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Goyal RK, Rattan S. Role of mechanoregulation in mast cell-mediated immune inflammation of the smooth muscle in the pathophysiology of esophageal motility disorders. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2024; 326:G398-G410. [PMID: 38290993 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00258.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Major esophageal disorders involve obstructive transport of bolus to the stomach, causing symptoms of dysphagia and impaired clearing of the refluxed gastric contents. These may occur due to mechanical constriction of the esophageal lumen or loss of relaxation associated with deglutitive inhibition, as in achalasia-like disorders. Recently, immune inflammation has been identified as an important cause of esophageal strictures and the loss of inhibitory neurotransmission. These disorders are also associated with smooth muscle hypertrophy and hypercontractility, whose cause is unknown. This review investigated immune inflammation in the causation of smooth muscle changes in obstructive esophageal bolus transport. Findings suggest that smooth muscle hypertrophy occurs above the obstruction and is due to mechanical stress on the smooth muscles. The mechanostressed smooth muscles release cytokines and other molecules that may recruit and microlocalize mast cells to smooth muscle bundles, so that their products may have a close bidirectional effect on each other. Acting in a paracrine fashion, the inflammatory cytokines induce genetic and epigenetic changes in the smooth muscles, leading to smooth muscle hypercontractility, hypertrophy, and impaired relaxation. These changes may worsen difficulty in the esophageal transport. Immune processes differ in the first phase of obstructive bolus transport, and the second phase of muscle hypertrophy and hypercontractility. Moreover, changes in the type of mechanical stress may change immune response and effect on smooth muscles. Understanding immune signaling in causes of obstructive bolus transport, type of mechanical stress, and associated smooth muscle changes may help pathophysiology-based prevention and targeted treatment of esophageal motility disorders.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Esophageal disorders such as esophageal stricture or achalasia, and diffuse esophageal spasm are associated with smooth muscle hypertrophy and hypercontractility, above the obstruction, yet the cause of such changes is unknown. This review suggests that smooth muscle obstructive disorders may cause mechanical stress on smooth muscle, which then secretes chemicals that recruit, microlocalize, and activate mast cells to initiate immune inflammation, producing functional and structural changes in smooth muscles. Understanding the immune signaling in these changes may help pathophysiology-based prevention and targeted treatment of esophageal motility disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj K Goyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Satish Rattan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sidney Kummel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Vellasco L, Svensjö E, Bulant CA, Blanco PJ, Nogueira F, Domont G, de Almeida NP, Nascimento CR, Silva-dos-Santos D, Carvalho-Pinto CE, Medei EH, Almeida IC, Scharfstein J. Sheltered in Stromal Tissue Cells, Trypanosoma cruzi Orchestrates Inflammatory Neovascularization via Activation of the Mast Cell Chymase Pathway. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020187. [PMID: 35215131 PMCID: PMC8878313 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Microangiopathy may worsen the clinical outcome of Chagas disease. Given the obstacles to investigating the dynamics of inflammation and angiogenesis in heart tissues parasitized by Trypanosoma cruzi, here we used intravital microscopy (IVM) to investigate microcirculatory alterations in the hamster cheek pouch (HCP) infected by green fluorescent protein-expressing T. cruzi (GFP-T. cruzi). IVM performed 3 days post-infection (3 dpi) consistently showed increased baseline levels of plasma extravasation. Illustrating the reciprocal benefits that microvascular leakage brings to the host-parasite relationship, these findings suggest that intracellular amastigotes, acting from inside out, stimulate angiogenesis while enhancing the delivery of plasma-borne nutrients and prosurvival factors to the infection foci. Using a computer-based analysis of images (3 dpi), we found that proangiogenic indexes were positively correlated with transcriptional levels of proinflammatory cytokines (pro-IL1β and IFN-γ). Intracellular GFP-parasites were targeted by delaying for 24 h the oral administration of the trypanocidal drug benznidazole. A classification algorithm showed that benznidazole (>24 h) blunted angiogenesis (7 dpi) in the HCP. Unbiased proteomics (3 dpi) combined to pharmacological targeting of chymase with two inhibitors (chymostatin and TY-51469) linked T. cruzi-induced neovascularization (7 dpi) to the proangiogenic activity of chymase, a serine protease stored in secretory granules from mast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vellasco
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Erik Svensjö
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Carlos Alberto Bulant
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Pablo Javier Blanco
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Fábio Nogueira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Gilberto Domont
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Natália Pinto de Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Clarissa Rodrigues Nascimento
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Danielle Silva-dos-Santos
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | | | - Emiliano Horácio Medei
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
| | - Julio Scharfstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Nelson M, Zhang X, Pan Z, Spechler SJ, Souza RF. Mast cell effects on esophageal smooth muscle and their potential role in eosinophilic esophagitis and achalasia. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2021; 320:G319-G327. [PMID: 33355505 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00290.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mast cells and eosinophils are the key effector cells of allergic disorders. Although most studies on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an allergic disorder of the esophagus, have focused on the role of eosinophils, recent studies suggest a major role for mast cells in causing the clinical manifestations of this disease. Cellular and animal studies have demonstrated that mast cells can cause esophageal muscle cells to proliferate and differentiate into a more contractile phenotype, and that mediators released by degranulating mast cells such as tryptase and histamine can activate smooth muscle contraction pathways. Thus, activated mast cells in the esophageal muscularis propria might cause esophageal motility abnormalities, including the failure of lower esophageal sphincter relaxation typical of achalasia. In addition, mast cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, because degranulating mast cells release proinflammatory and cytotoxic mediators capable of damaging neurons. Such mast cell degranulation in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus could cause the loss of enteric neurons that characterizes achalasia. In this report, we review the molecular mechanisms of esophageal smooth muscle contraction, and how mast cells products might affect that muscle and cause neurodegeneration in the esophagus. Based on these data, we present our novel, conceptual model for an allergy-induced form of achalasia mediated by mast cell activation in the esophageal muscularis propria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nelson
- Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases, Baylor University Medical Center and Center for Esophageal Research, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases, Baylor University Medical Center and Center for Esophageal Research, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
| | - Zui Pan
- College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
| | - Stuart Jon Spechler
- Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases, Baylor University Medical Center and Center for Esophageal Research, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
| | - Rhonda F Souza
- Department of Medicine, Center for Esophageal Diseases, Baylor University Medical Center and Center for Esophageal Research, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas
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The Chymase Mouse Mast Cell Protease-4 Regulates Intestinal Cytokine Expression in Mature Adult Mice Infected with Giardia intestinalis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040925. [PMID: 32283818 PMCID: PMC7226739 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mast cells have been shown to affect the control of infections with the protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis. Recently, we demonstrated that Giardia excretory-secretory proteins inhibited the activity of the connective tissue mast cell-specific protease chymase. To study the potential role of the chymase mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-4 during infections with Giardia, mMCP-4+/+ and mMCP-4−/− littermate mice were gavage-infected with G. intestinalis trophozoites of the human assemblage B isolate GS. No significant changes in weight gain was observed in infected young (≈10 weeks old) mMCP-4−/− and mMCP-4+/+ littermate mice. In contrast, infections of mature adult mice (>18 weeks old) caused significant weight loss as compared to uninfected control mice. We detected a more rapid weight loss in mMCP-4−/− mice as compared to littermate mMCP-4+/+ mice. Submucosal mast cell and granulocyte counts in jejunum increased in the infected adult mMCP-4−/− and mMCP-4+/+ mice. This increase was correlated with an augmented intestinal trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like activity, but the myeloperoxidase activity was constant. Infected mice showed a significantly lower intestinal neutrophil elastase (NE) activity, and in vitro, soluble Giardia proteins inhibited human recombinant NE. Serum levels of IL-6 were significantly increased eight and 13 days post infection (dpi), while intestinal IL-6 levels showed a trend to significant increase 8 dpi. Strikingly, the lack of mMCP-4 resulted in significantly less intestinal transcriptional upregulation of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-25, CXCL2, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 in the Giardia-infected mature adult mice, suggesting that chymase may play a regulatory role in intestinal cytokine responses.
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Pereira FB, Dutra WO, Gollob KJ, Reis EA, Oliveira ALGD, Rocha MODC, Menezes CADS. Vasoactive intestinal peptide degradation might influence Interleukin-17 expression in cardiac chagasic patients. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2018; 60:e57. [PMID: 30365640 PMCID: PMC6199123 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201860057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) expression is lower in cardiac chagasic patients and is related to worse cardiac function. The reduction of VIP in patients with Chagas disease may be a result of its enhanced degradation. To test this hypothesis, the tryptase and chymase expression was evaluated. We also related VIP levels with interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression since VIP may modulate IL-17 production. Plasma levels of chymase were higher in chagasic patients. Conversely, VIP/chymase and VIP/tryptase ratios were lower in chagasic patients when compared to non-infected individuals. Besides, the VIP/chymase ratio was lower in chagasic cardiac patients in comparison with the indeterminate group. A positive correlation between tryptase and chymase levels was observed in chagasic cardiac patients. In relation to IL-17, we observed a higher expression of this cytokine in the cardiac form of the disease than in the indeterminate form. IL-17/VIP ratio was higher in the cardiac form in comparison with non-infected or indeterminate form. These results suggest that the low levels of VIP observed in chagasic patients could be due to an increased production of chymase and/or to the additive effect of the interaction between chymase and tryptase in the cardiac form. Moreover, the decreased VIP expression may contribute to the increase of IL-17 in chagasic cardiac patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Walderez O. Dutra
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais, Brazil
| | - Kenneth J. Gollob
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais, Brazil; A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Brazil
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Duarte JG, Nascimento RD, Martins PR, d'Ávila Reis D. Evaluation of the immunoreactivity of nerve growth factor and tropomyosin receptor kinase A in the esophagus of noninfected and infected individuals with Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:1647-1655. [PMID: 29550999 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Megaesophagus is one of the major manifestations of the chronic phase of Chagas disease. Its primary symptom is generally dysphagia due to disturbance in the lower esophageal sphincter. Microscopically, the affected organ presents denervation, which has been considered as consequence of an inflammatory process that begins at the acute phase and persists in the chronic phase. Inflammatory infiltrates are composed of lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, mast cells, and eosinophils. In this study, we evaluated the immunoreactivity of nerve growth factor (NGF), and of its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), molecules that are well known for having a relevant role in neuroimmune communication in the gastrointestinal tract. Esophageal samples obtained via autopsy or surgery procedures from six noninfected individuals, six infected individuals without megaesophagus, and six infected individuals with megaesophagus were analyzed. Infected individuals without megaesophagus presented increased numbers of NGF immunoreactive (IR) mast cells and increased areas of TrkA-IR epithelial cells and inner muscle cells. Infected individuals with megaesophagus showed increased numbers of NGF-IR eosinophils and mast cells, TrkA-IR eosinophils and mast cells, increased area of NGF-IR epithelial cells, and increased areas of TrkA-IR epithelials cells and inner muscle cells. The data presented here point to the participation of NGF and its TrkA receptor in the pathology of chagasic megaesophagus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Garcia Duarte
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Duarte Nascimento
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Vida, Instituto de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Patrícia Rocha Martins
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Débora d'Ávila Reis
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Mast cell-nerve interaction in the colon of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals with chagasic megacolon. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:1147-1158. [PMID: 29470711 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5792-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that affects millions of people worldwide and is endemic in Latin America. Megacolon is the most frequent complication of the digestive chronic form and happens due to lesions of the enteric nervous system. The neuronal lesions seem to initiate in the acute phase and persist during the chronic phase, albeit the mechanisms involved in this process are still debated. Among the cells of the immune system possibly involved in this pathological process is the mast cell (MC) due to its well-known role in the bi-directional communication between the immune and nervous systems. Using ultrastructural analysis, we found an increased number of degranulated MCs in close proximity to nerve fibers in infected patients when compared with uninfected controls. We also immunostained MCs for the two pro-inflammatory molecules tryptase and chymase, the first being also important in neuronal death. The number of MCs immunostained for tryptase or chymase was increased in patients with megacolon, whereas increased tryptase staining was additionally observed in patients without megacolon. Moreover, we detected the expression of the tryptase receptor PAR2 in neurons of the enteric nervous system, which correlated to the tryptase staining results. Altogether, the data presented herein point to the participation of MCs on the denervation process that occurs in the development of T. cruzi-induced megacolon.
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Li X, Chen S, Huang S, Lu F. Mast cell activator compound 48/40 is not an effective adjuvant for UV-attenuated Toxoplasma gondii vaccine. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:2347-2353. [PMID: 28573462 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii, Tg) is a globally distributed parasitic protozoan causing different forms of toxoplasmosis in humans. Mast cells (MCs) play a role during T. gondii infection. Several studies suggest that MC activator compound 48/80 (C48/80) may be an effective vaccine adjuvant resulting in a potent and protective antigen-specific immune response against bacteria or virus infections. The present study was performed to determine whether C48/80 had adjuvant activity for ultraviolet (UV)-attenuated T. gondii vaccine to induce protective immune responses against T. gondii in mouse model. Kunming mice were divided into the following groups: naive mice, naive mice administrated with C48/80 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, mice infected by i.p. injection of 104 T. gondii RH strain alone (Tg group), mice infected with 104 RH tachyzoites plus C48/80 administration (Tg + C48/80), mice immunized with UV-Tg alone, and mice immunized with UV-Tg plus C48/80 administration (UV-Tg + C48/80). All the vaccinated mice were challenged with 104 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain at the same time as the primary infection. The survival rates, liver histopathologies, liver parasite burdens, and mRNA expression levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the livers and spleens detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were compared among the aforementioned groups after primary infection or challenge infection. The results showed that, compared to the Tg group or Tg + C48/80 group, the UV-Tg + Tg group and UV-Tg + C48/80 + Tg group had significantly prolonged survival time, lower liver histopathological scores, decreased liver parasite burdens, and increased levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the livers and spleens. There was no significant difference of survival time between the UV-Tg + Tg group and the UV-Tg + C48/80 + Tg group; however, the UV-Tg + C48/80 + Tg group showed higher parasite burden, more severe liver histopathology, and decreased IL-4 level compared to the UV-Tg + Tg group. These results indicate that C48/80 had no adjuvant activity for the immunization induced by UV-attenuated T. gondii vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Li
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengjie Chen
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiguang Huang
- Jinan University School of Stomatology, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| | - Fangli Lu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
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Lu F, Huang S. The Roles of Mast Cells in Parasitic Protozoan Infections. Front Immunol 2017; 8:363. [PMID: 28428784 PMCID: PMC5382204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium spp., Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., and Toxoplasma gondii are major causes of parasitic diseases in both humans and animals. The immune system plays a critical role against protozoa, but their immune mechanism remains poorly understood. This highlights the need to investigate the function of immune cells involved in the process of parasite infections and the responses of host immune system to parasite infections. Mast cells (MCs) are known to be central players in allergy and anaphylaxis, and it has been demonstrated that MCs have crucial roles in host defense against a number of different pathogens, including parasites. To date, there are many studies that have examined the interaction of helminth-derived antigens and MCs. As one of the major effector cells, MCs also play an important role in the immune response against some parasitic protozoa, but their role in protozoan infections is, however, less well characterized. Herein, we review the current knowledge about the roles of MCs and their mediators during infections involving highly pathogenic protozoa including Plasmodium spp., Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp., and T. gondii. We offer a general review of the data from patients and experimental animal models infected with the aforementioned protozoa, which correlate MCs and MC-derived mediators with exacerbated inflammation and disease progression as well as protection against the parasitic infections in different circumstances. This review updates our current understanding of the roles of MCs during parasitic protozoan infections, and the participation of MCs in parasitic protozoan infections could be of a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangli Lu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiguang Huang
- School of Stomatology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Mast cells in the colon of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients: are they involved in the recruitment, survival and/or activation of eosinophils? Parasitol Res 2015; 114:1847-56. [PMID: 25711147 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4371-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Megacolon is frequently observed in patients who develop the digestive form of Chagas disease. It is characterized by dilation of the rectum-sigmoid portion and thickening of the colon wall. Microscopically, the affected organ presents denervation, which has been considered as consequence of an inflammatory process that begins at the acute phase and persists in the chronic phase of infection. Inflammatory infiltrates are composed of lymphocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, mast cells, and eosinophils. In this study, we hypothesized that mast cells producing tryptase could influence the migration and the activation of eosinophils at the site, thereby contributing to the immunopathology of the chronic phase. We seek evidence of interactions between mast cells and eosinophils through (1) evaluation of eosinophils, regarding the expression of PAR2, a tryptase receptor; (2) correlation analysis between densities of mast cells and eosinophils; and (3) ultrastructural studies. The electron microscopy studies revealed signs of activation of mast cells and eosinophils, as well as physical interaction between these cells. Immunohistochemistry and correlation analyses point to the participation of tryptase immunoreactive mast cells in the migration and/or survival of eosinophils at the affected organ.
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