1
|
Othman B, Zeef L, Szestak T, Rchiad Z, Storm J, Askonas C, Satyam R, Madkhali A, Haley M, Wagstaff S, Couper K, Pain A, Craig A. Different PfEMP1-expressing Plasmodium falciparum variants induce divergent endothelial transcriptional responses during co-culture. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295053. [PMID: 38033133 PMCID: PMC10688957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of mortality and morbidity caused by malaria infection and differs from other human malaria species in the degree of accumulation of parasite-infected red blood cells in the microvasculature, known as cytoadherence or sequestration. In P. falciparum, cytoadherence is mediated by a protein called PfEMP1 which, due to its exposure to the host immune system, undergoes antigenic variation resulting in the expression of different PfEMP1 variants on the infected erythrocyte membrane. These PfEMP1s contain various combinations of adhesive domains, which allow for the differential engagement of a repertoire of endothelial receptors on the host microvasculature, with specific receptor usage associated with severe disease. We used a co-culture model of cytoadherence incubating human brain microvascular endothelial cells with erythrocytes infected with two parasite lines expressing different PfEMP1s that demonstrate different binding profiles to vascular endothelium. We determined the transcriptional profile of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) following different incubation periods with infected erythrocytes, identifying different transcriptional profiles of pathways previously found to be involved in the pathology of severe malaria, such as inflammation, apoptosis and barrier integrity, induced by the two PfEMP1 variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Basim Othman
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Zeef
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Tadge Szestak
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Zineb Rchiad
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, KSA
| | - Janet Storm
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Askonas
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, KSA
| | - Rohit Satyam
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, KSA
| | - Aymen Madkhali
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Haley
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Wagstaff
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Couper
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, KSA
| | - Alister Craig
- Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
An update on cerebral malaria for therapeutic intervention. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10579-10591. [PMID: 35670928 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07625-5] [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: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral malaria is often pronounced as a major life-threatening neurological complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The complex pathogenic landscape of the parasite and the associated neurological complications are still not elucidated properly. The growing concerns of drugresistant parasite strains along with the failure of anti-malarial drugs to subdue post-recovery neuro-cognitive dysfunctions in cerebral malaria patients have called for a demand to explore novel biomarkers and therapeutic avenues. Due course of the brain infection journey of the parasite, events such as sequestration of infected RBCs, cytoadherence, inflammation, endothelial activation, and blood-brain barrier disruption are considered critical. METHODS In this review, we briefly summarize the diverse pathogenesis of the brain-invading parasite associated with loss of the blood-brain barrier integrity. In addition, we also discuss proteomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics strategies to identify an array of new biomarkers and drug candidates. CONCLUSION A proper understanding of the parasite biology and mechanism of barrier disruption coupled with emerging state-of-art therapeutic approaches could be helpful to tackle cerebral malaria.
Collapse
|
3
|
Li J, Zhou L, Li Z, Yang S, Tang L, Gong H. Identification of Crucial Genes and Infiltrating Immune Cells Underlying Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy via Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis. Front Genet 2022; 12:812509. [PMID: 35003233 PMCID: PMC8740124 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.812509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC), with a possibly reversible cardiac dysfunction, is a potential complication of septic shock. Despite quite a few mechanisms including the inflammatory mediator, exosomes, and mitochondrial dysfunction, having been confirmed in the existing research studies we still find it obscure about the overall situation of gene co-expression that how they can affect the pathological process of SIC. Thus, we intended to find out the crucial hub genes, biological signaling pathways, and infiltration of immunocytes underlying SIC. It was weighted gene co-expression network analysis that worked as our major method on the ground of the gene expression profiles: hearts of those who died from sepsis were compared to hearts donated by non-failing humans which could not be transplanted for technical reasons (GSE79962). The top 25 percent of variant genes were abstracted to identify 10 co-expression modules. In these modules, brown and green modules showed the strongest negative and positive correlation with SIC, which were primarily enriched in the bioenergy metabolism, immunoreaction, and cell death. Next, nine genes (LRRC39, COQ10A, FSD2, PPP1R3A, TNFRSF11B, IL1RAP, DGKD, POR, and THBS1) including two downregulated and seven upregulated genes which were chosen as hub genes that meant the expressive level of which was higher than the counterparts in control groups. Then, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) demonstrated a close relationship of hub genes to the cardiac metabolism and the necroptosis and apoptosis of cells in SIC. Concerning immune cells infiltration, a higher level of neutrophils and B cells native and a lower level of mast cells resting and plasma cells had been observed in patients with SIC. In general, nine candidate biomarkers were authenticated as a reliable signature for deeper exploration of basic and clinical research studies on SIC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juexing Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shangneng Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangyue Tang
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Internal Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhou L, Li Z, Li J, Yang S, Gong H. Detecting imperative genes and infiltrating immune cells in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy by bioinformatics analysis. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 95:105079. [PMID: 34509648 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is an acquired inflammatory cardiomyopathy triggered by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Although microvascular and neurogenic dysfunction and inflammation with persistent parasite presence in the heart may play a major pathogenetic role, little is known about the overall picture of gene co-expression regulating CCC. In this study, we aimed to explore the key biological pathways, hub genes and the landscope of infiltrating immune cells associated with inflammation in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted based on the gene expression profiles from patients with and without chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (GSE84796). Twelve coexpression modules were identified from the top 25% variant genes. Among them, the turquoise and black module were significantly positively correlated with CCC, which were highly enriched in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, the Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,NF-kappa B signaling pathway and T cell receptor signaling pathway. In addition, four genes (TBX21, ZAP70,IL2RB and CD69) were selected as candidate hub genes. Gene expression for hub genes were higher in CCC tissues compared to tissues from healthy controls. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis showed that high expressions of these hub genes were significantly correlated with interferon α response and interferon γ response. The microarray dataset GSE41089 further confirmed that although CD69 was not detected, the expression of TBX21, IL2RB and ZAP70 was also significantly up-regulated in the CCC mice compared to controls. We further studied the immune cells infiltration in CCC patients with CIBERSORT. The fraction of Mast cells activated,T cells CD8 and T cells gamma delta were significantly increased in CCC patients compared with control. Our research provides a more effective understanding of the pathogenesis of CCC and could help in future strategies for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for CCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Juexing Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Shangneng Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China.
| |
Collapse
|