1
|
Deng B, Vanagas L, Alonso AM, Angel SO. Proteomics Applications in Toxoplasma gondii: Unveiling the Host-Parasite Interactions and Therapeutic Target Discovery. Pathogens 2023; 13:33. [PMID: 38251340 PMCID: PMC10821451 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010033] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite with the ability to infect various warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans, is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. This infection poses significant risks, leading to severe complications in immunocompromised individuals and potentially affecting the fetus through congenital transmission. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate molecular interactions between T. gondii and its host is pivotal for the development of effective therapeutic strategies. This review emphasizes the crucial role of proteomics in T. gondii research, with a specific focus on host-parasite interactions, post-translational modifications (PTMs), PTM crosstalk, and ongoing efforts in drug discovery. Additionally, we provide an overview of recent advancements in proteomics techniques, encompassing interactome sample preparation methods such as BioID (BirA*-mediated proximity-dependent biotin identification), APEX (ascorbate peroxidase-mediated proximity labeling), and Y2H (yeast two hybrid), as well as various proteomics approaches, including single-cell analysis, DIA (data-independent acquisition), targeted, top-down, and plasma proteomics. Furthermore, we discuss bioinformatics and the integration of proteomics with other omics technologies, highlighting its potential in unraveling the intricate mechanisms of T. gondii pathogenesis and identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bin Deng
- Department of Biology and VBRN Proteomics Facility, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús 7130, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; (L.V.); (S.O.A.); (A.M.A.)
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), 25 de Mayo y Francia. C.P., San Martín 1650, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andres M. Alonso
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús 7130, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; (L.V.); (S.O.A.); (A.M.A.)
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), 25 de Mayo y Francia. C.P., San Martín 1650, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio O. Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM), Chascomús 7130, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; (L.V.); (S.O.A.); (A.M.A.)
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), 25 de Mayo y Francia. C.P., San Martín 1650, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ijaz A, Broere F, Rutten VPMG, Jansen CA, Veldhuizen EJA. Perforin and granzyme A release as novel tool to measure NK cell activation in chickens. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 149:105047. [PMID: 37625470 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.105047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that are present in the circulation but also in many organs including spleen and gut, where they play an important role in the defense against infections. Interaction of NK cells with target cells leads to degranulation, which results in the release of perforin and granzymes in the direct vicinity of the target cell. Chicken NK cells have many characteristics similar to their mammalian counterparts and based on similarities with studies on human NK cells, surface expression of CD107 was always presumed to correlate with granule release. However, proof of this degranulation or in fact the actual presence of perforin (PFN) and granzyme A (GrA) in chicken NK cells and their release upon activation is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the presence of perforin and granzyme A in primary chicken NK cells and to measure their release upon degranulation, as an additional tool to study the function of chicken NK cells. Using human specific antibodies against PFN and GrA in fluorescent and confocal microscopy resulted in staining in chicken NK cells. The presence of PFN and GrA was also confirmed by Western blot analyses and its gene expression by PCR. Stimulation of NK cells with the pectin SPE6 followed by flow cytometry resulted in reduced levels of intracellular PFN and GrA, suggesting release of PFN and GrA. Expression of PFN and GrA reversely correlated with increased surface expression of the lysosomal marker CD107. Finally it was shown that the supernatant of activated NK cells, containing the NK cell granule content including PFN and GrA, was able to kill Escherichia coli. This study correlates PFN and GrA release to activation of chicken NK cells and establishes an additional tool to study activity of cytotoxic lymphocytes in chickens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adil Ijaz
- Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Femke Broere
- Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Victor P M G Rutten
- Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christine A Jansen
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Edwin J A Veldhuizen
- Division Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xiong YM, Pan HT, Ding HG, He Y, Zhang J, Zhang F, Yu B, Zhang T, Huang HF. Proteomic and functional analysis of proteins related to embryonic development of decidua in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:1246-1256. [PMID: 34296254 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab140] [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] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the loss of two or more consecutive pregnancies before the 20 weeks of gestation. Recurrent pregnancy loss affects about 1-2% of couples trying to conceive; however, the mechanisms leading to this complication are largely unknown. Our previous studies using comparative proteomics identified 314 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the placental villous. In this study, we identified 5479 proteins from a total of 34,157 peptides in decidua of patients with early recurrent pregnancy loss (Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD023849). Further analysis identified 311 DEPs in the decidua tissue; and 159 proteins were highly expressed while 152 proteins were lowly expressed. These 311 proteins were further analyzed by using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The results suggested that 50 DEPs played important roles in the embryonic development. Upstream analysis of these DEPs revealed that AGT was the most important upstream regulator. Furthermore, protein - protein interaction (PPI) analysis of the embryonic development DEPs from the placental villous and decidua was performed in the STRING database. This study identified several proteins specifically associated with embryonic development in decidua of patients with early recurrent pregnancy loss. Therefore, these results provide new insights into potential biological mechanisms, that may ultimately inform recurrent pregnancy loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Meng Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hai-Tao Pan
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hai-Gang Ding
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Yao He
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Bin Yu
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, China.,The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Institute of Embryo-Fetal Original Adult Disease, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li T, Cui L, Xu X, Zhang H, Jiang Y, Ren L, Yang C, Liu X, Hu X. The Role of Tim-3 on dNK Cells Dysfunction During Abnormal Pregnancy With Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:587150. [PMID: 33718261 PMCID: PMC7953497 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.587150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during gestation can result in severe complications such as abortion, congenital malformation, fetal teratogenesis, etc. Immune inhibitory molecule Tim-3 was discovered to be expressed on some decidual immune cells and participates in the maintenance of maternal-fetal tolerance. Dysregulation of Tim-3 expression on decidual NK (dNK) cells was observed in several cases of pregnancy complications, whereas the role of Tim-3 on dNK cells during T. gondii infection remains unclear. In the present study, T. gondii infected Tim-3-/- pregnant mice, and anti-Tim-3 neutralizing antibody treated and infected human dNK cells were successfully established to explore the role of Tim-3 in dysfunction of dNK cells during abnormal pregnancy. Our results illustrated that Tim-3-/- pregnant mice displayed more worse pregnancy outcomes with T. gondii infection compared to infected WT pregnant mice. Also, it demonstrated that Tim-3 expression on dNK cells was significantly down-regulated following T. gondii infection. Data suggested a remarkable activation of dNK cells in Tim-3-/- mice and anti-Tim-3 neutralizing antibody treated and infected groups, with higher ratios of activating receptor NKG2D to inhibitory receptor NKG2A or KIR2DL4, IFN-γ/IL-10, and increased granule production compared with that of the infected group. Mechanism analysis proved that T. gondii-induced Tim-3 down-regulation significantly activated the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT and JAK-STAT signaling pathway, by which the GranzymeB, Perforin, IFN-γ, and IL-10 production were further up-regulated. Our research demonstrated that the decrease of Tim-3 on dNK cells caused by T. gondii infection further led to dNK cells function disorder, which finally contributed to the development of abnormal pregnancy outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teng Li
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Lijun Cui
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Haixia Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yuzhu Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Liqin Ren
- Medicine & Pharmacy Research Center, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Chunyan Yang
- School of Stomatology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xianbing Liu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xuemei Hu
- Department of Immunology, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Borges M, Magalhães Silva T, Brito C, Teixeira N, Roberts CW. How does toxoplasmosis affect the maternal-foetal immune interface and pregnancy? Parasite Immunol 2018; 41:e12606. [PMID: 30471137 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite which, depending on the geographical location, can infect between 10% and 90% of humans. Infection during pregnancy may result in congenital toxoplasmosis. The effects on the foetus vary depending on the stage of gestation in which primary maternal infection arises. A large body of research has focused on understanding immune response to toxoplasmosis, although few studies have addressed how it is affected by pregnancy or the pathological consequences of infection at the maternal-foetal interface. There is a lack of knowledge about how maternal immune cells, specifically macrophages, are modulated during infection and the resulting consequences for parasite control and pathology. Herein, we discuss the potential of T. gondii infection to affect the maternal-foetal interface and the potential of pregnancy to disrupt maternal immunity to T. gondii infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Borges
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tânia Magalhães Silva
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Brito
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natércia Teixeira
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Craig W Roberts
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|