1
|
Castillo C, Díaz-Luján C, Liempi A, Fretes R, Kemmerling U. Mammalian placental explants: A tool for studying host-parasite interactions and placental biology. Placenta 2024:S0143-4004(24)00291-1. [PMID: 38910051 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The placenta plays a critical role in host-pathogen interactions. Thus, ex vivo infection of mammalian placental explants is an excellent and simple method to study the mechanisms of cellular and tissue invasion by different pathogens in different mammalian species. These explants can be maintained in culture for several days, preserving the tissue architecture and resembling in-utero conditions under more physiological conditions than their isolated counterparts in isolated cell culture models. In addition, placental explants not only allow us to study how the placenta responds and defends itself against various infections but also provide a versatile platform for advancing our understanding of placental biology and the immune response. Furthermore, they serve as powerful tools for drug discovery, facilitating the screening of potential therapeutics for placental infections and for the identification of diagnostic markers. This review highlights the utility of mammalian placental explants in studying the host-pathogen interaction of two relevant protozoan parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of Toxoplasmosis. Here, we discuss the different methodologies and technical aspects of the model, as well as the effect of both parasites on placental responses in human, canine, and ovine explants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Cintia Díaz-Luján
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, INICSA (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ricardo Fretes
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, INICSA (CONICET)-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba and Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Benizio E, Moreira-Espinoza MJ, Triquell MF, Mezzano L, Díaz-Luján CM, Fretes RE. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are modified during the multiplication of Trypanosoma cruzi within the placental chorionic villi and are associated with the level of infection via the signaling pathway NF-κB. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13777. [PMID: 37766400 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13777] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection has been associated with changes in the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ during the pregnancy. Therefore, we propose to study the participation and dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines in the infection process of placental explants infected by T. cruzi in vitro. METHOD OF STUDY Chorionic villous explants (CVE) obtained of human term placentas (n = 8) from normal pregnancies were cultured with 105 trypomastigotes/mL of Tulahuen strain DTU VI for 0, 2, 4, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h. Explants were treated with sulfasalazine (SULF) (5 mM) and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) (15 mM), as inhibitors molecules of NF-κB pathway, or LPS (1 μg/mL) for 24 and 72 h p.i. Motile trypomastigotes were counted in culture supernatants. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA for TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10 were performed in CVE and culture supernatants respectively. The parasite load was measured by RT-qPCR. RESULTS T. cruzi invades the chorionic villi from 4 h p.i. increasing significantly its DNA at 48 and 72 h p.i. of culture (parasite multiplication phase). They were detected in stromal cells, which was related to elevation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-10. The inhibition of NF-κB activity in the explants decreased the production of the analyzed cytokines, showing elevated levels of T. cruzi DNA during the multiplication phase of the parasite. CONCLUSIONS Placental tissue modifies the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines during the phase of parasite multiplication, but not during the invasion phase, which in turns modifies the level of infection via the signaling pathway NF-κB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evangelina Benizio
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (IAPCH), Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María José Moreira-Espinoza
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María Fernanda Triquell
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (IAPCH), Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Luciana Mezzano
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cintia M Díaz-Luján
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (IAPCH), Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ricardo E Fretes
- Institute and Cathedra of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Health Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba - INICSA (CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (IAPCH), Universidad Nacional de Villa María (UNVM), Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ex Vivo Infection of Human Placental Explants by Trypanosoma cruzi Reveals a microRNA Profile Similar to That Seen in Trophoblast Differentiation. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030361. [PMID: 35335686 PMCID: PMC8952303 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is responsible for 22.5% of new cases each year. However, placental transmission occurs in only 5% of infected mothers and it has been proposed that the epithelial turnover of the trophoblast can be considered a local placental defense against the parasite. Thus, Trypanosoma cruzi induces cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptotic cell death in the trophoblast, which are regulated, among other mechanisms, by small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs. On the other hand, ex vivo infection of human placental explants induces a specific microRNA profile that includes microRNAs related to trophoblast differentiation such as miR-512-3p miR-515-5p, codified at the chromosome 19 microRNA cluster. Here we determined the expression validated target genes of miR-512-3p and miR-515-5p, specifically human glial cells missing 1 transcription factor and cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein, as well as the expression of the main trophoblast differentiation marker human chorionic gonadotrophin during ex vivo infection of human placental explants, and examined how the inhibition or overexpression of both microRNAs affects parasite infection. We conclude that Trypanosoma cruzi-induced trophoblast epithelial turnover, particularly trophoblast differentiation, is at least partially mediated by placenta-specific miR-512-3p and miR-515-5p and that both miRNAs mediate placental susceptibility to ex vivo infection of human placental explants. Knowledge about the role of parasite-modulated microRNAs in the placenta might enable their use as biomarkers, as prognostic and therapeutic tools for congenital Chagas disease in the future.
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
Veas R, Rojas-Pirela M, Castillo C, Olea-Azar C, Moncada M, Ulloa P, Rojas V, Kemmerling U. Microalgae extracts: Potential anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents? Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 127:110178. [PMID: 32371317 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasiteTrypanosoma cruzi, has no effective treatment available. On the other hand, microalgae are aquatic organisms that constitute an interesting reservoir of biologically active metabolites. Moreover, some species of green and red algae present anti-protozoan activity. Our aim was to study the antiparasitic effects of aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic extracts from different microalgae. METHODS AND RESULTS Our results show that the methanolic extracts of S. obliquus and T. suecica as well as the ethanolic extracts of C. reinhardtii and T. suecica present trypanocidal activity on the infective extracellular trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. In addition, the ethanolic extract of C. reinhardtii potentiates the activity of the conventional antichagasic drug nifurtimox. In order to identify some potential compounds with trypanocidal activity, we performed a phytochemical screening analyzing the presence of phenolic compounds, pigments and terpenoids. CONCLUSION The different microalgae extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract ofC. reinhardtii, are promising potential candidates for the development of future natural antichagasic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda Veas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile; Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Claudio Olea-Azar
- Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380494, Chile
| | - Mauricio Moncada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile; Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380494, Chile
| | - Pablo Ulloa
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA-La Platina, Santiago de Chile 8831314, Chile
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile.
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hagström L, Marques ALP, Nitz N, Hecht MM. The use of qPCR in human Chagas disease: a systematic review. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:875-894. [DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1659729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Hagström
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ana Luisa Pereira Marques
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Nadjar Nitz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mariana Machado Hecht
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Biociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kemmerling U, Osuna A, Schijman AG, Truyens C. Congenital Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: A Review About the Interactions Between the Parasite, the Placenta, the Maternal and the Fetal/Neonatal Immune Responses. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1854. [PMID: 31474955 PMCID: PMC6702454 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Congenital transmission of CD is an increasingly relevant public health problem. It progressively becomes the main transmission route over others and can occur in both endemic and non-endemic countries. Though most congenitally infected newborns are asymptomatic at birth, they display higher frequencies of prematurity, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores compared to uninfected ones, and some suffer from severe symptoms. If not diagnosed and treated, infected newborns are at risk of developing disabling and life-threatening chronic pathologies later in life. The success or failure of congenital transmission depends on interactions between the parasite, the placenta, the mother, and the fetus. We review and discuss here the current knowledge about these parameters, including parasite virulence factors such as exovesicles, placental tropism, potential placental defense mechanisms, the placental transcriptome of infected women, gene polymorphism, and the maternal and fetal/neonatal immune responses, that might modulate the risk of T. cruzi congenital transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Grupo de Bioquímica y Parasitología Molecular, Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Alejandro Gabriel Schijman
- Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease Laboratory, Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology Research Institute Dr. Héctor Torres (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carine Truyens
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Herbach M, Cabrera G, Valenzuela L, Galanti N, de Los Angeles Curto M, Schijman AG, Kemmerling U. Differential infectivity of two Trypanosoma cruzi strains in placental cells and tissue. Acta Trop 2018; 186:35-40. [PMID: 30018029 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Congenital Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), has become epidemiologically relevant. The probability of congenital transmission depends on the maternal and developing fetal/newborn immune responses, placental factors and importantly, the virulence of the parasite. It has been proposed, that different genotypes of T. cruzi and their associated pathogenicity, virulence and tissue tropism may play an important role in congenital infection. Since there is no laboratory or animal model that recapitulates the complexities of vertical transmission in humans, here we studied parasite infectivity in human placental explants (HPE) as well as in the human trophoblast-derived cell line BeWo of the Y(DTU II) and the VD (TcVI) T. cruzi strains; the latter was isolated from a human case of congenital infection. Our results show that the VD strain is more infective and pathogenic than the Y strain, as demonstrated by qPCR and cell counting as well as by histopathological analysis. The present study constitutes the first approach to study the relationship between parasite two parasite strains from different genotypes and the infection efficiency in human placenta.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisvaneth Medina
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Mathias Herbach
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Cabrera
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Lucía Valenzuela
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Norbel Galanti
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - María de Los Angeles Curto
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Host-parasite interaction: changes in human placental gene expression induced by Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:479. [PMID: 30143027 PMCID: PMC6109360 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2988-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite endemic to Latin America. Most infections occur in children by vector or congenital transmission. Trypanosoma cruzi establishes a complexity of specific molecular parasite-host cell interactions to invade the host. However, most studies have been mainly focused on the interaction between the parasite and different cell types, but not on the infection and invasion on a tissue level. During congenital transmission, T. cruzi must cross the placental barrier, composed of epithelial and connective tissues, in order to infect the developing fetus. Here we aimed to study the global changes of transcriptome in the placental tissue after a T. cruzi challenge. Results Strong changes in gene expression profiling were found in the different experimental conditions, involving the reprogramming of gene expression in genes involved in the innate immune response. Conclusions Trypanosoma cruzi induces strong changes in genes involved in a wide range of pathways, especially those involved in immune response against infections. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2988-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
10
|
Castillo C, Muñoz L, Carrillo I, Liempi A, Gallardo C, Galanti N, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. Ex vivo infection of human placental chorionic villi explants with Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii induces different Toll-like receptor expression and cytokine/chemokine profiles. Am J Reprod Immunol 2017; 78. [PMID: 28328108 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii present, respectively, low and high congenital transmission rates. The placenta as an immune regulatory organ expresses TLRs, leading to the secretion of cytokines. Both parasites are recognized by TLR-2, TLR-4, and TLR-9. Here, we studied if the parasites induce differences in TLR protein expression, cytokine profiles, and whether receptor inhibition is related to parasite infection. METHOD OF STUDY Placental tissue explants were infected ex vivo with each parasite, TLRs protein expression, cytokine profile and parasite infection were determined by Western blotting, ELISA and qPCR. RESULTS Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii infection is related to TLR-2 and TLR-4/TLR-9, respectively. Trypanosoma cruzi elicits an increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 cytokine secretion whereas T. gondii only increases the secretion of IL-8. CONCLUSION The susceptibility of the placenta to each parasite is mediated partially by the innate immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Muñoz
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ileana Carrillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Gallardo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Norbel Galanti
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Díaz-Luján C, Triquell MF, Castillo C, Hardisson D, Kemmerling U, Fretes RE. Role of placental barrier integrity in infection by Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2016; 164:360-368. [PMID: 27686961 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
American trypanosomiasis has long been a neglected disease endemic in LatinAmerica, but congenital transmission has now spread Chagas disease to cause a global health problem. As the early stages of the infection of placental tissue and the vertical transmission by Trypanosoma cruzi are still not well understood, it is important to investigate the relevance of the first structure of the placental barrier in chorionic villi infection by T. cruzi during the initial stage of the infection. Explants of human chorionic villi from healthy pregnant women at term were denuded of their syncytiotrophoblast and co-cultured for 3h, 24h and 96h with 800,000 trypomastigotes (simulating acute infection). T. cruzi infected cells were identified by immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin-7 (+cytotrophoblast) and CD68 (+macrophages), and the infection was quantified. In placental tissue, the parasite load was analyzed by qPCR and microscopy, and the motile trypomastigotes were quantified in culture supernatant. In denuded chorionic villous, the total area occupied by the parasite (451.23μm2, 1.33%) and parasite load (RQ: 87) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the entire villous (control) (5.98μm2, 0.016%) (RQ:1) and with smaller concentration of nitric oxide. Stromal non-macrophage cells were infected as well as cytotrophoblasts and some macrophages, but with significant differences being observed. The parasite quantity in the culture supernatant was significantly higher (p<0.05) in denuded culture explants from 96h of culture. Although the human complete chorionic villi limited the infection, the detachment of the first structure of the placenta barrier (syncytiotrophoblast) increased both the infection of the villous stroma and the living trypomastigotes in the culture supernatant. Therefore structural and functional alterations to chorionic villi placental barrier reduce placental defenses and may contribute to the vertical transmission of Chagas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Díaz-Luján
- Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology Department, Facultad Cs. Médicas. Instituto de Biología Celular, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba-INICSA (CONICET), Argentina; Histology and Cytology, Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - M F Triquell
- Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology Department, Facultad Cs. Médicas. Instituto de Biología Celular, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba-INICSA (CONICET), Argentina
| | - C Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - D Hardisson
- Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - U Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - R E Fretes
- Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology Department, Facultad Cs. Médicas. Instituto de Biología Celular, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba-INICSA (CONICET), Argentina; Histology, Embryology and Genetic-IICSHUM, Health Department, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, Argentina; Histology and Cytology, Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Carrillo I, Droguett D, Castillo C, Liempi A, Muñoz L, Maya JD, Galanti N, Kemmerling U. Caspase-8 activity is part of the BeWo trophoblast cell defense mechanisms against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Exp Parasitol 2016; 168:9-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
13
|
Liempi A, Castillo C, Carrillo I, Muñoz L, Droguett D, Galanti N, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. A local innate immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi in the human placenta: The epithelial turnover of the trophoblast. Microb Pathog 2016; 99:123-129. [PMID: 27554274 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Congenital Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is partially responsible for the progressive globalization of Chagas disease despite of its low transmission rate. The probability of congenital transmission depends on complex interactions between the parasite, the maternal and fetus/newborn immune responses and placental factors, being the latter the least studied one. During transplacental transmission, the parasite must cross the placental barrier where the trophoblast, a continuous renewing epithelium, is the first tissue to have contact with the parasite. Importantly, the epithelial turnover is considered part of the innate immune system since pathogens, prior to cell invasion, must attach to the surface of cells. The trophoblast turnover involves cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptotic cell death, all of them are induced by the parasite. In the present review, we analyze the current evidence about the trophoblast epithelial turnover as a local placental innate immune response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Ileana Carrillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Lorena Muñoz
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Daniel Droguett
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile; Departamento de Estomatología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Chile
| | - Norbel Galanti
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Juiz NA, Cayo NM, Burgos M, Salvo ME, Nasser JR, Búa J, Longhi SA, Schijman AG. Human Polymorphisms in Placentally Expressed Genes and Their Association With Susceptibility to Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. J Infect Dis 2015; 213:1299-306. [PMID: 26597259 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is currently unclear why only a proportion of children born to Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mothers acquire the infection. We have examined the association of 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in genes coding for placental expression enzymes as genetic markers of susceptibility to congenital T. cruzi infection (hereafter, "congenital infection"): rs2014683 and rs1048988 in ALPP; rs11244787 and rs1871054 in ADAM12; rs243866, rs243865, rs17859821, rs243864, and rs2285053 in MMP2; and rs3918242 and rs2234681 in MMP9. METHODS Two groups of children born to mothers seropositive for T. cruzi were compared: 101 had congenital infection, and 116 were uninfected. Novel high-resolution melting and capillary electrophoresis genotyping techniques were designed and used. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis showed that mutations in rs11244787 and rs1871054 (in ADAM12) and rs243866, rs17859821, and rs2285053 (in MMP2) were associated with susceptibility to congenital infection. Multifactor dimensionality reduction revealed that genotyping results for rs11244787, rs1871054, rs243866, rs17859821 and rs243864 sites would be a good predictor of congenital infection. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an important role of human polymorphisms in proteins involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and the immune response during congenital infection. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the association between mutations in placentally expressed genes and susceptibility to congenital infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A Juiz
- Grupo de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular Dr Héctor N. Torres
| | - Nelly M Cayo
- Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy
| | - Marianela Burgos
- Servicio de Obstetricia, Departamento Materno Infantil, Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas
| | - Miriam E Salvo
- Servicio de Obstetricia, Departamento Materno Infantil, Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas
| | - Julio R Nasser
- Laboratorio de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Argentina
| | - Jacqueline Búa
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología Dr Mario Fatala Chaben, ANLIS, Buenos Aires
| | - Silvia A Longhi
- Grupo de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular Dr Héctor N. Torres
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Grupo de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular Dr Héctor N. Torres
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Droguett D, Castillo C, Leiva E, Theoduloz C, Schmeda-Hirschmann G, Kemmerling U. Efficacy of quercetin against chemically induced murine oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:2432-2438. [PMID: 26622865 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of head and neck cancer, and oxidative damage is associated with the development of OSCCs. Antioxidants have therefore been proposed for use as chemoprotective agents against different types of cancer. In the present study, the effect of the antioxidant quercetin, administered at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg/day, was investigated in an experimental murine model of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)-induced carcinogenesis. The survival of the treated animals, the plasmatic levels of reduced glutathione and the type and severity of lesions (according the International Histological Classification of Tumors and Bryne's Multifactorial Grading System for the Invasive Tumor Front) were assessed. Additionally, the organization of the extracellular matrix was analyzed by carbohydrate and collagen histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of the tumor markers proliferating cell nuclear antigen and mutated p53. The results indicate that, despite the promising effect of quercetin in other studies, this drug is ineffective as a chemoprotective agent against 4-NQO-induced OSCC in mice at the assayed doses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Droguett
- Department of Stomatology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile ; Program of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Program of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - Elba Leiva
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunohematology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Cristina Theoduloz
- Institute of Chemistry of Natural Resources, University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | | | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Program of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lee JS, Romero R, Han YM, Kim HC, Kim CJ, Hong JS, Huh D. Placenta-on-a-chip: a novel platform to study the biology of the human placenta. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015; 29:1046-54. [PMID: 26075842 DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2015.1038518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studying the biology of the human placenta represents a major experimental challenge. Although conventional cell culture techniques have been used to study different types of placenta-derived cells, current in vitro models have limitations in recapitulating organ-specific structure and key physiological functions of the placenta. Here we demonstrate that it is possible to leverage microfluidic and microfabrication technologies to develop a microengineered biomimetic model that replicates the architecture and function of the placenta. MATERIALS AND METHODS A "Placenta-on-a-Chip" microdevice was created by using a set of soft elastomer-based microfabrication techniques known as soft lithography. This microsystem consisted of two polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels separated by a thin extracellular matrix (ECM) membrane. To reproduce the placental barrier in this model, human trophoblasts (JEG-3) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded onto the opposite sides of the ECM membrane and cultured under dynamic flow conditions to form confluent epithelial and endothelial layers in close apposition. We tested the physiological function of the microengineered placental barrier by measuring glucose transport across the trophoblast-endothelial interface over time. The permeability of the barrier study was analyzed and compared to that obtained from acellular devices and additional control groups that contained epithelial or endothelial layers alone. RESULTS Our microfluidic cell culture system provided a tightly controlled fluidic environment conducive to the proliferation and maintenance of JEG-3 trophoblasts and HUVECs on the ECM scaffold. Prolonged culture in this model produced confluent cellular monolayers on the intervening membrane that together formed the placental barrier. This in vivo-like microarchitecture was also critical for creating a physiologically relevant effective barrier to glucose transport. Quantitative investigation of barrier function was conducted by calculating permeability coefficients and metabolic rates in varying conditions of barrier structure. The rates of glucose transport and metabolism were consistent with previously reported in vivo observations. CONCLUSION The "Placenta-on-a-Chip" microdevice described herein provides new opportunities to simulate and analyze critical physiological responses of the placental barrier. This system may be used to address the major limitations of existing placenta model systems and serve to enable research platforms for reproductive biology and medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Soo Lee
- a Interdisciplinary Program of Bioengineering, Seoul National University Graduate School , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Roberto Romero
- b Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development , NIH, Bethesda, MD and Detroit, MI , USA .,c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA .,d Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Michigan State University , East Lansing , MI , USA .,e Department of Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Yu Mi Han
- f Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Gyeonggi-do , Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Chan Kim
- g Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University , Seoul , Republic of Korea .,h Department of Biomedical Engineering , Seoul National University College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea .,i Department of Biomedical Engineering , Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul , Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Jai Kim
- j Department of Pathology , Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine , Seoul , Republic of Korea , and
| | - Joon-Seok Hong
- f Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Gyeonggi-do , Republic of Korea
| | - Dongeun Huh
- k Department of Bioengineering , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Liempi A, Castillo C, Duaso J, Droguett D, Sandoval A, Barahona K, Hernández A, Galanti N, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. Trypanosoma cruzi induces trophoblast differentiation: a potential local antiparasitic mechanism of the human placenta? Placenta 2014; 35:1035-42. [PMID: 25315217 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is responsible for one-third of new Chagas disease cases each year. During congenital transmission, the parasite breaks down the placental barrier formed by the trophoblast, basal laminae and villous stroma. The observation that only 5% of infected mothers transmit the parasite to the fetus implies that the placenta may impair parasite transmission. The trophoblast undergoes continuous epithelial turnover, which is considered part of innate immunity. Therefore, we propose that T. cruzi induces differentiation in the trophoblast as part of a local antiparasitic mechanism of the placenta. METHODS We analyzed β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and syncytin protein expression in HPCVE and BeWo cells using immunofluorescence and western blotting. Additionally, β-hCG secretion into the culture medium was measured by ELISA. We assessed the differentiation of trophoblastic cells in BeWo cells using the two-color fusion assay and by determining desmoplakin re-distribution. RESULTS T. cruzi trypomastigotes induce β-hCG secretion and protein expression as well as syncytin protein expression in HPCVE and BeWo cells. Additionally, the parasite induces the trophoblast fusion of BeWo cells. DISCUSSION T. cruzi induces differentiation of the trophoblast, which may contribute to increase the trophoblast turnover. The turnover could be a component of local antiparasitic mechanisms in the human placenta.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J Duaso
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Droguett
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Estomatología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Talca, Chile
| | - A Sandoval
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - K Barahona
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - A Hernández
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - N Galanti
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - J D Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - U Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gene expression changes induced by Trypanosoma cruzi shed microvesicles in mammalian host cells: relevance of tRNA-derived halves. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:305239. [PMID: 24812611 PMCID: PMC4000953 DOI: 10.1155/2014/305239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
At present, noncoding small RNAs are recognized as key players in novel forms of posttranscriptional gene regulation in most eukaryotes. However, canonical small RNA pathways seem to be lost or excessively simplified in some unicellular organisms including Trypanosoma cruzi which lack functional RNAi pathways. Recently, we reported the presence of alternate small RNA pathways in T. cruzi mainly represented by homogeneous populations of tRNA- and rRNA-derived small RNAs, which are secreted to the extracellular medium included in extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicle cargo could be delivered to other parasites and to mammalian susceptible cells promoting metacyclogenesis and conferring susceptibility to infection, respectively. Here we analyzed the changes in gene expression of host HeLa cells induced by extracellular vesicles from T. cruzi. As assessed by microarray assays a large set of genes in HeLa cells were differentially expressed upon incorporation of T. cruzi-derived extracellular vesicles. The elicited response modified mainly host cell cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, and immune responses pathways. Some genes were also modified by the most abundant tRNA-derived small RNAs included in extracellular vesicles. These data suggest that microvesicles secreted by T. cruzi could be relevant players in early events of the T. cruzi host cell interplay.
Collapse
|
19
|
Rojo G, Castillo C, Duaso J, Liempi A, Droguett D, Galanti N, Maya JD, López-Muñoz R, Kemmerling U. Toxic and therapeutic effects of Nifurtimox and Benznidazol on Trypanosoma cruzi ex vivo infection of human placental chorionic villi explants. Acta Trop 2014; 132:112-8. [PMID: 24462796 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Nifurtimox (Nfx) and Benznidazole (Bnz) are the only available drugs in use for the treatment of Chagas disease. These drugs are recommended but not fully validated in evidence-based medicine and reports about the differential toxicity of both drugs are controversial. Here, we evaluated the toxic and therapeutic effects of Nfx and Bnz on human placental chorionic villi explants (HPCVE) during ex vivo infection of Trypanosoma cruzi, performing histopathological, histochemical, immunohistochemical as well as immunofluorescence analysis of the tissue. Additionally, we determined the effect of both drugs on parasite load by real time PCR. Bnz prevents the parasite induced tissue damage in ex vivo infected HPCVE compared to Nfx, which is toxic per se. The presence of T. cruzi antigens and DNA in infected explants suggests that these drugs do not impair parasite invasion into the HPCVE. Additionally, our results confirm reports suggesting that Bnz is less toxic than Nfx and support the need for the development of more effective and better-tolerated drugs.
Collapse
|
20
|
Castillo C, Ramírez G, Valck C, Aguilar L, Maldonado I, Rosas C, Galanti N, Kemmerling U, Ferreira A. The interaction of classical complement component C1 with parasite and host calreticulin mediates Trypanosoma cruzi infection of human placenta. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2376. [PMID: 23991234 PMCID: PMC3749977 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background 9 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in Latin America, plus more than 300,000 in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Approximately 30% of infected individuals develop circulatory or digestive pathology. While in underdeveloped countries transmission is mainly through hematophagous arthropods, transplacental infection prevails in developed ones. Methodology/Principal Findings During infection, T. cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT) translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the area of flagellum emergence. There, TcCRT acts as virulence factor since it binds maternal classical complement component C1q that recognizes human calreticulin (HuCRT) in placenta, with increased parasite infectivity. As measured ex vivo by quantitative PCR in human placenta chorionic villi explants (HPCVE) (the closest available correlate of human congenital T. cruzi infection), C1q mediated up to a 3–5-fold increase in parasite load. Because anti-TcCRT and anti-HuCRT F(ab′)2 antibody fragments are devoid of their Fc-dependent capacity to recruit C1q, they reverted the C1q-mediated increase in parasite load by respectively preventing its interaction with cell-bound CRTs from both parasite and HPCVE origins. The use of competing fluid-phase recombinant HuCRT and F(ab′)2 antibody fragments anti-TcCRT corroborated this. These results are consistent with a high expression of fetal CRT on placental free chorionic villi. Increased C1q-mediated infection is paralleled by placental tissue damage, as evidenced by histopathology, a damage that is ameliorated by anti-TcCRT F(ab′)2 antibody fragments or fluid-phase HuCRT. Conclusions/Significance T. cruzi infection of HPCVE is importantly mediated by human and parasite CRTs and C1q. Most likely, C1q bridges CRT on the parasite surface with its receptor orthologue on human placental cells, thus facilitating the first encounter between the parasite and the fetal derived placental tissue. The results presented here have several potential translational medicine aspects, specifically related with the capacity of antibody fragments to inhibit the C1q/CRT interactions and thus T. cruzi infectivity. The Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan infects 9 million people in Latin America and increasing numbers in North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. It is an important neglected parasitic disease in the Americas with no safe treatment available. One third of those infected develops incapacitating pathology. While in poor countries transmission of the parasite is mainly through blood feeding insects, transplacental infection is increasingly important in developed regions. Herein we show that T. cruzi calreticulin (TcCRT), a multifunctional protein, exteriorized by the parasite, mediates infection of human placenta, since it binds human complement component C1, a “danger signal” detector. (Complement is an innate immune defense system, with more than 40 plasma or membrane-bound proteins). However, in a parasite strategy, maternal C1 is utilized to infect placenta. Fetal calreticulin (HuCRT) is also easily detectable in placental tissues that are in direct contact with maternal blood. Thus, C1q by bridging parasite and HuCRT mediates high increases in cultured placental tissue infection with damaging consequences. Complete reversion of C1-mediated infection and a decreased placental damage, is observed in the presence of anti-TcCRT and anti-HuCRT antibody fragments, or fluid-phase competing HuCRT. It remains to be determined whether these mechanisms also operate in other intracellular protozoa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Castillo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Castillo C, Villarroel A, Duaso J, Galanti N, Cabrera G, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. Phospholipase C gamma and ERK1/2 Mitogen Activated Kinase Pathways are differentially modulated by Trypanosoma cruzi during tissue invasion in human placenta. Exp Parasitol 2013; 133:12-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|