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Seydel CM, Gonzaga BMDS, Coelho LL, Garzoni LR. Exploring the Dimensions of Pre-Clinical Research: 3D Cultures as an Investigative Model of Cardiac Fibrosis in Chagas Disease. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1410. [PMID: 39061986 PMCID: PMC11274318 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) cell culture can more precisely mimic tissues architecture and functionality, being a promising alternative model to study disease pathophysiology and drug screening. Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected parasitosis that affects 7 million people worldwide. Trypanosoma cruzi's (T. cruzi) mechanisms of invasion/persistence continue to be elucidated. Benznidazole (BZ) and Nifurtimox (NF) are trypanocidal drugs with few effects on the clinical manifestations of the chronic disease. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the main manifestation of CD due to its frequency and severity. The development of fibrosis and hypertrophy in cardiac tissue can lead to heart failure and sudden death. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic options. Our group has more than fifteen years of expertise using 3D primary cardiac cell cultures, being the first to reproduce fibrosis and hypertrophy induced by T. cruzi infection in vitro. These primary cardiac spheroids exhibit morphological and functional characteristics that are similar to heart tissue, making them an interesting model for studying CD cardiac fibrosis. Here, we aim to demonstrate that our primary cardiac spheroids are great preclinical models which can be used to develop new insights into CD cardiac fibrosis, presenting advances already achieved in the field, including disease modeling and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (C.M.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (L.L.C.)
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Coelho LL, Vianna MM, da Silva DM, Gonzaga BMDS, Ferreira RR, Monteiro AC, Bonomo AC, Manso PPDA, de Carvalho MA, Vargas FR, Garzoni LR. Spheroid Model of Mammary Tumor Cells: Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Doxorubicin Response. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:463. [PMID: 39056658 PMCID: PMC11273983 DOI: 10.3390/biology13070463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. Therapeutic strategies to control tumors and metastasis are still challenging. Three-dimensional (3D) spheroid-type systems more accurately replicate the features of tumors in vivo, working as a better platform for performing therapeutic response analysis. This work aimed to characterize the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and doxorubicin (dox) response in a mammary tumor spheroid (MTS) model. We evaluated the doxorubicin treatment effect on MCF-7 spheroid diameter, cell viability, death, migration and proteins involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Spheroids were also produced from tumors formed from 4T1 and 67NR cell lines. MTSs mimicked avascular tumor characteristics, exhibited adherens junction proteins and independently produced their own extracellular matrix. Our spheroid model supports the 3D culturing of cells isolated from mice mammary tumors. Through the migration assay, we verified a reduction in E-cadherin expression and an increase in vimentin expression as the cells became more distant from spheroids. Dox promoted cytotoxicity in MTSs and inhibited cell migration and the EMT process. These results suggest, for the first time, that this model reproduces aspects of the EMT process and describes the potential of dox in inhibiting the metastatic process, which can be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lacerda Coelho
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
| | - Matheus Menezes Vianna
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
| | - Debora Moraes da Silva
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
| | - Beatriz Matheus de Souza Gonzaga
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
| | - Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
| | - Ana Carolina Monteiro
- Laboratory of Osteo and Tumor Immunology, Department of Immunobiology, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Rio de Janeiro 24020-150, Brazil;
- Thymus Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - Adriana Cesar Bonomo
- Thymus Research Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - Pedro Paulo de Abreu Manso
- Laboratory of Pathology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | | | - Fernando Regla Vargas
- Laboratory of Epidemiology of Congenital Malformations, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- Laboratory of Innovations in Therapies, Education and Bioproducts, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (L.L.C.); (M.M.V.); (D.M.d.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (R.R.F.)
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Chen S, Wang C, Meng Y, Li P, Pan Y, He M, Ni X. Nanofabrications of Erythrocyte Membrane-Coated Telmisartan Delivery System Effective for Radiosensitivity of Tumor Cells in Mice Model. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:1487-1508. [PMID: 38380147 PMCID: PMC10878400 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s441418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Radiation stimulates the secretion of tumor stroma and induces resistance, recurrence, and metastasis of stromal-vascular tumors during radiotherapy. The proliferation and activation of tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) are important reasons for the production of tumor stroma. Telmisartan (Tel) can inhibit the proliferation and activation of TAFs (resting TAFs), which may promote radiosensitization. However, Tel has a poor water solubility. Methods In this study, self-assembled telmisartan nanoparticles (Tel NPs) were prepared by aqueous solvent diffusion method to solve the insoluble problem of Tel and achieve high drug loading of Tel. Then, erythrocyte membrane (ECM) obtained by hypotonic lysis was coated on the surface of Tel NPs (ECM/Tel) for the achievement of in vivo long circulation and tumor targeting. Immunofluorescence staining, western blot and other biological techniques were used to investigate the effect of ECM/Tel on TAFs activation inhibition (resting effect) and mechanisms involved. The multicellular spheroids (MCSs) model and mouse breast cancer cells (4T1) were constructed to investigate the effect of ECM/Tel on reducing stroma secretion, alleviating hypoxia, and the corresponding promoting radiosensitization effect in vitro. A mouse orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer model was constructed to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of ECM/Tel on inhibiting breast cancer growth and lung metastasis of breast cancer. Results ECM/Tel showed good physiological stability and tumor-targeting ability. ECM/Tel could rest TAFs and reduce stroma secretion, alleviate hypoxia, and enhance penetration in tumor microenvironment. In addition, ECM/Tel arrested the cell cycle of 4T1 cells to the radiosensitive G2/M phase. In mouse orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer model, ECM/Tel played a superior role in radiosensitization and significantly inhibited lung metastasis of breast cancer. Conclusion ECM/Tel showed synergistical radiosensitization effect on both the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells, which is a promising radiosensitizer in the radiotherapy of stroma-vascular tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqing Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Meng
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pengyin Li
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiwen Pan
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213164, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mu He
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinye Ni
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Medical Physics, Changzhou, Jiangsu, 213003, People’s Republic of China
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Wu Z, Yu X, Zhang S, He Y, Guo W. Novel roles of PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs in human health and diseases. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:343. [PMID: 38031146 PMCID: PMC10685540 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01368-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNA has aroused great research interest recently, they play a wide range of biological functions, such as regulating cell cycle, cell proliferation, and intracellular substance metabolism. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are emerging small non-coding RNAs that are 24-31 nucleotides in length. Previous studies on piRNAs were mainly limited to evaluating the binding to the PIWI protein family to play the biological role. However, recent studies have shed more lights on piRNA functions; aberrant piRNAs play unique roles in many human diseases, including diverse lethal cancers. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of piRNAs expression and the specific functional roles of piRNAs in human diseases is crucial for developing its clinical applications. Presently, research on piRNAs mainly focuses on their cancer-specific functions but lacks investigation of their expressions and epigenetic modifications. This review discusses piRNA's biogenesis and functional roles and the recent progress of functions of piRNA/PIWI protein complexes in human diseases. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shuijun Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yuting He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Wenzhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Yang R, Xu T, Zhang L, Ge M, Yan L, Li J, Fu W. A single-cell atlas depicting the cellular and molecular features in human anterior cruciate ligamental degeneration: A single cell combined spatial transcriptomics study. eLife 2023; 12:e85700. [PMID: 37970848 PMCID: PMC10688969 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To systematically identify cell types in the human ligament, investigate how ligamental cell identities, functions, and interactions participated in the process of ligamental degeneration, and explore the changes of ligamental microenvironment homeostasis in the disease progression. Methods Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial RNA sequencing of approximately 49,356 cells, we created a comprehensive cell atlas of healthy and degenerated human anterior cruciate ligaments. We explored the variations of the cell subtypes' spatial distributions and the different processes involved in the disease progression, linked them with the ligamental degeneration process using computational analysis, and verified findings with immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining. Results We identified new fibroblast subgroups that contributed to the disease, mapped out their spatial distribution in the tissue and revealed two dynamic trajectories in the process of the degenerative process. We compared the cellular interactions between different tissue states and identified important signaling pathways that may contribute to the disease. Conclusions This cell atlas provides the molecular foundation for investigating how ligamental cell identities, biochemical functions, and interactions contributed to the ligamental degeneration process. The discoveries revealed the pathogenesis of ligamental degeneration at the single-cell and spatial level, which is characterized by extracellular matrix remodeling. Our results provide new insights into the control of ligamental degeneration and potential clues to developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Funding This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81972123, 82172508, 82372490) and 1.3.5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence of West China Hospital Sichuan University (ZYJC21030, ZY2017301).
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Yang
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Tianhao Xu
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Minghao Ge
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Liwei Yan
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jian Li
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Weili Fu
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery/ Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Rajavel A, Schmitt AO, Gültas M. Computational Identification of Master Regulators Influencing Trypanotolerance in Cattle. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020562. [PMID: 33429951 PMCID: PMC7827104 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is transmitted by the tsetse fly which carries pathogenic trypanosomes in its saliva, thus causing debilitating infection to livestock health. As the disease advances, a multistage progression process is observed based on the progressive clinical signs displayed in the host’s body. Investigation of genes expressed with regular monotonic patterns (known as Monotonically Expressed Genes (MEGs)) and of their master regulators can provide important clue for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the AAT disease. For this purpose, we analysed MEGs for three tissues (liver, spleen and lymph node) of two cattle breeds, namely trypanosusceptible Boran and trypanotolerant N’Dama. Our analysis revealed cattle breed-specific master regulators which are highly related to distinguish the genetic programs in both cattle breeds. Especially the master regulators MYC and DBP found in this study, seem to influence the immune responses strongly, thereby susceptibility and trypanotolerance of Boran and N’Dama respectively. Furthermore, our pathway analysis also bolsters the crucial roles of these master regulators. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into breed-specific master regulators which orchestrate the regulatory cascades influencing the level of trypanotolerance in cattle breeds and thus could be promising drug targets for future therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abirami Rajavel
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.R.); (A.O.S.)
| | - Armin Otto Schmitt
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.R.); (A.O.S.)
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, Georg-August University, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mehmet Gültas
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (A.R.); (A.O.S.)
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, Georg-August University, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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de Almeida Fiuza LF, Batista DDGJ, Nunes DF, Moreira OC, Cascabulho C, Soeiro MDNC. Benznidazole modulates release of inflammatory mediators by cardiac spheroids infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2020; 221:108061. [PMID: 33383023 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.108061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi remains a serious public health problem in Latin America. The available treatment is limited to two old drugs, benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox, which exhibit limited efficacy and trigger side effects, justifying the search for new therapies. Also, more accurate and sensitive experimental protocols for drug discovery programs are necessary to shrink the translational gaps found among pre-clinical and clinical trials. Presently, cardiac spheroids were used to evaluate host cell cytotoxicity and anti-T.cruzi activity of benznidazole, exploring its effect on the release of inflammatory mediators. Bz presented low toxic profile on 3D matrices (LC50 > 200 μM) and high potency in vitro (EC50 = 0.99 μM) evidenced by qPCR analysis of T.cruzi-infected cardiac spheroids. Flow cytometry appraisal of inflammatory mediators released at the cellular supernatant showed increases in IL - 6 and TNF contents (≈190 and ≈ 25-fold) in parasitized spheroids as compared to uninfected cultures. Bz at 10 μM suppressed parasite load (92%) concomitantly decreasing in IL-6 (36%) and TNF (68%). Our findings corroborate the successful use of 3D cardiac matrices for in vitro identification of novel anti-parasitic agents and potential impact in host cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Ferreira Nunes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacílio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cynthia Cascabulho
- Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Nisimura LM, Ferrão PM, Nogueira ADR, Waghabi MC, Meuser-Batista M, Moreira OC, Urbina JA, Garzoni LR. Effect of Posaconazole in an in vitro model of cardiac fibrosis induced by Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2020; 238:111283. [PMID: 32564978 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Posaconazole (POS) is an inhibitor of ergosterol biosynthesis in clinical use for treating invasive fungal infections. POS has potent and selective anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity and has been evaluated as a possible treatment for Chagas disease. Microtissues are a 3D culture system that has been shown to reproduce better tissue architecture and functionality than cell cultures in monolayer (2D). It has been used to evaluate chemotropic response as in vitro disease models. We previously developed an in vitro model that reproduces aspects of cardiac fibrosis observed in Chagas cardiomyopathy, using microtissues formed by primary cardiac cells infected by the T. cruzi, here called T. cruzi fibrotic cardiac microtissue (TCFCM). We also showed that the treatment of TCFCM with a TGF-β pathway inhibitor reduces fibrosis. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of POS in TCFCM, observing parasite load and molecules involved in fibrosis. To choose the concentration of POS to be used in TCFCM we first performed experiments in a monolayer of primary cardiac cell cultures and, based on the results, TCFCM was treated with 5 nM of POS for 96 h, starting at 144 h post-infection. Our previous studies showed that at this time the TCFCM had established fibrosis, resulting from T. cruzi infection. Treatment with POS of TCFCM reduced 50 % of parasite load as observed by real-time PCR and reduced markedly the fibrosis as observed by western blot and immunofluorescence, associated with a strong reduction in the expression of fibronectin and laminin (45 % and 54 %, respectively). POS treatment also changed the expression of proteins involved in the regulation of extracellular matrix proteins (TGF-β and TIMP-4, increased by 50 % and decreased by 58 %, respectively) in TCFCM. In conclusion, POS presented a potent trypanocidal effect both in 2D and in TCFCM, and the reduction of the parasite load was associated with a reduction of fibrosis in the absence of external immunological effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindice Mitie Nisimura
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Mello Ferrão
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alanderson da Rocha Nogueira
- Laboratório de Ultra-estrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mariana Caldas Waghabi
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Meuser-Batista
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Otacílio C Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Julio A Urbina
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Rodríguez ME, Rizzi M, Caeiro LD, Masip YE, Perrone A, Sánchez DO, Búa J, Tekiel V. Transmigration of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes through 3D cultures resembling a physiological environment. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13207. [PMID: 32270902 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
To disseminate and colonise tissues in the mammalian host, Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastogotes should cross several biological barriers. How this process occurs or its impact in the outcome of the disease is largely speculative. We examined the in vitro transmigration of trypomastigotes through three-dimensional cultures (spheroids) to understand the tissular dissemination of different T. cruzi strains. Virulent strains were highly invasive: trypomastigotes deeply transmigrate up to 50 μm inside spheroids and were evenly distributed at the spheroid surface. Parasites inside spheroids were systematically observed in the space between cells suggesting a paracellular route of transmigration. On the contrary, poorly virulent strains presented a weak migratory capacity and remained in the external layers of spheroids with a patch-like distribution pattern. The invasiveness-understood as the ability to transmigrate deep into spheroids-was not a transferable feature between strains, neither by soluble or secreted factors nor by co-cultivation of trypomastigotes from invasive and non-invasive strains. Besides, we demonstrated that T. cruzi isolates from children that were born congenitally infected presented a highly migrant phenotype while an isolate from an infected mother (that never transmitted the infection to any of her children) presented significantly less migration. In brief, we demonstrated that in a 3D microenvironment each strain presents a characteristic migration pattern that can be associated to their in vivo behaviour. Altogether, data presented here repositionate spheroids as a valuable tool to study host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Exequiel Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Rizzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas D Caeiro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yamil E Masip
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alina Perrone
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel O Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jacqueline Búa
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Tekiel
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. R. Ugalde" (IIBIO) Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Cardiac Chagas Disease: MMPs, TIMPs, Galectins, and TGF- β as Tissue Remodelling Players. DISEASE MARKERS 2019; 2019:3632906. [PMID: 31885735 PMCID: PMC6899287 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3632906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A century after the discovery of Chagas disease, studies are still needed to establish the complex pathophysiology of this disease. However, it is known that several proteins and molecules are related to the establishment of this disease, its evolution, and the appearance of its different clinical forms. Metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors, galectins, and TGF-β are involved in the process of infection and consequently the development of myocarditis, tissue remodeling, and fibrosis upon infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Thus, considering that the heart is one of the main target organs in Chagas disease, knowledge regarding the mechanisms of action of these molecules is essential to understand how they interact and trigger local and systemic reactions and, consequently, determine whether they contribute to the development of Chagas' heart disease. In this sense, it is believed that the inflammatory microenvironment caused by the infection alters the expression of these proteins favoring progression of the host-parasite cycle and thereby stimulating cardiac tissue remodeling mechanisms and fibrosis. The aim of this review was to gather information on metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors, galectins, and TGF-β and discuss how these molecules and their different interrelationships contribute to the development of Chagas' heart disease.
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11
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Silva TA, Ferreira LFDC, Pereira MCDS, Calvet CM. Differential Role of TGF-β in Extracellular Matrix Regulation During Trypanosoma cruzi-Host Cell Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4836. [PMID: 31569452 PMCID: PMC6801917 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20194836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a determinant for inflammation and fibrosis in cardiac and skeletal muscle in Chagas disease. To determine its regulatory mechanisms, we investigated the response of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes (CM), cardiac fibroblasts (CF), and L6E9 skeletal myoblasts to TGF-β. Cultures of CM, CF, and L6E9 were infected with T. cruzi (Y strain) and treated with TGF-β (1-10 ng/mL, 1 h or 48 h). Fibronectin (FN) distribution was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot (WB). Phosphorylated SMAD2 (PS2), phospho-p38 (p-p38), and phospho-c-Jun (p-c-Jun) signaling were evaluated by WB. CF and L6E9 showed an increase in FN from 1 ng/mL of TGF-β, while CM displayed FN modulation only after 10 ng/mL treatment. CF and L6E9 showed higher PS2 levels than CM, while p38 was less stimulated in CF than CM and L6E9. T. cruzi infection resulted in localized FN disorganization in CF and L6E9. T. cruzi induced an increase in FN in CF cultures, mainly in uninfected cells. Infected CF cultures treated with TGF-β showed a reduction in PS2 and an increase in p-p38 and p-c-Jun levels. Our data suggest that p38 and c-Jun pathways may be participating in the fibrosis regulatory process mediated by TGF-β after T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Araújo Silva
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Claudia Magalhães Calvet
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil.
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12
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Rodríguez ME, Rizzi M, Caeiro L, Masip Y, Sánchez DO, Tekiel V. Transmigration of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes through 3D Spheroids Mimicking Host Tissues. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:165-177. [PMID: 30868526 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While cellular invasion by T. cruzi trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigote replication are well-characterized events that have been described by using 2D monolayer cultures, other relevant parasite-host interactions, like the dynamics of tissue invasiveness, cannot be captured using monolayer cultures. Spheroids constitute a valuable three-dimensional (3D) culture system because they mimic the microarchitecture of tissues and provide an environment similar to the encountered in natural infections, which includes the presence of extracellular matrix as well as 3D cell-cell interactions. In this work, we describe a protocol for studying transmigration of T. cruzi trypomastigotes into 3D spheroids. In the experimental setup, cells and parasites are labelled with two fluorescent dyes, allowing their visualization by confocal microscopy. We also describe the general procedure and setting of the confocal microscope and downstream applications for acquisition and reconstruction of 3D images. This model was employed to analyze the transmigration of trypomastigotes from the highly virulent and pantropic RA T. cruzi strain. Of course, other aspects encountered by T. cruzi in the mammalian host environment can be studied with this methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Exequiel Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Rizzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Caeiro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yamil Masip
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel O Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Tekiel
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr R. Ugalde", IIBIO, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) - CONICET, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Dynamic matrisome: ECM remodeling factors licensing cancer progression and metastasis. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1870:207-228. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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