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Xia J, Yang Y, Chen X, Song K, Ma G, Yang Y, Yao C, Du A. An apicoplast-localized deubiquitinase contributes to the cell growth and apicoplast homeostasis of Toxoplasma gondii. Vet Res 2024; 55:10. [PMID: 38233899 PMCID: PMC10795397 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01261-y] [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: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is among the most important parasites worldwide. The apicoplast is a unique organelle shared by all Apicomplexan protozoa. Increasing lines of evidence suggest that the apicoplast possesses its own ubiquitination system. Deubiquitination is a crucial step executed by deubiquitinase (DUB) during protein ubiquitination. While multiple components of ubiquitination have been identified in T. gondii, the deubiquitinases involved remain unknown. The aim of the current study was to delineate the localization of TgOTU7 and elucidate its functions. TgOTU7 was specifically localized at the apicoplast, and its expression was largely regulated during the cell cycle. Additionally, TgOTU7 efficiently breaks down ubiquitin chains, exhibits linkage-nonspecific deubiquitinating activity and is critical for the lytic cycle and apicoplast biogenesis, similar to the transcription of the apicoplast genome and the nuclear genes encoding apicoplast-targeted proteins. Taken together, the results indicate that the newly described deubiquitinase TgOTU7 specifically localizes to the apicoplast and affects the cell growth and apicoplast homeostasis of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xia
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yimin Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueqiu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kaiyue Song
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
| | - Aifang Du
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, Zhejiang, China.
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Cañedo-Solares I, Correa D, Luna-Pastén H, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Gómez-Chávez F, Xicoténcatl-García L, García LD, Canfield-Rivera CE. Maternal anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies IgG2, IgG3 and IgG1 are markers of vertical transmission and clinical evolution of toxoplasmosis in the offspring. Acta Trop 2023; 243:106943. [PMID: 37172708 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted vertically during pregnancy and may cause neurological, ocular, and even systemic damage to the offspring. Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can be diagnosed during gestation and/or after birth in the postnatal period. The timely diagnosis is highly relevant for efficient clinical management. The most common laboratory methods for diagnosing CT are based on Toxoplasma-specific humoral immune responses. However, these methods are of low sensitivity or specificity. In a previous study with a small number of cases, the comparison of anti-T. gondii IgG subclasses between mothers and their offspring showed promising results for CT diagnosis and prognosis. Thus, in this work, we analyzed specific IgG subclasses and IgA in 40 T. gondii-infected mothers and their children, of which 27 were congenitally infected and 13 uninfected. A higher frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgA antibodies was observed in mothers and congenitally infected offspring. Of these, IgG2 or IgG3 were statistically the most conspicuous. In the CT group, maternal IgG3 antibodies were significantly associated with severe disease of the infants and IgG1 and IgG3 with disseminated disease. The results support that maternal anti-T. gondii IgG3, IgG2 and IgG1 are markers of congenital transmission and severity/spread of disease in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México.
| | - Dolores Correa
- Dirección de Investigación / Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac, México.
| | - Hector Luna-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México
| | - Luz Belinda Ortiz-Alegría
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México
| | - Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México; Laboratorio de Enfermedades Osteoarticulares e Inmunológicas, Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, ENMyH - IPN, México
| | - Lizbeth Xicoténcatl-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México
| | - Luisa Díaz- García
- Departamento de Metodología de la Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, México
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Faral-Tello P, Pagotto R, Bollati-Fogolín M, Francia ME. Modeling the human placental barrier to understand Toxoplasma gondii´s vertical transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1130901. [PMID: 36968102 PMCID: PMC10034043 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1130901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite that can infect virtually any warm-blooded animal. Acquired infection during pregnancy and the placental breach, is at the core of the most devastating consequences of toxoplasmosis. T. gondii can severely impact the pregnancy’s outcome causing miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, babies with hydrocephalus, microcephaly or intellectual disability, and other later onset neurological, ophthalmological or auditory diseases. To tackle T. gondii’s vertical transmission, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions at the maternal-fetal interface. Nonetheless, the complexity of the human placenta and the ethical concerns associated with its study, have narrowed the modeling of parasite vertical transmission to animal models, encompassing several unavoidable experimental limitations. Some of these difficulties have been overcome by the development of different human cell lines and a variety of primary cultures obtained from human placentas. These cellular models, though extremely valuable, have limited ability to recreate what happens in vivo. During the last decades, the development of new biomaterials and the increase in stem cell knowledge have led to the generation of more physiologically relevant in vitro models. These cell cultures incorporate new dimensions and cellular diversity, emerging as promising tools for unraveling the poorly understood T. gondii´s infection mechanisms during pregnancy. Herein, we review the state of the art of 2D and 3D cultures to approach the biology of T. gondii pertaining to vertical transmission, highlighting the challenges and experimental opportunities of these up-and-coming experimental platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Romina Pagotto
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Maria E. Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Maria E. Francia,
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Dos Santos PV, de Toledo DNM, de Souza DMS, Menezes TP, Perucci LO, Silva ZM, Teixeira DC, Vieira EWR, de Andrade-Neto VF, Guimarães NS, Talvani A. The imbalance in the relationship between inflammatory and regulatory cytokines during gestational toxoplasmosis can be harmful to fetuses: A systematic review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1074760. [PMID: 36742306 PMCID: PMC9889920 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1074760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the available information on inflammatory and regulatory plasma mediators in pregnant women (PW) diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. Source: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Lilacs databases were evaluated until October 2022. Study eligibility criteria: This review was carried out following the PRISMA and registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42020203951). Studies that reported inflammatory mediators in PW with toxoplasmosis were considered. Evaluation methods After excluding duplicate articles, two authors independently carried out the process of title and abstract exclusion, and a third resolved disagreements when necessary. The full text was evaluated to detect related articles. The extraction table was built from the following data: Author, year of publication, journal name and impact factors, country, study design, number of gestations and maternal age (years), gestational period, diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, levels of inflammatory markers, laboratory tests, and clinical significance. Methodological quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Results Of the 1,024 studies reported, only eight were included. Of the 868 PW included in this review, 20.2% were IgM+/IgG- and 50.8% were IgM-/IgG+ to T. gondii, and 29.0% uninfected. Infected PW presented higher plasma levels ofIL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, CCL5, and IL-10. Regarding the methodological quality, four studies obtained high quality. Data from this review pointed out the maintenance of the inflammatory pattern during pregnancy with a closely related to the parasite. Conclusion Immune status in PW defined the course of the T. gondii infection, where the equilibrium between inflammatory and regulatory cytokines mitigated the harmful placenta and fetus effects. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420203951.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Vilela Dos Santos
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Débora Nonato Miranda de Toledo
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Débora Maria Soares de Souza
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Prata Menezes
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiza Oliveira Perucci
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Zolder Marinho Silva
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Ed Wilson Rodrigues Vieira
- Department of Maternal and Child Nursing and Public Health, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
- Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of the Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Nathalia Sernizon Guimarães
- Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - André Talvani
- Laboratory of the Immunobiology of Inflammation, Department of Biological Sciences/Institute of Exact and Biological Sciences (ICEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Health and Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.,Graduate Program of Health Science, Infectiology and Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Vargas-Villavicencio JA, Cañedo-Solares I, Correa D. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM Long Persistence: What Are the Underlying Mechanisms? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081659. [PMID: 36014077 PMCID: PMC9415799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii acute infection was first attempted by detection of specific IgM antibodies, as for other infectious diseases. However, it was noted that this immunoglobulin declines slowly and may last for months or even years. Apart from the diagnostic problem imposed on clinical management, this phenomenon called our attention due to the underlying phenomena that may be causing it. We performed a systematic comparison of reports studying IgM antibody kinetics, and the data from the papers were used to construct comparative plots and other graph types. It became clear that this phenomenon is quite generalized, and it may also occur in animals. Moreover, this is not a technical issue, although some tests make more evident the prolonged IgM decay than others. We further investigated biological reasons for its occurrence, i.e., infection dynamics (micro-reactivation–encystment, reinfection and reactivation), parasite strain relevance, as well as host innate, natural B cell responses and Ig class-switch problems inflicted by the parasite. The outcomes of these inquiries are presented and discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irma Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Dolores Correa
- Dirección de Investigación/Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, FCS, Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte, Av Universidad Anáhuc 46, Lomas Anáhuac, Huixquilucan 52786, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-(55)-5627-0210-7637
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Holec-Gąsior L, Sołowińska K. IgG Avidity Test as a Tool for Discrimination between Recent and Distant Toxoplasma gondii Infection—Current Status of Studies. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11030052. [PMID: 35997346 PMCID: PMC9397011 DOI: 10.3390/antib11030052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of one of the most prevalent zoonoses worldwide. T. gondii infection is extremely important from a medical point of view, especially for pregnant women, newborns with congenital infections, and immunocompromised individuals. Thus, an accurate and proper diagnosis of this infection is essential. Among the available diagnostic tests, serology is commonly used. However, traditional serological techniques have certain limitations in evaluating the duration of T. gondii infection, which is problematic, especially for pregnant women. Avidity of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies seems to be a significant tool for discrimination between recent and distant infections. This article describes the problem of diagnosis of T. gondii infection, with regard to IgG avidity tests. The IgG avidity test is a useful serological indicator of toxoplasmosis, which in many cases can confirm or exclude the active form of the disease. IgG antibodies produced in the recent primary T. gondii infection are of low avidity while IgG antibodies with high avidity are detected in the chronic phase of infection. Furthermore, this paper presents important topics of current research that concern the usage of parasite recombinant antigens that may improve the performance of IgG avidity tests.
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Vertical transmission and pathological findings in the mother, the placenta and the offspring, during first and last thirds of gestation in a mouse model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102640. [PMID: 35933034 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We performed a study of congenital toxoplasmosis of the first and third gestation periods in mice, and determined its effects on the embryos/fetuses, the placentae and the maternal organs. We infected pregnant BALB/c mice by i.v. injection of 2.5-10.0 × 106 tachyzoites of the ME49 T. gondii strain and euthanized them 72 h later. The tissues were analyzed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and parasite-specific qPCR. Infections with the lowest dose induced remarkably different changes in the two thirds: a) all doses diminished the number of products/litter, the lowest dose only by 14%; but most embryos still visible were degenerated in the case of the first period, while the fetuses of the last third were perfectly preserved; b) the transmission rate in the first third was relatively high, but with a very low parasite burden; c) with the lowest dose, strong vascular changes (congestion, thrombosis and hemorrhage) predominated in the placentas of the first period, while they were absent in the last third; d) necrosis caused by T. gondii to maternal organs was much stronger during the last gestation period than in the first. Our results suggest that the vascular alterations at the placenta of the first third of pregnancy prevent embryo from large parasite burden, but provoke its death by starvation. In the last gestation period, there was poor control of parasite dissemination to the placenta and the fetus, but there was greater capacity of the product to defend itself from T. gondii.
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Bonifácio LG, Melo M, Ayo CM, Assoni LCP, Olímpio LM, Nogueira MR, Spegiorin LCJF, Barbosa DMU, de Mattos LC, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Brandão CC. TNFα rs1799964 TT genotype may be a susceptibility factor for vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and clinical signs in newborns from pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:4759-4768. [PMID: 35332413 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07327-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the main impacts of Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs during pregnancy and is related to the vertical transmission of the parasite (congenital toxoplasmosis), which can cause severe clinical outcomes and fetal death. During acute infection, in order to control the rapid replication of tachyzoites, different host immune response genes are activated, and these include cytokine-encoding genes. Considering that polymorphisms in cytokine genes may increase susceptibility to vertical transmission of T. gondii by determining the immune status of the pregnant woman, this study evaluated the influence of polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) rs1799964 (- 1031) and interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) rs16944 (- 511) genes on gestational toxoplasmosis and on the vertical transmission of the parasite and verified the allele and genotype frequency of these polymorphisms in pregnant patients whose respective newborn did or did not present clinical abnormalities suggestive of congenital toxoplasmosis. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 204 pregnant patients with (n = 114) or without (n = 90) infection by T. gondii were enrolled. No associations were found involving the polymorphisms rs1799964 (- 1031) of the TNFα gene and rs16944 (- 511) of the IL1β gene with the increased chance of T. gondii infection during pregnancy. However, it was observed that the maternal TT genotype referring to the polymorphism of the TNFα gene seems to influence the vertical transmission of the parasite (P = 0.01; χ2 = 6.05) and the presence of clinical manifestation in newborns from pregnancies with acute toxoplasmosis (P = 0.007; χ2 = 9.68). CONCLUSION The TNFα rs1799964 TT genotype may act as a susceptibility factor for the vertical transmission of parasite and for the presence of clinical signs in newborns from pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Gonzalez Bonifácio
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Mirele Melo
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Christiane Maria Ayo
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Letícia Carolina Paraboli Assoni
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Larissa Martins Olímpio
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Mariana Reis Nogueira
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | - Lígia Cosentino Junqueira Franco Spegiorin
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil.,High Risk Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic of Hospital de Base, Regional Medical Faculty Foundation of São José do Rio Preto (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Deusenia Machado Ulisses Barbosa
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil.,Pediatric Outpatient Clinic of Hospital de Base, Regional Medical Faculty Foundation of São José do Rio Preto (HB-FUNFARME), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos de Mattos
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil
| | | | - Cinara Cássia Brandão
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15090-000, Brazil.
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Nihad Baqer N, Shihab Ahmed N, Jabbar Saheb E. The association between serum level and genetic variation of IL-3 (rs40401) in recurrent abortion women infected with toxoplasmosis in Iraq. Cytokine 2022; 149:155718. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Rojas-Pirela M, Medina L, Rojas MV, Liempi AI, Castillo C, Pérez-Pérez E, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Araneda S, Kemmerling U. Congenital Transmission of Apicomplexan Parasites: A Review. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:751648. [PMID: 34659187 PMCID: PMC8519608 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.751648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are a group of pathogenic protists that cause various diseases in humans and animals that cause economic losses worldwide. These unicellular eukaryotes are characterized by having a complex life cycle and the ability to evade the immune system of their host organism. Infections caused by some of these parasites affect millions of pregnant women worldwide, leading to various adverse maternal and fetal/placental effects. Unfortunately, the exact pathogenesis of congenital apicomplexan diseases is far from being understood, including the mechanisms of how they cross the placental barrier. In this review, we highlight important aspects of the diseases caused by species of Plasmodium, Babesia, Toxoplasma, and Neospora, their infection during pregnancy, emphasizing the possible role played by the placenta in the host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ana Isabel Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Araneda
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Goldberg-Murow M, Cedillo-Peláez C, Concha-Del-Río LE, Cheja-Kalb R, Salgar-Henao MJ, Orozco-Velasco E, Luna-Pastén H, Gómez-Chávez F, Ibarra A, Correa D. Autoantibodies Against Ubiquitous and Confined Antigens in Patients With Ocular, Neuro-Ophthalmic and Congenital Cerebral Toxoplasmosis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:606963. [PMID: 34054794 PMCID: PMC8149787 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.606963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection can trigger autoreactivity by different mechanisms. In the case of ocular toxoplasmosis, disruption of the blood-retinal barrier may cause exposure of confined retinal antigens such as recoverin. Besides, cross-reactivity can be induced by molecular mimicry of parasite antigens like HSP70, which shares 76% identity with the human ortholog. Autoreactivity can be a determining factor of clinical manifestations in the eye and in the central nervous system. We performed a prospective observational study to determine the presence of autoantibodies against recoverin and HSP70 by indirect ELISA in the serum of 65 patients with ocular, neuro-ophthalmic and congenital cerebral toxoplasmosis. We found systemic autoantibodies against recoverin and HSP70 in 33.8% and 15.6% of individuals, respectively. The presence of autoantibodies in cases of OT may be related to the severity of clinical manifestations, while in cases with CNS involvement they may have a protective role. Unexpectedly, anti-recoverin antibodies were found in patients with cerebral involvement, without ocular toxoplasmosis; therefore, we analyzed and proved cross-reactivity between recoverin and a brain antigen, hippocalcin, so the immunological phenomenon occurring in one immune-privileged organ (e.g. the central nervous system) could affect the environment of another (egg. the eye).
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Goldberg-Murow
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Exprimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico.,Centro de Investigación de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac, Huixquilucan, Mexico
| | - Carlos Cedillo-Peláez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Exprimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Luz Elena Concha-Del-Río
- Clínica de Enfermedades Inflamatorias Oculares, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, I.A.P., CDMX, Mexico
| | - Rashel Cheja-Kalb
- Clínica de Enfermedades Inflamatorias Oculares, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, I.A.P., CDMX, Mexico
| | - María José Salgar-Henao
- Clínica de Enfermedades Inflamatorias Oculares, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, I.A.P., CDMX, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Orozco-Velasco
- Clínica de Enfermedades Inflamatorias Oculares, Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México, I.A.P., CDMX, Mexico
| | - Héctor Luna-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Exprimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Exprimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico.,Cátedras CONACyT-Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico.,Departamento de Formación Básica Disciplinaria, ENMyH-IPN, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ibarra
- Centro de Investigación de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac, Huixquilucan, Mexico
| | - Dolores Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Exprimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, Mexico
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12
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Conceição AR, Belucik DN, Missio L, Gustavo Brenner L, Henrique Monteiro M, Ribeiro KS, Costa DF, Valadão MCDS, Commodaro AG, de Oliveira Dias JR, Belfort R. Ocular Findings in Infants with Congenital Toxoplasmosis after a Toxoplasmosis Outbreak. Ophthalmology 2021; 128:1346-1355. [PMID: 33711379 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated the prevalence of ocular abnormalities in infants vertically exposed to Toxoplasma gondii infection during an outbreak in Santa Maria City, Brazil. DESIGN Consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS A total of 187 infants were included. METHODS The infants were recruited from January 2018 to November 2019. All mothers were screened for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus before delivery. Toxoplasmosis infection was confirmed in all mothers and infants based on the presence of serum anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. All infants underwent an ophthalmologic examination; ocular abnormalities were documented using a wide-field digital imaging system. Neonatal cranial sonography or head computed tomography was performed in 181 infants, and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was screened for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in 159 infants. Peripheral blood samples from 9 infants and their mothers were analyzed for the presence of T. gondii DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ocular abnormalities associated with congenital toxoplasmosis. RESULTS A total of 187 infants were examined. Twenty-nine infants (15.5%) had congenital toxoplasmosis, of whom 19 (10.2%) had ocular abnormalities, including retinochoroiditis in 29 of 38 eyes (76.3%), optic nerve abnormalities in 5 eyes (13.2%), microphthalmia in 1 eye (2.6%), and cataract in 2 eyes (5.3%). Bilateral retinal choroidal lesions were found in 10 of 19 infants (52.6%). Nine eyes of 6 infants had active lesions, with retinal choroidal cellular infiltrates at the first examination. Thirteen (7.2%) of 181 infants screened presented with cerebral calcifications. Eighty-three percent of the screened infants were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG and negative for IgM antibodies in the CSF. Congenital toxoplasmosis was higher in mothers infected during the third pregnancy trimester, and maternal treatment during pregnancy was not associated with a lower rate of congenital toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSIONS High prevalence rates of clinical manifestations were observed in infants with congenital toxoplasmosis after a waterborne toxoplasmosis outbreak, the largest yet described. Cerebral calcifications were higher in infants with ocular abnormalities, and maternal infection during the third pregnancy trimester was associated with a higher rate of congenital toxoplasmosis independent of maternal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lilian Missio
- Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | - Kleber Silva Ribeiro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Deise Fialho Costa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Vision Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rubens Belfort
- Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Vision Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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13
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S Al-Malki E. Toxoplasmosis: stages of the protozoan life cycle and risk assessment in humans and animals for an enhanced awareness and an improved socio-economic status. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:962-969. [PMID: 33424388 PMCID: PMC7783816 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite distributed globally. It causes toxoplasmosis, which is prevalent in animals, birds, and soil. T. gondii infection leads to severe pathological impacts in immunodeficient patients and congenital cases. This review indicated that high prevalence groups had close contact with cats, dogs, consumed uncooked raw fruits, meat, or vegetables and the socio-economic level noted to be one of the crucial factors that influence toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis infection is high in low-income countries and low in developed European countries. Immunosuppressed groups and pregnant women were the highly vulnerable groups. The epidemiology of the parasite enumerated various routes of infections; but consumption of T. gondii contaminated food was the major route of disease transmission. However, the role of meat and meat-producing animals on disease transmission remained unclear. Unfiltered water acts as the primary reservoir of toxoplasmosis transmission. The diagnostic methods for determining T. gondii infection are not the gold standard, and different approaches have been prescribed to analyze the infected populations based on the organs affected. Although toxoplasmosis was reported before 70 years, no appropriate solution noted to be recommended to treat this disease. Based on the present analyses, it concluded that the eradication of toxoplasmosis would be challenging from the world until people's socio-economic level is improved. The main aim of the present study was to analyze and update the disease transmission, epidemiology, and possible clinical interventions of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esam S Al-Malki
- Department of Biology, College of Science in Zulfi, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Vueba AN, Faria CP, Almendra R, Santana P, Sousa MDC. Serological prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Luanda (Angola): Geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241908. [PMID: 33156846 PMCID: PMC7647088 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a study on toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Luanda, Angola, determining the seroprevalence, geospatial distribution and its association with socio-economic features, dietary habits and hygiene and health conditions. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM were quantified in serum samples of women attended at the Lucrecia Paim Maternity Hospital between May 2016 and August 2017. The IgG avidity test and qPCR assay were used for dating the primary infection. Data were collected by questionnaire after written consent, and spatial distribution was assessed through a Kernel Density Function. The potential risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection were evaluated using bivariate and multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were quantified in 878 pregnant women, and 346 (39.4%) samples were IgG positive, 2 (0.2%) positive for IgM and IgG, and 530 (60.4%) negative for both immunoglobulins. The longitudinal study showed that none of the seronegative women seroconverted during the survey. Regarding other infections, 226 (25.7%) were positive for hepatitis B, while 118 (13.4%) were HIV-positive. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was similar in most municipalities: 43.8% in Cazenga (28 of 64); 42.5% in Viana (88 of 207); 42.3% in Cacuaco (22 of 52); and 41.1% in Luanda ((179 of 435). In contrast, the seroprevalence in municipality of Belas was lower (25.8%; 31 of 120) and bivariate and multivariate analysis has shown a lower risk for toxoplasmosis in this area (OR 0.479, CI: 0.305–0.737; OR 0.471, CI: 0.299–0.728). The multivariate analysis has shown a significant increased risk for toxoplasmosis in women in the last trimester of pregnancy (OR 1.457, CI: 1.011–2.102), suffering spontaneous abortion (OR 1.863, CI: 1.014–3.465) and having pets at home (OR 1.658, CI: 1.212–2.269). Also, women who tested positive for hepatitis B (OR 1.375, CI: 1.008–1.874) and HIV (OR 1.833, CI: 1.233–2.730) had a significant increased risk for T. gondii infection. In conclusion, our study showed that a large number of pregnant women are not immunized for toxoplasmosis and identified the risk factors for this infection in Luanda. It is crucial to establish the diagnosis of primary maternal infection as well as the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our results underlined the need for diagnostic and clinical follow-up of toxoplasmosis, HIV and hepatitis B during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clarissa Perez Faria
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Almendra
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula Santana
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria do Céu Sousa
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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15
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Toxoplasma gondii AP2XII-2 Contributes to Proper Progression through S-Phase of the Cell Cycle. mSphere 2020; 5:5/5/e00542-20. [PMID: 32938695 PMCID: PMC7494830 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00542-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that persists in its host by converting into a latent cyst stage. This work describes a new transcriptional factor called AP2XII-2 that plays a role in properly maintaining the growth rate of replicating parasites, which contributes to signals required for development into its dormant stage. Without AP2XII-2, Toxoplasma parasites experience a delay in their cell cycle that increases the frequency of latent cyst formation. In addition, we found that AP2XII-2 operates in a multisubunit complex with other AP2 factors and chromatin remodeling machinery that represses gene expression. These findings add to our understanding of how Toxoplasma parasites balance replication and dormancy, revealing novel points of potential therapeutic intervention to disrupt this clinically relevant process. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that causes lifelong chronic infection that can reactivate in immunocompromised individuals. Upon infection, the replicative stage (tachyzoite) converts into a latent tissue cyst stage (bradyzoite). Like other apicomplexans, T. gondii possesses an extensive lineage of proteins called ApiAP2s that contain DNA-binding domains first characterized in plants. The function of most ApiAP2s is unknown. We previously found that AP2IX-4 is a cell cycle-regulated ApiAP2 expressed only in dividing parasites as a putative transcriptional repressor. In this study, we purified proteins interacting with AP2IX-4, finding it to be a component of the recently characterized microrchidia (MORC) transcriptional repressor complex. We further analyzed AP2XII-2, another cell cycle-regulated factor that associates with AP2IX-4. We monitored parallel expression of AP2IX-4 and AP2XII-2 proteins in tachyzoites, detecting peak expression during S/M phase. Unlike AP2IX-4, which is dispensable in tachyzoites, loss of AP2XII-2 resulted in a slowed tachyzoite growth due to a delay in S-phase progression. We also found that AP2XII-2 depletion increased the frequency of bradyzoite differentiation in vitro. These results suggest that multiple AP2 factors collaborate to ensure proper cell cycle progression and tissue cyst formation in T. gondii. IMPORTANCEToxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that persists in its host by converting into a latent cyst stage. This work describes a new transcriptional factor called AP2XII-2 that plays a role in properly maintaining the growth rate of replicating parasites, which contributes to signals required for development into its dormant stage. Without AP2XII-2, Toxoplasma parasites experience a delay in their cell cycle that increases the frequency of latent cyst formation. In addition, we found that AP2XII-2 operates in a multisubunit complex with other AP2 factors and chromatin remodeling machinery that represses gene expression. These findings add to our understanding of how Toxoplasma parasites balance replication and dormancy, revealing novel points of potential therapeutic intervention to disrupt this clinically relevant process.
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16
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Chen J, Wang J, Gao X, Zhu D, Chen L, Duan Y. Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens suppress Foxp3 promoter activity via a SP1-dependent mechanism. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:10785-10791. [PMID: 32729205 PMCID: PMC7521278 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) could result in adverse outcomes of pregnancy including abortion, stillbirth, foetal infection or teratogenesis in mice during early stage of pregnancy. Defective generation or function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may account for those adverse pregnancy outcomes. Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), which is the key transcriptional factor of Tregs, modulates its development and maintains inhibitory function. We previously demonstrated that ESA inhibited Foxp3 expression by attenuating transforming growth factor β RII/Smad2/Smad3/Smad4 pathway. In this study, we propose to study the role of ESA on the activity of Foxp3 promoter and explore potential mechanisms. We demonstrated that ESA suppressed Foxp3 promoter activity using dual-luciferase reporter assay. ESA functioned at -443/-96 region of Foxp3 promoter to suppress its activity using truncated fragments of Foxp3 promoter. Further analysis revealed that suppressive role of ESA on Foxp3 promoter activity is related to specificity protein 1 (SP1). Transfection of expression plasmid of pcDNA3.1-SP1 could restore the down-regulation of Foxp3 induced by ESA. In conclusion, this study provides a new mechanism by which ESA could inhibit the Foxp3 promoter activity via SP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinling Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xuyang Gao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dandan Zhu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Liuting Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yinong Duan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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17
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Gómez-Chávez F, Cañedo-Solares I, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Flores-García Y, Figueroa-Damián R, Luna-Pastén H, Gómez-Toscano V, López-Candiani C, Arce-Estrada GE, Bonilla-Ríos CA, Mora-González JC, García-Ruiz R, Correa D. A Proinflammatory Immune Response Might Determine Toxoplasma gondii Vertical Transmission and Severity of Clinical Features in Congenitally Infected Newborns. Front Immunol 2020; 11:390. [PMID: 32231666 PMCID: PMC7082359 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis. Mother-to-child transmission of this parasite can occur during pregnancy. Newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis may develop central nervous system impairment, with severity ranging from subclinical manifestations to death. A proinflammatory/regulated specific immune profile is crucial in the defense against the parasite; nevertheless, its role in the infected pregnant women and the congenitally infected offspring has been poorly explored, and there is still no consensus about its relation to parasite vertical transmission or to severity and dissemination in the congenitally infected newborns. This work aimed to characterize these relations by means of principal component and principal factor analyses. For this purpose, we determined the specific production of the four immunoglobulin G antibody subclasses, cytokines, and lymphocyte proliferation in the T. gondii–infected pregnant women−10 who transmitted the infection to their offspring and seven who did not—as well as in 11 newborns congenitally infected and grouped according to disease severity (five mild and six moderate/severe) and dissemination (four local and seven disseminated). We found that the immune response of nontransmitter women differed from that of the transmitters, the latter having a stronger proinflammatory response, supporting a previous report. We also found that newborns who developed moderate/severe disease presented higher levels of lymphocyte proliferation, particularly of CD8+ and CD19+ cells, a high proportion of tumor necrosis factor α producers, and reduced expression of the immune modulator transforming growth factor β, as opposed to children who developed mild clinical complications. Our results suggest that a distinctive, not regulated, proinflammatory immune response might favor T. gondii vertical transmission and the development of severe clinical manifestations in congenitally infected newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.,Cátedras CONACyT-Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Formación Básica Disciplinaria, ENMyH-IPN, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Héctor Luna-Pastén
- Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ricardo García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Cannabinoides, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Dolores Correa
- Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
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18
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Nakashima F, Pardo VS, Miola MP, Murata FHA, Paduan N, Longo SM, Brandão de Mattos CC, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Ricci O, de Mattos LC. Serum IgG Anti- Toxoplasma gondii Antibody Concentrations Do Not Correlate Nested PCR Results in Blood Donors. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 9:461. [PMID: 31993377 PMCID: PMC6970978 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii infects millions of individuals worldwide. This protozoan is food and water-borne transmitted but blood transfusion and organ transplantation constitute alternative forms for transmission. However, the influence of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in molecular analysis carried out in peripheral blood still remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations correlate Nested PCR results in blood donors. Methods: 750 blood donors were enrolled. IgM and IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were assessed by ELISA (DiaSorin, Italy). Nested PCR was performed with primers JW62/JW63 (288 bp) and B22/B23 (115 bp) of the T. gondii B1 gene. The mean values of IgG concentration were compared for PCR positive and PCR Negative blood donors using the t-test or Mann-Whitney according to the normal distribution (p-value ≤ 0.05). Results: 361 (48.1%) blood donors presented positive serology as follow: IgM+/IgG−: 5 (0.6%); IgM+/IgG+: 21 (2.8%); IgM−/IgG+: 335 (44.7%) and 389 (51.9%), negative serology. From 353 blood donors with positive serology tested, the Nested PCR was positive in 38 (10.8%) and negative in 315 (89.2%). There were no differences statistically significant between the mean values of serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations and the Nested PCR results. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data show that variations in the serum IgG anti-T. gondii antibody concentrations do not correlate T. gondii parasitemia detected by Nested PCR in chronically infected healthy blood donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Nakashima
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valquíria Sousa Pardo
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Paulo Miola
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,Blood Bank São José do Rio Preto, Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Natalia Paduan
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stefani Miqueline Longo
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cinara Cássia Brandão de Mattos
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,FAMERP Toxoplasma Research Group, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Octávio Ricci
- Blood Bank São José do Rio Preto, Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos de Mattos
- Immunogenetics Laboratory, Molecular Biology Department, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.,FAMERP Toxoplasma Research Group, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Gómez-Chávez F, Cañedo-Solares I, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Flores-García Y, Luna-Pastén H, Figueroa-Damián R, Mora-González JC, Correa D. Maternal Immune Response During Pregnancy and Vertical Transmission in Human Toxoplasmosis. Front Immunol 2019; 10:285. [PMID: 30846989 PMCID: PMC6393384 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis distributed worldwide, caused by the ingestion of contaminated water/food with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. If a pregnant woman is infected with this parasite, it may be transmitted to the fetus and produce ocular, neurological, or systemic damage with variable severity. The strength and profile of mother's immune response have been suggested as important factors involved in vertical transmission rate and severity of clinical outcome in the congenitally infected fetus. The aim of this work was to evaluate a possible relation between the mother's immune response during pregnancy and congenital transmission to the fetus. We obtained peripheral blood from T. gondii infected pregnant woman and tested it for anti T. gondii (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgA) in serum. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated to analyze the in vitro effect of soluble T. gondii antigens on proliferation and production of cytokines. We found that IgG2-4 and IgA antibodies and lymphocytes proliferation, especially CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ were positive in a higher proportion of cases in transmitter than in non-transmitter women. Furthermore, IgG2-3 and IgA anti-Toxoplasma antibody levels were higher in those mothers who transmitted the infection than in those who did not. Interestingly, a higher proportion of positive cases to IFN-γ and negatives to the immunoregulatory cytokine TGF-β, were related to T. gondii vertical transmission. Our descriptive results are consistent with the paradoxical previous observations in murine models of congenital toxoplasmosis, which suggest that an increased immune response that protects the mothers from a disseminated or severe disease, and should protect the fetus from infection, is positively related to parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.,Cátedras CONACyT-Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Irma Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luz Belinda Ortiz-Alegría
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yevel Flores-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Héctor Luna-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Figueroa-Damián
- Servicio de infectología e Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Dolores Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
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20
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Qiu J, Zhang R, Xie Y, Wang L, Ge K, Chen H, Liu X, Wu J, Wang Y. Estradiol Attenuates the Severity of Primary Toxoplasma gondii Infection-Induced Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Through the Regulation of Tregs in a Dose-Dependent Manner. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1102. [PMID: 29868037 PMCID: PMC5968100 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol (E2) plays a crucial and intricate role during pregnancy to mediate several aspects of the pregnancy process. A perplexing phenomenon in congenital toxoplasmosis is that the severity of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-mediated adverse pregnancy outcome is closely related with time of primary maternal infection during pregnancy. In this study, the results showed that T. gondii infection in early pregnancy was more likely to induce miscarriage in mice than in late pregnancy, which may be related to inflammation of the maternal–fetal interface. Meanwhile, the T. gondii infection-induced-apoptotic rate of Tregs was higher and the expression of programmed death-1 (PD-1) on Tregs was lower in early pregnancy than in late pregnancy. As the level of E2 in mouse serum gradually increased with the development of pregnancy, we proposed that E2 may contribute to the discrepancy of Tregs at different stages of pregnancy. Thus, we investigated in vitro and in vivo effects of E2 in regulating Tregs. We found that E2 in vitro could protect Tregs against apoptosis and upregulate the expression of PD-1 on Tregs in a dose-dependent manner through ERα. Likewise, the simulated mid-pregnancy level of E2 in nonpregnant mice also alleviated the T. gondii infection-induced apoptosis of Tregs and potentiated the PD-1 expression on Tregs. Therefore, in the pathogenesis of T. gondii-induced abnormal pregnancy, E2 helped maintain the immune balance and improve the pregnancy outcome through regulating Tregs. This finding illustrates the intricate working of hormone–immune system interaction in infection-induced abnormal pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfan Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanci Xie
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ke Ge
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Xuanwumen Community Health Service Center of Xuanwu District, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinjian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiangping Wu
- Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Jiangsu Province, Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Cañedo-Solares I, Gómez-Chávez F, Luna-Pastén H, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Flores-García Y, Figueroa-Damián R, Macedo-Romero CA, Correa D. What do anti-Toxoplasma gondiiIgA and IgG subclasses in human saliva indicate? Parasite Immunol 2018; 40:e12526. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- I. Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - F. Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
- Cátedras CONACyT; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría; Ciudad de México México
| | - H. Luna-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - L. B. Ortiz-Alegría
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - Y. Flores-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - R. Figueroa-Damián
- Servicio de Infectología e Inmunología; Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - C. A. Macedo-Romero
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
| | - D. Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental; Subdirección de Medicina Experimental; Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud; Ciudad de México México
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CCR5 chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms in ocular toxoplasmosis. Acta Trop 2018; 178:276-280. [PMID: 29221851 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CC chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is a chemokine receptor that influences the immune response to infectious and parasitic diseases. This study aimed to determine whether the CCR5Δ32 and CCR5 59029 A/G polymorphisms are associated with the development of ocular toxoplasmosis in humans. Patients with positive serology for Toxoplasma gondii were analyzed and grouped as 'with ocular toxoplasmosis' (G1: n=160) or 'without ocular toxoplasmosis' (G2: n=160). A control group (G3) consisted of 160 individuals with negative serology. The characterization of the CCR5Δ32 and CCR5 59029 A/G polymorphisms was by PCR and by PCR-RFLP, respectively. The difference between the groups with respect to the mean age (G1: mean age: 47.3, SD±19.3, median: 46 [range: 18-95]; G2: mean age: 61.3, SD±13.7, median: 61 [range: 21-87]; G3: mean age: 38.8, SD±17.9, median: 34 [range: 18-80]) was statistically significant (G1 vs.G2: p-value <0.0001; t=7.21; DF=318; G1 vs.G3: p-value <0.0001; t=4.32; DF=318; G2 vs. G3: p-value <0.0001; t=9.62; DF=318). The Nagelkerke r2 value was 0.040. There were statistically significant differences for the CCR5/CCR5 (p-value=0.008; OR=0.261), AA (p-value=0.007; OR=2.974) and AG genotypes (p-value=0.018; OR=2.447) between G1 and G2. Individuals with the CCR5/CCR5 genotype and simultaneously the CCR5-59029 AA or AG genotypes have a greater risk of developing ocular toxoplasmosis (4% greater), which may be associated with a strong and persistent inflammatory response in ocular tissue.
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Is Toxoplasma gondii type related to clinical outcome in human congenital infection? Systematic and critical review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2016; 35:1079-88. [PMID: 27146878 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-016-2656-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In human congenital toxoplasmosis the effects of parasite burden and pregnancy time at infection on clinical outcome are well known, but there is controversy regarding the role of Toxoplasma gondii type. Through a systematic review of the literature, we aimed to discern if T. gondii type has a role on clinical outcome in human congenital toxoplasmosis. We built up a database of congenital toxoplasmosis from reports of cases, case series and screening-based cohorts, which had information about parasite type, gestation time at maternal infection and/or clinical outcome in the product. Then, we obtained frequencies for loci used to genotype geographical origin of cases and types found. Also, odds ratios were calculated for association between time of maternal infection or parasite type on outcome. Type II parasites were the most common in Europe, Asia and Africa, while in America there were mainly atypical strains. More newborns with clinical problems were born from mothers infected during the first half of gestation than from those acquiring the parasite after week 24, regardless of parasite genotype (92.9 vs. 16.1 %, OR = 67.9, CI95 25.4-181.6). Type I and atypical parasites were associated with clinical problems as opposed to types II and III, regardless of pregnancy period at infection (86.9 vs. 72.9 %, OR = 2.47, CI95 1.1-5.4). A significant and remarkable tendency of type I parasites to be present during early pregnancy was also observed (94.4 vs. 5.6 %, P < 0.009). In addition to parasite burden and period of gestation, T. gondii genotype seems involved in CT clinical outcome.
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Sudan V, Tewari AK, Singh R, Singh H. Comparison of histopathology and PCR based assay for detection of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in murine model. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2015. [PMID: 26194828 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare histopathology and PCR based detection in diagnosis of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis of RH human strain of the parasite in murine models. METHODS A comparison of histopathology and PCR based detection was done to diagnose experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in ten inbred swiss albino mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of 100 tachyzoites of laboratory mantained human RH strain of the parasite. Tissue samples from lung, liver, spleen, brain, heart and kidney were taken and processed for histopathological examination while all the samples also were subjected to PCR, using primers directed to the multicopy of SAG 3 gene, in dublicates. RESULTS Histopathology revealed presence of tachyzoites only in liver while along with lung, liver, spleen and brain tissue yielded desired positive PCR amplicons. CONCLUSIONS The SAG 3 based PCR is able to diagnose toxoplasmosis in those tissues which are declared negative by histopathological assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Sudan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura 281001, India
| | - A K Tewari
- Department of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.
| | - R Singh
- CADRAD, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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Galván-Ramírez MDLL, Gutiérrez-Maldonado AF, Verduzco-Grijalva F, Jiménez JMD. The role of hormones on Toxoplasma gondii infection: a systematic review. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:503. [PMID: 25346725 PMCID: PMC4191157 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii is the causal agent of toxoplasmosis in which one third of the world's population has been infected. In pregnant women, it may cause abortion and severe damage to the fetal central nervous system. During pregnancy, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis increases throughout the second and third quarter of gestation, simultaneously progesterone and 17β-estradiol also increase. Thus, it has been suggested that these hormones can aggravate or reduce parasite reproduction. The aim of this study was reviewing the relationship between hormones and infection caused by T. gondii in several experimental animal models and humans, focused mainly on: (a) congenital transmission, (b) parasite reproduction, (c) strain virulence, (d) levels of hormone in host induced by T. gondii infection, and (e) participation of hormone receptors in T. gondii infection. Are the hormones specific modulators of T. gondii infection? A systematic review methodology was used to consult several databases (Pub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Science direct, Scielo, Ebsco, Sprinker, Wiley, and Google Scholar) dated from September, 2013 to March, 2014. Results: Thirty studies were included; eight studies in humans and 22 in animals and cell cultures. In the human studies, the most studied hormones were testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, and 17β-estradiol. Type I (RH and BK) and Type II (Prugniaud, SC, ME49, T45, P78, and T38) were the most frequent experimental strains. Conclusions: Thirty-five years have passed since the first studies regarding T. gondii infection and its relationship with hormones. This systematic review suggests that hormones modulate T. gondii infection in different animal models. However, given that data were not comparable, further studies are required to determine the mechanism of hormone action in the T. gondii infectious process.
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Affiliation(s)
- María de la Luz Galván-Ramírez
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Adrián Fernando Gutiérrez-Maldonado
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Verduzco-Grijalva
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Judith Marcela Dueñas Jiménez
- Neurophysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Cañedo-Solares I, Calzada-Ruiz M, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Ortiz-Muñiz AR, Correa D. Endothelial cell invasion by Toxoplasma gondii: differences between cell types and parasite strains. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3029-33. [PMID: 23749089 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3476-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii disseminates and causes congenital infection by invasion of the endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to analyze the ability of two strains to invade two endothelial cell types. Tachyzoites of the RH and ME49 strains were expanded in Balb/c and C57BL6-RAG2-/- mice, respectively. Tachyzoites were harvested from 72 h Vero cell cultures and incubated for 30 min to 4 h at 10:1 parasite/cell ratio in 24-well plates, containing monolayers of either HMEC-1 line or human umbilical cells (HUVECs). The number of infected cells and parasitic vacuoles per infected cell were counted in Wright stained slides. A slow increase in the proportion of infected cells occurred but varied according to cell type-parasite strain combination: ME49 tachyzoites invaded up to 63% HMEC-1 cells, while RH parasites infected up to 19% HUVECs. ME49 and RH tachyzoites invaded 49 and 46% HUVECs and HMEC-1 cells, respectively. Reinvasion and formation of new parasitophorous vacuoles of infected cells was more frequent than invasion of noninfected cells. The results support that the factors influencing invasion, and thus dissemination and vertical transmission, are parasite type, host cell type/subtype, and activation state. Interestingly, T. gondii virulence does not seem to relay on its invasion efficiency, but probably on replication speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Subdirección de Medicina Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría Secretaría de Salud, Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, an Apicomplexan, is a pathogic protozoan that can infect the central nervous system. Infection during pregnancy can result in a congenial infection with severe neurological sequelae. In immunocompromised individuals reactivation of latent neurological foci can result in encephalitis. Immunocompetent individuals infected with T. gondii are typically asymptomatic and maintain this infection for life. However, recent studies suggest that these asymptomatic infections may have effects on behavior and other physiological processes. Toxoplasma gondii infects approximately one-third of the world population, making it one of the most successful parasitic organisms. Cats and other felidae serve as the definite host producing oocysts, an environmentally resistant life cycle stage found in cat feces, which can transmit the infection when ingested orally. A wide variety of warm-blooded animals, including humans, can serve as the intermediate host in which tissue cysts (containing bradyzoites) develop. Transmission also occurs due to ingestion of the tissue cysts. There are three predominant clonal lineages, termed Types I, II and III, and an association with higher pathogenicity with the Type I strains in humans has emerged. This chapter presents a review of the biology of this infection including the life cycle, transmission, epidemiology, parasite strains, and the host immune response. The major clinical outcomes of congenital infection, chorioretinitis and encephalitis, and the possible association of infection of toxoplasmosis with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra K Halonen
- Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii congenital transmission depends partially on parasite load and genotype. Both factors were examined in 4 mother/newborn pairs with perinatal infection acquired in central Mexico. Type I and type I-related strains were identified. These results add information regarding T. gondii strains prevailing in humans, although neither the genotype nor the load were related to vertical transmission or damage.
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Significant reduction of brain cysts caused by Toxoplasma gondii after treatment with spiramycin coadministered with metronidazole in a mouse model of chronic toxoplasmosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:1762-8. [PMID: 22271863 DOI: 10.1128/aac.05183-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that generates latent cysts in the brain; reactivation of these cysts may lead to fatal toxoplasmic encephalitis, for which treatment remains unsuccessful. We assessed spiramycin pharmacokinetics coadministered with metronidazole, the eradication of brain cysts and the in vitro reactivation. Male BALB/c mice were fed 1,000 tachyzoites orally to develop chronic toxoplasmosis. Four weeks later, infected mice underwent different treatments: (i) infected untreated mice (n = 9), which received vehicle only; (ii) a spiramycin-only group (n = 9), 400 mg/kg daily for 7 days; (iii) a metronidazole-only group (n = 9), 500 mg/kg daily for 7 days; and (iv) a combination group (n = 9), which received both spiramycin (400 mg/kg) and metronidazole (500 mg/kg) daily for 7 days. An uninfected control group (n = 10) was administered vehicle only. After treatment, the brain cysts were counted, brain homogenates were cultured in confluent Vero cells, and cysts and tachyzoites were counted after 1 week. Separately, pharmacokinetic profiles (plasma and brain) were assessed after a single dose of spiramycin (400 mg/kg), metronidazole (500 mg/kg), or both. Metronidazole treatment increased the brain spiramycin area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to ∞ (AUC(0-∞)) by 67% without affecting its plasma disposition. Metronidazole plasma and brain AUC(0-∞) values were reduced 9 and 62%, respectively, after spiramycin coadministration. Enhanced spiramycin brain exposure after coadministration reduced brain cysts 15-fold (79 ± 23 for the combination treatment versus 1,198 ± 153 for the untreated control group [P < 0.05]) and 10-fold versus the spiramycin-only group (768 ± 125). Metronidazole alone showed no effect (1,028 ± 149). Tachyzoites were absent in the brain. Spiramycin reduced in vitro reactivation. Metronidazole increased spiramycin brain penetration, causing a significant reduction of T. gondii brain cysts, with potential clinical translatability for chronic toxoplasmosis treatment.
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Chew WK, Wah MJ, Ambu S, Segarra I. Toxoplasma gondii: determination of the onset of chronic infection in mice and the in vitro reactivation of brain cysts. Exp Parasitol 2011; 130:22-5. [PMID: 22027550 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intra-cellular parasite that infects humans through vertical and horizontal transmission. The cysts remain dormant in the brain of infected humans and can reactivate in immunocompromised hosts resulting in acute toxoplasmic encephalitis which may be fatal. We determined the onset and progression of brain cysts generation in a mouse model following acute toxoplasmosis as well as the ability of brain cysts to reactivate in vitro. Male Balb/c mice, (uninfected control group, n = 10) were infected orally (study group, n = 50) with 1000 tachyzoites of T. gondii (ME49 strain) and euthanized at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks post infection. Brain tissue was harvested, homogenized, stained and the number of brain cysts counted. Aliquots of brain homogenate with cysts were cultured in vitro with confluent Vero cells and the number of cysts and tachyzoites counted after 1 week. Brain cysts but not tachyzoites were detected at week 2 post infection and reached a plateau by week 4. In vitro Vero cells culture showed similar pattern for cysts and tachyzoites and reactivation of cyst in vitro was not influenced by the age of the brain cysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Kit Chew
- Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, No 126 Jalan 19/155B, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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