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Zhang X, Liu J, Li M, Fu Y, Zhang T, Han Q, Liu Q. Role of an estradiol regulatory factor-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) in Toxoplasma gondii infection and pathogenicity. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 174:176-182. [PMID: 28887145 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and causes abortions and severe damage to the fetal central nervous system. During pregnancy, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis increases throughout the second and third quarter of gestation, while the hormones progesterone and estradiol simultaneously increase. Thus, it has been suggested that these hormones could affect parasite reproduction. This study was mainly focused on an estradiol regulatory factor-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) gene in T. gondii. Our data showed that estradiol promoted Pru (Type II) and VEG (Type III) infection and thus significantly contributed to the pathogenicity of T. gondii in mice. Subsequently, we found that this phenomenon may relate to the interplay of T. gondii and estradiol. We reported that estradiol can enter T. gondii tachyzoites. Bioinformatics analysis showed that T. gondii may have a residual estradiol metabolism-related gene HSD. To verify the gene function, HEK293T cells were transiently transfected with Tg-HSD and gene expression was induced. Then, HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis showed that Tg-HSD can efficiently transform estrone into estradiol. Moreover, Tg-HSD -overexpressing parasites showed significantly enhanced pathogenicity and upregulation of estradiol levels in mice. In conclusion, estradiol can promote T. gondii infection in vitro and in vivo, and this may be related to its Tg- HSD gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Muzi Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Yong Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Taotao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China
| | - Qian Han
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, and Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China
| | - Qun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, China.
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Abnormalities in the WFU strain ofTaenia crassiceps(Cyclophyllidea: Taeniidae) following years of propagation in mice. J Helminthol 2015; 90:533-8. [DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x15000668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAsexually proliferatingTaenia crassiceps(Zeder, 1800) metacestodes isolated within past decades have been successfully sub-cultured under experimental conditions usingMus musculusLinnaeus, 1758 mice. However, during their development, morphological irregularities of scolex structures have been reported in two of the three strains of this cestode species maintained in mice – ORF and KBS. The main goal of this work is to describe the abnormalities observed in a sample of 118 cysticerci of the thirdT.crassicepsstrain used at present – WFU. Morphological abnormalities were detected in 39.8% of the evaginated scoleces; they consisted of supernumerary suckers (n= 2), duplicated (n= 2) or absent rostellum (n= 1), as well as absent or aberrant (n= 29) hooks, which were significantly shorter when compared to the large and short hook lengths referred to in the literature.
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Romano MC, Jiménez P, Miranda-Brito C, Valdez RA. Parasites and steroid hormones: corticosteroid and sex steroid synthesis, their role in the parasite physiology and development. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:224. [PMID: 26175665 PMCID: PMC4484981 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In many cases parasites display highly complex life cycles that include the penetration and permanence of the larva or adults within host organs, but even in those that only have one host, reciprocal, intricate interactions occur. Evidence indicates that steroid hormones have an influence on the development and course of parasitic infections. The host gender's susceptibility to infection, and the related differences in the immune response are good examples of the host-parasite interplay. However, the capacity of these organisms to synthesize their own steroidogenic hormones still has more questions than answers. It is now well-known that many parasites synthesize ecdysteroids, but limited information is available on sex steroid and corticosteroid synthesis. This review intends to summarize some of the existing information in the field. In most, but not all parasitosis the host's hormonal environment determines the susceptibility, the course, and severity of parasite infections. In most cases the infection disturbs the host environment, and activates immune responses that end up affecting the endocrine system. Furthermore, sex steroids and corticosteroids may also directly modify the parasite reproduction and molting. Available information indicates that parasites synthesize some steroid hormones, such as ecdysteroids and sex steroids, and the presence and activity of related enzymes have been demonstrated. More recently, the synthesis of corticosteroid-like compounds has been shown in Taenia solium cysticerci and tapeworms, and in Taenia crassiceps WFU cysticerci. In-depth knowledge of the parasite's endocrine properties will contribute to understand their reproduction and reciprocal interactions with the host, and may also help designing tools to combat the infection in some clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta C Romano
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del IPN Mexico city, Mexico
| | - Pedro Jiménez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Animal, CINVESTAV-UAT Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Carolina Miranda-Brito
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del IPN Mexico city, Mexico
| | - Ricardo A Valdez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del IPN Mexico city, Mexico
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Valdez RA, Jiménez P, Fernández Presas AM, Aguilar L, Willms K, Romano MC. Taenia solium tapeworms synthesize corticosteroids and sex steroids in vitro. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 205:62-7. [PMID: 24793221 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 04/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cysticercosis is a disease caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium cestodes that belongs to the family Taeniidae that affects a number of hosts including humans. Taeniids tapeworms are hermaphroditic organisms that have reproductive units called proglottids that gradually mature to develop testis and ovaries. Cysticerci, the larval stage of these parasites synthesize steroids. To our knowledge there is no information about the capacity of T. solium tapeworms to metabolize progesterone or other precursors to steroid hormones. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to investigate if T. solium tapeworms were able to transform steroid precursors to corticosteroids and sex steroids. T. solium tapeworms were recovered from the intestine of golden hamsters that had been orally infected with cysticerci. The worms were cultured in the presence of tritiated progesterone or androstenedione. At the end of the experiments the culture media were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. The experiments described here showed that small amounts of testosterone were synthesized from (3)H-progesterone by complete or segmented tapeworms whereas the incubation of segmented tapeworms with (3)H-androstenedione, instead of (3)H-progesterone, improved their capacity to synthesize testosterone. In addition, the incubation of the parasites with (3)H-progesterone yielded corticosteroids, mainly deoxicorticosterone (DOC) and 11-deoxicortisol. In summary, the results described here, demonstrate that T. solium tapeworms synthesize corticosteroid and sex steroid like metabolites. The capacity of T. solium tapeworms to synthesize steroid hormones may contribute to the physiological functions of the parasite and also to their interaction with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Valdez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-745, 07360 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - P Jiménez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-745, 07360 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - A M Fernández Presas
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, México 04510, D.F., Mexico
| | - L Aguilar
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, México 04510, D.F., Mexico
| | - K Willms
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, México 04510, D.F., Mexico
| | - M C Romano
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-745, 07360 México, D.F., Mexico.
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Aceves-Ramos A, de la Torre P, Hinojosa L, Ponce A, García-Villegas R, Laclette JP, Bobes RJ, Romano MC. Cloning, characterization and functional expression of Taenia solium 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 203:186-92. [PMID: 24698785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17β-HSD) are key enzymes involved in the formation (reduction) and inactivation (oxidation) of sex steroids. Several types have been found in vertebrates including fish, as well as in invertebrates like Caenorhabditis elegans, Ciona intestinalis and Haliotis diversicolor supertexta. To date limited information is available about this enzyme in parasites. We showed previously that Taenia solium cysticerci are able to synthesize sex steroid hormones in vitro when precursors are provided in the culture medium. Here, we identified a T. solium 17β-HSD through in silico blast searches in the T. solium genome database. This coding sequence was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the pcDNA 3.1(+) expression vector. The full length cDNA contains 957bp, corresponding to an open reading frame coding for 319 aa. The highest identity (84%) at the protein level was found with the Echinococcus multilocularis 17β-HSD although significant similarities were also found with other invertebrate and vertebrate 17β-HSD sequences. The T. solium Tsol-17βHSD belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) protein superfamily. HEK293T cells transiently transfected with Tsol17β-HSD induced expression of Tsol17β-HSD that transformed 3H-androstenedione into testosterone. In contrast, 3H-estrone was not significantly transformed into estradiol. In conclusion, T. solium cysticerci express a 17β-HSD that catalyzes the androgen reduction. The enzyme belongs to the short chain dehydrogenases/reductase family and shares motifs and activity with the type 3 enzyme of some other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Aceves-Ramos
- Dpto. de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - P de la Torre
- Dpto. de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México, D.F., Mexico
| | - L Hinojosa
- Dpto. de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - A Ponce
- Dpto. de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - R García-Villegas
- Dpto. de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000 México, D.F., Mexico
| | - J P Laclette
- Dpto. de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México, D.F., Mexico
| | - R J Bobes
- Dpto. de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, México, D.F., Mexico
| | - M C Romano
- Dpto. de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV del I.P.N., Apdo. Postal 14-740, 07000 México, D.F., Mexico.
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