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152243. [PMID: 35839730 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152243] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Inflammatory and regulatory cytokines play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Interleukin (IL)-33 is a member of the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines whose expression/production is upregulated following pro-inflammatory stimulation to alert the immune system in response to tissue stress or damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory profile induced in cultured J774 cells stimulated or not with IL-33 (10 ng/mL), with live parasites (1 × 106 metacyclic trypomastigote forms) and/or total antigen, TcAg (100 µg/mL) and with both, IL-33 and TcAg/T. cruzi. The cultures were evaluated at 24 h and 48 h after addition of the stimuli. For this, the supernatants were collected for the measurement of TNF, IL-17, CCL2, and IL-10 by ELISA and of nitrite by the Griess method. TNF, IL-17, and CCL2 concentrations were elevated in the presence of TcAg or live T. cruzi parasites at 24 h, and the addition of IL-33 potentiated these effects at 48 h. In addition, the T. cruzi-amastigote forms reduced in those infected J774 cells stimulated with IL-33 at 48 h. In conclusion, the IL-33 elevated the production of the TNF, IL-17, and CCL2 in cultured J774 cells stimulated with T. cruzi and/or its antigen and reduced the intracellular parasites, providing impetus to new investigations on its potential actions on the parasite-induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Silva de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Biological Science Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Ana Luísa Junqueira Leite
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Biological Science Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Tamiles Caroline Fernandes Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Biological Science Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Ludmilla Walter Reis Mota
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Nucleus of Research on Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Guilherme de Paula Costa
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Health and Nutrition Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Débora Maria Soares de Souza
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Health and Nutrition Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiza Oliveira Perucci
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Nucleus of Research on Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.
| | - André Talvani
- Laboratory of Immunobiology of Inflammation, DECBI, Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Health and Nutrition Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; Health Sciences, Infectology and Tropical Medicine Post-Graduate Program Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Rodrigues WF, Miguel CB, Marques LC, da Costa TA, de Abreu MCM, Oliveira CJF, Lazo-Chica JE. Predicting Blood Parasite Load and Influence of Expression of iNOS on the Effect Size of Clinical Laboratory Parameters in Acute Trypanosoma cruzi Infection With Different Inoculum Concentrations in C57BL/6 Mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:850037. [PMID: 35371021 PMCID: PMC8974915 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.850037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In Chagas disease, the initial responses of phagocyte-mediated innate immunity are strongly associated with the control of Trypanosoma cruzi and are mediated by various signaling pathways, including the inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) pathway. The clinical and laboratory manifestations of Chagas disease depend on the parasite–host relationship, i.e., the responsive capacity of the host immune system and the immunogenicity of the parasite. Here, we evaluated effect sizes in clinical and laboratory parameters mediated by acute infection with different concentrations of T. cruzi inoculum in mice immunosuppressed via iNOS pathway inactivation. Infection was induced in C57BL/6 wild-type and iNOS-/- mice with the “Y” strain of T. cruzi at three inoculum concentrations (3 × 102, 3 × 103, and 3 × 104). Parasitemia and mortality in both mouse strains were monitored. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify amastigotes in cardiac tissues and cardiac musculature cells. Biochemical parameters, such as blood urea nitrogen, sodium, albumin, and globulin concentrations, among others, were measured, and cytokine concentrations were also measured. Effect sizes were determined by the eta squared formula. Compared with that in wild-type animals, mice with an absence of iNOS expression demonstrated a greater parasite load, with earlier infection and a delayed parasitemia peak. Inoculum concentration was positively related to death in the immunosuppressed subgroup. Nineteen parameters (hematological, biochemical, cytokine-related, and histopathological) in the immunocompetent subgroup and four in the immunosuppressed subgroup were associated with parasitemia. Parasitemia, biochemical parameters, and hematological parameters were found to be predictors in the knockout group. The impact of effect sizes on the markers evaluated based on T. cruzi inoculum concentration was notably high in the immunocompetent group (Cohen’s d = 88.50%; p <.001). These findings contribute to the understanding of physiopathogenic mechanisms underlying T. cruzi infection and also indicate the influence of the concentration of T. cruzi during infection and the immunosuppression through the iNOS pathway in clinical laboratory heterogeneity reported in acute Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wellington Francisco Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Course in Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Wellington Francisco Rodrigues,
| | - Camila Botelho Miguel
- Biosciences Unit, Centro Universitário de Mineiros, Mineiros, Brazil
- Postgraduate Course in Tropical Medicine and Infectology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | | | - Thiago Alvares da Costa
- Postgraduate Course in Tropical Medicine and Infectology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | | | - Carlo José Freire Oliveira
- Postgraduate Course in Health Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
- Postgraduate Course in Tropical Medicine and Infectology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Javier Emilio Lazo-Chica
- Cell Biology Laboratory, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil
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Vieira RDS, Nascimento MS, Noronha IH, Vasconcelos JRC, Benvenuti LA, Barber GN, Câmara NOS, Kalil J, Cunha-Neto E, Almeida RR. STING Signaling Drives Production of Innate Cytokines, Generation of CD8 + T Cells and Enhanced Protection Against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 12:775346. [PMID: 35095849 PMCID: PMC8795786 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.775346] [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] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of signaling pathways are involved in the induction of innate cytokines and CD8+ T cells, which are major players in protection against acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Previous data have demonstrated that a TBK-1/IRF3-dependent signaling pathway promotes IFN-β production in response to Trypanosoma cruzi, but the role for STING, a main interactor of these proteins, remained to be addressed. Here, we demonstrated that STING signaling is required for production of IFN-β, IL-6, and IL-12 in response to Trypanosoma cruzi infection and that STING absence negatively impacts activation of IRF-dependent pathways in response to the parasite. We reported no significant activation of IRF-dependent pathways and cytokine expression in RAW264.7 macrophages in response to heat-killed trypomastigotes. In addition, we showed that STING is essential for T. cruzi DNA-mediated induction of IFN-β, IL-6, and IL-12 gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. We demonstrated that STING-knockout mice have significantly higher parasitemia from days 5 to 8 of infection and higher heart parasitism at day 13 after infection. Although we observed similar heart inflammatory infiltrates at day 13 after infection, IFN-β, IL-12, CXCL9, IFN-γ, and perforin gene expression were lower in the absence of STING. We also showed an inverse correlation between parasite DNA and the expression of CXCL9, IFN-γ, and perforin genes in the hearts of infected animals at day 13 after infection. Finally, we reported that STING signaling is required for splenic IFN-β and IL-6 expression early after infection and that STING deficiency results in lower numbers of splenic parasite-specific IFN-γ and IFN-γ/perforin-producing CD8+ T cells, indicating a pivotal role for STING signaling in immunity to Trypanosoma cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel de Souza Vieira
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marilda Savoia Nascimento
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isaú Henrique Noronha
- Laboratório de Vacinas Recombinantes, Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Alberto Benvenuti
- Divisão de Patologia, Instituto do Coração (INCOR), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Glen N Barber
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Niels Olsen Saraiva Câmara
- Laboratório de Imunologia Experimental e Clínica, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunologia de Transplantes, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Disciplina de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (III), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edecio Cunha-Neto
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Disciplina de Imunologia Clínica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (III), Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael Ribeiro Almeida
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Live attenuated vaccines, a favorable strategy to provide long-term immunity against protozoan diseases. Trends Parasitol 2021; 38:316-334. [PMID: 34896016 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The control of diseases caused by protozoan parasites is one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years much research effort has gone into developing a new generation of live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) against malaria, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. However, there is a bottleneck related to their biosafety, production, and distribution that slows downs further development. The success of irradiated or genetically attenuated sporozoites against malaria, added to the first LAV against leishmaniasis to be evaluated in clinical trials, is indicative that the drawbacks of LAVs are gradually being overcome. However, whether persistence of LAVs is a prerequisite for sustained long-term immunity remains to be clarified, and the procedures necessary for clinical evaluation of vaccine candidates need to be standardized.
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19
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Characterisation of Macrophage Polarisation in Mice Infected with Ninoa Strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111444. [PMID: 34832600 PMCID: PMC8622189 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages (MΦ) play a key role in the development of the protective immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. To determine the role of MΦ subtypes M1 and M2 in the development of immunity against the Mexican strain of T. cruzi (Ninoa strain), we have analysed in a time course the infection and characterised the M1 and M2 subtypes in two mouse models, BALB/c and C57BL/6. After infection, BALB/c mice developed an increased blood parasite load and the parasites were cleared from the blood one week later than in C57BL/6 mice. However, similar cellular infiltrate and cardiac alterations were observed between BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. At 36 days, the T. cruzi infection differentially modulated the expression of immune cells, and both the BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice significantly reduced TCD4+ cells. However, BALB/c mice produced significantly more TCD8+ than C57BL/6 mice in the spleen and lymph nodes. Furthermore, BALB/c mice produce significantly more MΦ in the spleen, while C57BL/6 produce similar levels to uninfected mice. The M1 MΦ ratio increased significantly at 3-5 days post-infection (dpi), but then decreased slightly. On the contrary, the M2 MΦ were low at the beginning of the infection, but the proportion of M1 and M2 MΦ at 36 dpi was similar. Importantly, the MΦ subtypes M2c and M2d significantly increased the induction of tissue repair by the end of the acute phase of the infection. These results indicate that the Ninoa strain has developed strategies to modulate the immune response, with fine differences depending on the genetic background of the host.
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20
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Longoni SS, Tiberti N, Bisoffi Z, Piubelli C. Monoclonal Antibodies for Protozoan Infections: A Future Reality or a Utopic Idea? Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:745665. [PMID: 34712683 PMCID: PMC8545981 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.745665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several clinical trials have been approved for the investigation of the possible use of mAbs, supporting the potential of this technology as a therapeutic approach for infectious diseases. The first monoclonal antibody (mAb), Muromonab CD3, was introduced for the prevention of kidney transplant rejection more than 30 years ago; since then more than 100 mAbs have been approved for therapeutic purposes. Nonetheless, only four mAbs are currently employed for infectious diseases: Palivizumab, for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, Raxibacumab and Obiltoxaximab, for the prophylaxis and treatment against anthrax toxin and Bezlotoxumab, for the prevention of Clostridium difficile recurrence. Protozoan infections are often neglected diseases for which effective and safe chemotherapies are generally missing. In this context, drug resistance and drug toxicity are two crucial problems. The recent advances in bioinformatics, parasite genomics, and biochemistry methodologies are contributing to better understand parasite biology, which is essential to guide the development of new therapies. In this review, we present the efforts that are being made in the evaluation of mAbs for the prevention or treatment of leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, malaria, and toxoplasmosis. Particular emphasis will be placed on the potential strengths and weaknesses of biological treatments in the control of these protozoan diseases that are still affecting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Stefania Longoni
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Natalia Tiberti
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
| | - Zeno Bisoffi
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy.,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Piubelli
- Department of Infectious-Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Verona, Italy
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21
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Gómez I, Thomas MC, Palacios G, Egui A, Carrilero B, Simón M, Valladares B, Segovia M, Carmelo E, López MC. Differential Expression of Immune Response Genes in Asymptomatic Chronic Chagas Disease Patients Versus Healthy Subjects. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:722984. [PMID: 34552885 PMCID: PMC8450343 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.722984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite causes Chagas disease and triggers multiple immune mechanisms in the host to combat the pathogen. Chagas disease has a variable clinical presentation and progression, producing in the chronic phase a fragile balance between the host immune response and parasite replication that keeps patients in a clinically silent asymptomatic stage for years. Since the parasite is intracellular and replicates within cells, the cell-mediated response of the host adaptive immunity plays a critical role. This function is mainly orchestrated by T lymphocytes, which recognize parasite antigens and promote specific functions to control the infection. However, little is known about the immunological markers associated with this asymptomatic stage of the disease. In this large-scale analysis, the differential expression of 106 immune system-related genes has been analyzed using high-throughput qPCR in T. cruzi antigen-stimulated PBMC from chronic Chagas disease patients with indeterminate form (IND) and healthy donors (HD) from endemic and non-endemic areas of Chagas disease. This analysis revealed that there were no differences in the expression level of most genes under study between healthy donors from endemic and non-endemic areas determined by PCA and differential gene expression analysis. Instead, PCA revealed the existence of different expression profiles between IND patients and HD (p < 0.0001), dependent on the 32 genes included in PC1. Differential gene expression analysis also revealed 23 upregulated genes (expression fold change > 2) and 11 downregulated genes (expression fold change < 0.5) in IND patients versus HD. Enrichment analysis showed that several upregulated genes in IND patients participate in relevant immunological pathways such as antigen-dependent B cell activation, stress induction of HSP regulation, NO2-dependent IL12 pathway in NK cells, and cytokine-inflammatory response. The antigen-specific differential gene expression profile detected in these patients and the relevant immunological pathways that seem to be activated could represent potential biomarkers of the asymptomatic form of Chagas disease, helpful to diagnosis and infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Gómez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - M Carmen Thomas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Génesis Palacios
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Adriana Egui
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
| | - Bartolomé Carrilero
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Marina Simón
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Basilio Valladares
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain.,Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Manuel Segovia
- Unidad Regional de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emma Carmelo
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain.,Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Manuel Carlos López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Granada, Spain
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22
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Hernández-Torres M, Silva do Nascimento R, Rebouças MC, Cassado A, Matteucci KC, D'Império-Lima MR, Vasconcelos JRC, Bortoluci KR, Alvarez JM, Amarante-Mendes GP. Absence of Bim sensitizes mice to experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:692. [PMID: 34247195 PMCID: PMC8272718 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a life-threatening disorder caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasite-specific antibodies, CD8+ T cells, as well as IFN-γ and nitric oxide (NO) are key elements of the adaptive and innate immunity against the extracellular and intracellular forms of the parasite. Bim is a potent pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family implicated in different aspects of the immune regulation, such as negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes and elimination of antigen-specific T cells at the end of an immune response. Interestingly, the role of Bim during infections remains largely unidentified. To explore the role of Bim in Chagas disease, we infected WT, Bim+/-, Bim-/- mice with trypomastigotes forms of the Y strain of T. cruzi. Strikingly, our data revealed that Bim-/- mice exhibit a delay in the development of parasitemia followed by a deficiency in the control of parasite load in the bloodstream and a decreased survival compared to WT and Bim+/- mice. At the peak of parasitemia, peritoneal macrophages of Bim-/- mice exhibit decreased NO production, which correlated with a decrease in the pro-inflammatory Small Peritoneal Macrophage (SPM) subset. A similar reduction in NO secretion, as well as in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6, was also observed in Bim-/- splenocytes. Moreover, an impaired anti-T. cruzi CD8+ T-cell response was found in Bim-/- mice at this time point. Taken together, our results suggest that these alterations may contribute to the establishment of a delayed yet enlarged parasitic load observed at day 9 after infection of Bim-/- mice and place Bim as an important protein in the control of T. cruzi infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Hernández-Torres
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Monica Cardozo Rebouças
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Cassado
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Kely Catarine Matteucci
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - José Ronnie C Vasconcelos
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Karina R Bortoluci
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Maria Alvarez
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo P Amarante-Mendes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil.
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23
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Nájera CA, Batista MF, Meneghelli I, Bahia D. Mixed signals - how Trypanosoma cruzi exploits host-cell communication and signaling to establish infection. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:134/5/jcs255687. [PMID: 33692153 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.255687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) is a 'neglected' pathology that affects millions of people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent, is an obligate intracellular parasite with a complex and diverse biology that infects several mammalian species, including humans. Because of genetic variability among strains and the presence of four biochemically and morphologically distinct parasite forms, the outcome of T. cruzi infection varies considerably depending on host cell type and parasite strain. During the initial contact, cellular communication is established by host-recognition-mediated responses, followed by parasite adherence and penetration. For this purpose, T. cruzi expresses a variety of proteins that modify the host cell, enabling it to safely reach the cytoplasm. After entry into the host cell, T. cruzi forms a transitory structure termed 'parasitophorous vacuole' (PV), followed by its cytoplasmic replication and differentiation after PV rupture, and subsequent invasion of other cells. The success of infection, maintenance and survival inside host cells is facilitated by the ability of T. cruzi to subvert various host signaling mechanisms. We focus in this Review on the various mechanisms that induce host cytoskeletal rearrangements, activation of autophagy-related proteins and crosstalk among major immune response regulators, as well as recent studies on the JAK-STAT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Acides Nájera
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Marina Ferreira Batista
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Isabela Meneghelli
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Diana Bahia
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
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Abstract
The mechanistic (or mammalian) target of rapamycin (mTOR) is considered as a critical regulatory enzyme involved in essential signaling pathways affecting cell growth, cell proliferation, protein translation, regulation of cellular metabolism, and cytoskeletal structure. Also, mTOR signaling has crucial roles in cell homeostasis via processes such as autophagy. Autophagy prevents many pathogen infections and is involved on immunosurveillance and pathogenesis. Immune responses and autophagy are therefore key host responses and both are linked by complex mTOR regulatory mechanisms. In recent years, the mTOR pathway has been highlighted in different diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and infectious and parasitic diseases including leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, and malaria. The current review underlines the implications of mTOR signals and intricate networks on pathogen infections and the modulation of this master regulator by parasites. Parasitic infections are able to induce dynamic metabolic reprogramming leading to mTOR alterations in spite of many other ways impacting this regulatory network. Accordingly, the identification of parasite effects and interactions over such a complex modulation might reveal novel information regarding the biology of the abovementioned parasites and might allow the development of therapeutic strategies against parasitic diseases. In this sense, the effects of inhibiting the mTOR pathways are also considered in this context in the light of their potential for the prevention and treatment of parasitic diseases.
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