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Chhajer R, Bhattacharyya A, Ali N. Cell Death in Leishmania donovani promastigotes in response to Mammalian Aurora Kinase B Inhibitor- Hesperadin. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116960. [PMID: 38936193 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Deciphering how hesperadin, a repurposed mammalian aurora kinase B inhibitor, affects the cellular pathways in Leishmania donovani might be beneficial. This investigation sought to assess the physiological effects of hesperadin on promastigotes of L. donovani, by altering the duration of treatment following exposure to hesperadin. Groups pre-treated with inhibitors such as EGTA, NAC, and z-VAD-fmk before hesperadin exposure were also included. Morphological changes by microscopy, ATP and ROS changes by luminometry; DNA degradation using agarose gel electrophoresis and metacaspase levels through RT-PCR were assessed. Flow cytometry was used to study mitochondrial depolarization using JC-1 and MitoTracker Red; mitochondrial-superoxide accumulation using MitoSOX; plasma membrane modifications using Annexin-V and propidium iodide, and lastly, caspase activation using ApoStat. Significant alterations in promastigote morphology were noted. Caspase activity and mitochondrial-superoxide rose early after exposure whereas mitochondrial membrane potential demonstrated uncharacteristic variations, with significant functional disturbances such as leakage of superoxide radicals after prolonged treatments. ATP depletion and ROS accumulation demonstrated inverse patterns, genomic DNA showed fragmentation and plasma membrane showed Annexin-V binding, soon followed by propidium iodide uptake. Multilobed macronuclei and micronuclei accumulated in hesperadin exposed cells before they disintegrated into necrotic debris. The pathologic alterations were unlike the intrinsic or extrinsic pathways of classical apoptosis and suggest a caspase-mediated cell death most akin to mitotic-catastrophe. Most likely, a G2/M transition block caused accumulation of death signals, disorganized spindles and mechanical stresses, causing changes in morphology, organellar functions and ultimately promastigote death. Thus, death was a consequence of mitotic-arrest followed by ablation of kinetoplast functions, often implicated in L. donovani killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudra Chhajer
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700032, India
| | - Anirban Bhattacharyya
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700032, India
| | - Nahid Ali
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700032, India.
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Clemente CM, Murillo J, Garro AG, Arbeláez N, Pineda T, Robledo SM, Ravetti S. Piperine, quercetin, and curcumin identified as promising natural products for topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:185. [PMID: 38632113 PMCID: PMC11023993 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08199-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania braziliensis (L. braziliensis) causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the New World. The costs and the side effects of current treatments render imperative the development of new therapies that are affordable and easy to administer. Topical treatment would be the ideal option for the treatment of CL. This underscores the urgent need for affordable and effective treatments, with natural compounds being explored as potential solutions. The alkaloid piperine (PIP), the polyphenol curcumin (CUR), and the flavonoid quercetin (QUE), known for their diverse biological properties, are promising candidates to address these parasitic diseases. Initially, the in vitro cytotoxicity activity of the compounds was evaluated using U-937 cells, followed by the assessment of the leishmanicidal activity of these compounds against amastigotes of L. braziliensis. Subsequently, a golden hamster model with stationary-phase L. braziliensis promastigote infections was employed. Once the ulcer appeared, hamsters were treated with QUE, PIP, or CUR formulations and compared to the control group treated with meglumine antimoniate administered intralesionally. We observed that the three organic compounds showed high in vitro leishmanicidal activity with effective concentrations of less than 50 mM, with PIP having the highest activity at a concentration of 8 mM. None of the compounds showed cytotoxic activity for U937 macrophages with values between 500 and 700 mM. In vivo, topical treatment with QUE daily for 15 days produced cured in 100% of hamsters while the effectiveness of CUR and PIP was 83% and 67%, respectively. No failures were observed with QUE. Collectively, our data suggest that topical formulations mainly for QUE but also for CUR and PIP could be a promising topical treatment for CL. Not only the ease of obtaining or synthesizing the organic compounds evaluated in this work but also their commercial availability eliminates one of the most important barriers or bottlenecks in drug development, thus facilitating the roadmap for the development of a topical drug for the management of CL caused by L. braziliensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila M Clemente
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (FCEyN-UBA) E Instituto de Química Biológica de La Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN) CONICET, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, C1428EHA, Argentina
| | - Javier Murillo
- Grupo Estudios Preclínicos Para El Desarrollo de Productos, Corporación de Innovación CIDEPRO, Medellín, Colombia
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 # 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ariel G Garro
- Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología de La Provincia de Córdoba (MinCyT-CBA), Álvarez de Arenales 230, CP 5004, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Campus Universitario, Av. Arturo Jauretche 1555, CP 5900, Villa María, Argentina
| | - Natalia Arbeláez
- Grupo Estudios Preclínicos Para El Desarrollo de Productos, Corporación de Innovación CIDEPRO, Medellín, Colombia
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 # 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Tatiana Pineda
- Grupo Estudios Preclínicos Para El Desarrollo de Productos, Corporación de Innovación CIDEPRO, Medellín, Colombia
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 # 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Sara M Robledo
- PECET-Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 # 52-21, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Soledad Ravetti
- Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Nacional de Villa María, Campus Universitario, Av. Arturo Jauretche 1555, CP 5900, Villa María, Argentina.
- Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Villa María (CIT VM), CP 5900, Villa María, Argentina.
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Utage B, Patole M, Nagvenkar P, Gacche R. Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.induces apoptotic-like programmed cell death in Leishmania donovani via over production of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and ATP depletion. J Tradit Complement Med 2023; 13:611-622. [PMID: 38020554 PMCID: PMC10658441 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 60 countries with a large number of mortality cases. The current chemotherapy approaches employed for managing the leishmaniasis is associated with severe side effects. Therefore there is a need to develop effective, safe, and cost affordable antileishmanial drug candidates. Purpose of the study This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antileishmanial activity of a Prosopis juliflora leaves extract (PJLME) towards the Leishmania donovani parasites. Material and methods PJLME was evaluated for its cytotoxicity against the L. donovani parasites and the mouse macrophage cells. Further, various in vitro experiments like ROS assay, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, annexin v assay, cell cycle assay, and caspase 3/7 assay were performed to understand the mechanism of cell death. Phytochemical profiling of P. juliflorawas performed by utilizing HPTLC and GC-MS analysis. Results PJLME demonstrated antileishmanial activity at a remarkably lower concentration of IC50 6.5 μg/mL. Of note, interestingly PJLME IC50 concentration has not demonstrated cytotoxicity against the mouse macrophage cell line. Performed experiments confirmed ROS inducing potential of PJLME which adversely affected the mitochondrial membrane potential and caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and thereby ATP levels. PJLME also arrested the cell cycle and induced apoptotic-like cell death in PJLME treated L. donovani promastigotes. Conclusion The results clearly established the significance of Prosopis juliflora as an effective and safe natural resource for managing visceral leishmaniasis. The findings can be used as a baseline reference for developing novel leads/formulations for effective management of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Milind Patole
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Pune, 411007, MS, India
| | - Punam Nagvenkar
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Pune, 411007, MS, India
| | - Rajesh Gacche
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, 411007, MS, India
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Sarkar D, De Sarkar S, Gille L, Chatterjee M. Ascaridole exerts the leishmanicidal activity by inhibiting parasite glycolysis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 103:154221. [PMID: 35696799 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global burden of leishmaniasis is exacerbated by the limited repertoire of drugs, resulting in an urgent need to develop new therapeutic alternatives. Endoperoxides like ascaridole have emerged as promising anti-parasitic candidates, and its effectiveness was established in an animal model of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). However, its impact on Leishmania donovani parasites, causative of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains to be established. PURPOSE This study aimed to delineate the underlying mechanisms contributing towards the leishmanicidal effect of ascaridole in terms of its impact on the cellular redox status and metabolic bioenergetics of L. donovani parasites. METHODOLOGY The anti-promastigote activity of ascaridole was established by a cell viability assay in L. donovani [MHOM/IN/1983/AG83] and anti-amastigote activity by microscopy and ddPCR (droplet digital polymerase chain reaction). The cellular redox status, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), annexin V positivity and cell cycle arrest was evaluated by flow cytometry, while cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics was assessed using Agilent XFp Analyzer, and the levels of ATP was measured by chemiluminescence. RESULTS Ascaridole demonstrated strong anti-promastigote and anti-amastigote activities in l. donovani, IC50 (half maximal Inhibitory concentration) being 2.47 ± 0.18 µM and 2.00±0.34 µM respectively, while in J774.A1 and murine peritoneal macrophages, the CC50 (half maximal cytotoxic concentration) was 41.47 ± 4.89 µM and 37.58 ± 5.75 µM respectively. Ascaridole disrupted the redox homeostasis via an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and concomitant depletion of thiols. However, it failed to increase the generation of mitochondrial superoxide, which minimally impacted on mitochondrial respiration and was corroborated by energy metabolism studies. Instead, ascaridole inhibited glycolysis of promastigotes, caused a loss in MMP, which translated into ATP depletion. In promastigotes, ascaridole enhanced annexin-V positivity and caused a cell cycle arrest at sub- G0/G1 phase. CONCLUSION In summary, ascaridole displays its leishmanicidal activity possibly due to its ability to auto-generate free radicals following cleavage of its endoperoxide bridge that led to disruption of the redox homeostasis, inhibition of glycolysis and culminated in an apoptotic like cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deblina Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata, WB 700 020, India
| | - Sritama De Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata, WB 700 020, India
| | - Lars Gille
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mitali Chatterjee
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R), Kolkata, WB 700 020, India.
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Sebastián-Pérez V, Martínez de Iturrate P, Nácher-Vázquez M, Nóvoa L, Pérez C, Campillo NE, Gil C, Rivas L. Naphthoquinone as a New Chemical Scaffold for Leishmanicidal Inhibitors of Leishmania GSK-3. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051136. [PMID: 35625873 PMCID: PMC9139002 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051136] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 1 billion people live in areas endemic for leishmaniasis, which is a relevant threat for public health worldwide. Due to the inadequate treatments, there is an urgent need to develop novel alternative drugs and to validate new targets to fight this disease. One appealing approach is the selective inhibition of protein kinases (PKs), enzymes involved in a wide range of processes along the life cycle of Leishmania. Several PKs, including glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), have been validated as essential for this parasite by genetic or pharmacological methods. Recently, novel chemical scaffolds have been uncovered as Leishmania GSK-3 inhibitors with antiparasitic activity. In order to find new inhibitors of this enzyme, a virtual screening of our in-house chemical library was carried out on the structure of the Leishmania GSK-3. The virtual hits identified were experimentally assayed both for leishmanicidal activity and for in vitro inhibition of the enzyme. The best hits have a quinone scaffold. Their optimization through a medicinal chemistry approach led to a set of new compounds, provided a frame to establish biochemical and antiparasitic structure–activity relationships, and delivered molecules with an improved selectivity index. Altogether, this study paves the way for a systemic search of this class of inhibitors for further development as potential leishmanicidal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Sebastián-Pérez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
| | - Paula Martínez de Iturrate
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
| | - Montserrat Nácher-Vázquez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
| | - Luis Nóvoa
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
| | | | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
| | - Carmen Gil
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (L.R.)
| | - Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (V.S.-P.); (P.M.d.I.); (M.N.-V.); (L.N.); (N.E.C.)
- Correspondence: (C.G.); (L.R.)
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Mendes A, Armada A, Cabral LIL, Amado PSM, Campino L, Cristiano MLS, Cortes S. 1,2,4-Trioxolane and 1,2,4,5-Tetraoxane Endoperoxides against Old-World Leishmania Parasites: In Vitro Activity and Mode of Action. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15040446. [PMID: 35455443 PMCID: PMC9024893 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis remains one of the ten Neglected Tropical Diseases with significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Current treatment of visceral leishmaniasis is difficult due to a lack of effective, non-toxic, and non-extensive medications. This study aimed to evaluate the selectivity of 12 synthetic endoperoxides (1,2,4-trioxolanes; 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes) and uncover their biochemical effects on Leishmania parasites responsible for visceral leishmaniasis. The compounds were screened for in vitro activity against L. infantum and L. donovani and for cytotoxicity in two monocytic cell lines (J774A.1 and THP-1) using the methyl thiazol tetrazolium assay. Reactive oxygen species formation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial impairment were measured by flow cytometry. The compounds exhibited fair to moderate anti-proliferative activity against promastigotes of the 2 Leishmania species, with IC50 values ranging from 13.0 ± 1.7 µM to 793.0 ± 37.2 µM. Tetraoxanes LC132 and LC138 demonstrated good leishmanicidal activity on L. infantum amastigotes (IC50 13.2 ± 5.2 and 23.9 ± 2.7 µM) with low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells (SIs 22.1 and 118.6), indicating selectivity towards the parasite. Furthermore, LC138 was able to induce late apoptosis and dose-dependent oxidative stress without affecting mithocondria. Compounds LC132 and LC138 can be further explored as potential antileishmanial chemotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Mendes
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.M.); (A.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Ana Armada
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.M.); (A.A.); (L.C.)
- Global Health Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lília I. L. Cabral
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (L.I.L.C.); (P.S.M.A.)
- Departamento de Química e Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Patrícia S. M. Amado
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (L.I.L.C.); (P.S.M.A.)
- Departamento de Química e Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Lenea Campino
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.M.); (A.A.); (L.C.)
| | - Maria L. S. Cristiano
- Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; (L.I.L.C.); (P.S.M.A.)
- Departamento de Química e Farmácia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.L.S.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Sofia Cortes
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.M.); (A.A.); (L.C.)
- Global Health Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.L.S.C.); (S.C.)
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Das A, Kamran M, Ali N. HO-3867 Induces ROS-Dependent Stress Response and Apoptotic Cell Death in Leishmania donovani. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:774899. [PMID: 34926321 PMCID: PMC8677699 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.774899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of vaccine and increasing chemotherapeutic toxicities currently necessitate the development of effective and safe drugs against various forms of leishmaniases. We characterized the cellular stress induced by a novel curcumin analogue, HO-3867, encapsulated within the phosphatidylcholine-stearylamine (PC-SA) liposome for the first time against Leishmania. The liposomal formulation of HO-3867 (i.e., PC-SA/HO-3867) initiated oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in L. donovani, revealed by altered cell morphology, phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial depolarization, intracellular lipid accumulation, and cell cycle arrest in promastigotes. Liposomal HO-3867 was observed to be a strong apoptosis inducer in L. donovani and L. major in a dose-dependent manner, yet completely safe for normal murine macrophages. Moreover, PC-SA/HO-3867 treatment induced L. donovani metacaspase and PARP1 activation along with downregulation of the Sir2 gene. PC-SA/HO-3867 arrested intracellular L. donovani amastigote burden in vitro, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO)-mediated parasite killing. These data suggest that liposomal HO-3867 represents a highly promising and non-toxic nanoparticle-based therapeutic platform against leishmaniasis inspiring further preclinical developments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nahid Ali
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
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Keyhani A, Sharifi I, Salarkia E, Khosravi A, Tavakoli Oliaee R, Babaei Z, Ghasemi Nejad Almani P, Hassanzadeh S, Kheirandish R, Mostafavi M, Hakimi Parizi M, Alahdin S, Sharifi F, Dabiri S, Shamsi Meymandi S, Khamesipour A, Jafarzadeh A, Bamorovat M. In vitro and in vivo therapeutic potentials of 6-gingerol in combination with amphotericin B for treatment of Leishmania major infection: Powerful synergistic and multifunctional effects. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108274. [PMID: 34688150 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing conventional drugs for leishmaniasis treatment are insufficient. The present study aimed to assess 6-gingerol alone and in combination with amphotericin B on Leishmania major stages using experimental and in vivo murine models. Here, arrays of experimental approaches were designed to monitor and evaluate the 6-gingerol potential therapeutic outcomes. The binding affinity of 6-gingerol and IFN-γ was the basis for docking conformations. 6-Gingerol combined with amphotericin B represented a safe mixture, extremely leishmanicidal, a potent antioxidant, induced a remarkable apoptotic index, significantly increased the expression of the Th1-related cytokines (IL-12p40, IFN-γ, and TNF- α), iNOS, and transcription factors (STAT1, c-Fos, and Elk-1). In contrast, the expression of the Th2-related cytokines was significantly downregulated (p < 0.001). This combination was also potent when the lesion appearance was evaluated following three weeks of treatment. The histopathological and immunohistochemical patterns of the murine model represented clusters of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes which compressed and deteriorated the macrophages harboring Leishman bodies. The primary mode of action of 6-gingerol and amphotericin B involved broad mechanistic insights providing a coherent basis for further clinical study as a potential drug candidate for CL. In conclusion, 6-gingerol with amphotericin B synergistically exerted anti-leishmanial activity in vitro and in vivo and potentiated macrophages' leishmanicidal activity, modulated Th1- and Th2-related phenotypes improved the histopathological changes in the BALB/c mice infected with L. major. They elevated the leukocyte infiltration into the lesions. Therefore, this combination should be considered for treating volunteer patients with CL in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Keyhani
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ahmad Khosravi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Babaei
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Saeid Hassanzadeh
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Reza Kheirandish
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mashid Mostafavi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Maryam Hakimi Parizi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sodabeh Alahdin
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sharifi
- Research Center for Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Shahriar Dabiri
- Department of Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Simin Shamsi Meymandi
- Department of Dermatology, Pathology and Stem Cell Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Albalawi AE, Alanazi AD, Sharifi I, Ezzatkhah F. A Systematic Review of Curcumin and its Derivatives as Valuable Sources of Antileishmanial Agents. Acta Parasitol 2021; 66:797-811. [PMID: 33770343 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00351-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, antimonial agents and other synthetic antileishmanial drugs, such as amphotericin B, paromomycin, and many other drugs, have restrictions in use due to the toxicity risk, high cost, and emerging resistance to these drugs. The present study aimed to review the antileishmanial effects of curcumin, its derivatives, and other relevant pharmaceutical formulations on leishmaniasis. METHODS The present study was carried out according to the 06-preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline and registered in the CAMARADES-NC3Rs Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Facility (SyRF) database. Some English-language databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, EBSCO, Science Direct, and Scopus were searched for publications worldwide related to antileishmanial effects of curcumin, its derivatives, and other relevant pharmaceutical formulations, without date limitation, to identify all the published articles (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies). Keywords included "curcumin", "Curcuma longa", "antileishmanial", "Leishmania", "leishmaniasis", "cutaneous leishmaniasis", "visceral leishmaniasis", "in vitro", and "in vivo". RESULTS Out of 5492 papers, 29 papers including 20 in vitro (69.0%), 1 in vivo (3.4%), and 8 in vitro/in vivo (27.6%) studies conducted up to 2020, met the inclusion criteria for discussion in this systematic review. The most common species of the Leishmania parasite used in these studies were L. donovani (n = 13, 44.8%), L. major (n = 10, 34.5%), and L. amazonensis (n = 6, 20.7%), respectively. The most used derivatives in these studies were curcumin (n = 15, 33.3%) and curcuminoids (n = 5, 16.7%), respectively. CONCLUSION In the present review, according to the studies in the literature, various forms of drugs based on curcumin and their derivatives exhibited significant in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity against different Leishmania spp. The results revealed that curcumin and its derivatives could be considered as an alternative and complementary source of valuable antileishmanial components against leishmaniasis, which had no significant toxicity. However, further studies are required to elucidate this concluding remark, especially in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdullah D Alanazi
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi 11911, Saudi Arabia
- Alghad International Colleges for Applied Medical Science, Tabuk 47913, Saudi Arabia
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ezzatkhah
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran.
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10
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Kourbeli V, Chontzopoulou E, Moschovou K, Pavlos D, Mavromoustakos T, Papanastasiou IP. An Overview on Target-Based Drug Design against Kinetoplastid Protozoan Infections: Human African Trypanosomiasis, Chagas Disease and Leishmaniases. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26154629. [PMID: 34361781 PMCID: PMC8348971 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan diseases Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease (CD), and leishmaniases span worldwide and therefore their impact is a universal concern. The present regimen against kinetoplastid protozoan infections is poor and insufficient. Target-based design expands the horizon of drug design and development and offers novel chemical entities and potential drug candidates to the therapeutic arsenal against the aforementioned neglected diseases. In this review, we report the most promising targets of the main kinetoplastid parasites, as well as their corresponding inhibitors. This overview is part of the Special Issue, entitled "Advances of Medicinal Chemistry against Kinetoplastid Protozoa (Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp.) Infections: Drug Design, Synthesis and Pharmacology".
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Kourbeli
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 84 Athens, Greece;
| | - Eleni Chontzopoulou
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Kalliopi Moschovou
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Dimitrios Pavlos
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 71 Athens, Greece; (E.C.); (K.M.); (D.P.); (T.M.)
| | - Ioannis P. Papanastasiou
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli-Zografou, 157 84 Athens, Greece;
- Correspondence:
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11
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Cardozo Pinto de Arruda C, de Jesus Hardoim D, Silva Rizk Y, da Silva Freitas de Souza C, Zaverucha do Valle T, Bento Carvalho D, Nosomi Taniwaki N, de Morais Baroni AC, da Silva Calabrese K. A Triazole Hybrid of Neolignans as a Potential Antileishmanial Agent by Triggering Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Molecules 2019; 25:molecules25010037. [PMID: 31861910 PMCID: PMC6983227 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the search for new compounds with antileishmanial activity, we synthesized a triazole hybrid analogue of the neolignans grandisin and machilin G (LASQUIM 25), which was previously found highly active against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. In this work, we investigated the leishmanicidal effects of LASQUIM 25 to identify the mechanisms involved in the cell death of L. amazonensis promastigotes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed marked effects of LASQUIM 25 (IC50 = 7.2 µM) on the morphology of promastigote forms, notably on mitochondria. The direct action of the triazole derivative on the parasite was noticed over time from 2 h to 48 h, and cells displayed several ultrastructural alterations characteristic of apoptotic cells. Also, flow cytometric analysis (FACS) after TMRE staining detected changes in mitochondrial membrane potential after LASQUIM 25 treatment (64.83% labeling versus 83.38% labeling in nontreated cells). On the other hand, FACS after PI staining in 24 h-treatment showed a slight alteration in the integrity of the cell membrane, a necrotic event (16.76% necrotic cells versus 3.19% staining in live parasites). An abnormal secretion of lipids was observed, suggesting an exocytic activity. Another striking finding was the presence of autophagy-related lysosome-like vacuoles, suggesting an autophagic cell death that may arise as consequence of mitochondrial stress. Taken together, these results suggest that LASQUIM 25 leishmanicidal mechanisms involve some degree of mitochondrial dysregulation, already evidenced by the treatment with the IC50 of this compound. This effect may be due to the presence of a methylenedioxy group originated from machilin G, whose toxicity has been associated with the capacity to generate electrophilic intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cardozo Pinto de Arruda
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
- Correspondence: (C.C.P.d.A.); (K.d.S.C.); Tel.: +55-67-3345-7369 (C.C.P.d.A.); +55-21-2562-1879 (K.d.S.C.)
| | - Daiana de Jesus Hardoim
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Yasmin Silva Rizk
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Celeste da Silva Freitas de Souza
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Tânia Zaverucha do Valle
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Diego Bento Carvalho
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil; (D.B.C.); (A.C.d.M.B.)
| | - Noemi Nosomi Taniwaki
- Núcleo de Microscopia Eletrônica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 01246-000 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil;
| | - Adriano Cesar de Morais Baroni
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil; (D.B.C.); (A.C.d.M.B.)
| | - Kátia da Silva Calabrese
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.P.d.A.); (K.d.S.C.); Tel.: +55-67-3345-7369 (C.C.P.d.A.); +55-21-2562-1879 (K.d.S.C.)
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Abstract
Leishmaniases still represent a global scourge and new therapeutic tools are necessary to replace the current expensive, difficult to administer treatments that induce numerous adverse effects and for which resistance is increasingly worrying. In this context, the particularly original organization of the Leishmania parasite in comparison to higher eukaryotes is a great advantage. It allows for the development of new, very specific, and thus non-cytotoxic treatments. Among these originalities, Leishmania cell death can be cited. Despite a classic pattern of apoptosis, key mammalian apoptotic proteins are not present in Leishmania, such as caspases, cell death receptors, and anti-apoptotic molecules. Recent studies have helped to develop a better understanding of parasite cell death, identifying new proteins or even new apoptotic pathways. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on Leishmania cell death, describing its physiological roles and its phenotype, and discusses the involvement of various proteins: endonuclease G, metacaspase, aquaporin Li-BH3AQP, calpains, cysteine proteinase C, LmjHYD36 and Lmj.22.0600. From these data, potential apoptotic pathways are suggested. This review also offers tools to identify new Leishmania cell death effectors. Lastly, different approaches to use this knowledge for the development of new therapeutic tools are suggested: either inhibition of Leishmania cell death or activation of cell death for instance by treating cells with proteins or peptides involved in parasite death fused to a cell permeant peptide or encapsulated into a lipidic vector to target intra-macrophagic Leishmania cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- UMR PAM A, Valmis Team, 2 rue Angélique Ducoudray, BP 37013, 21070 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, LISM, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13402 Marseille Cedex 09, France
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13
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Vandana, Dixit R, Tiwari R, Katyal A, Pandey KC. Metacaspases: Potential Drug Target Against Protozoan Parasites. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:790. [PMID: 31379569 PMCID: PMC6657590 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the numerous strategies/targets for controlling infectious diseases, parasites-derived proteases receive prime attention due to their essential contribution to parasite growth and development. Parasites produce a broad array of proteases, which are required for parasite entry/invasion, modification/degradation of host proteins for their nourishment, and activation of inflammation that ensures their survival to maintain infection. Presently, extensive research is focused on unique proteases termed as "metacaspases" (MCAs) in relation to their versatile functions in plants and non-metazoans. Such unique MCAs proteases could be considered as a potential drug target against parasites due to their absence in the human host. MCAs are cysteine proteases, having Cys-His catalytic dyad present in fungi, protozoa, and plants. Studies so far indicated that MCAs are broadly associated with apoptosis-like cell death, growth, and stress regulation in different protozoa. The present review comprises the important research outcomes from our group and published literature, showing the variable properties and function of MCAs for therapeutic purpose against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandana
- Host-Parasite Interaction Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.,Dr Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajnikant Dixit
- Host-Parasite Interaction Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajnarayan Tiwari
- Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
| | - Anju Katyal
- Dr Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
| | - Kailash C Pandey
- Host-Parasite Interaction Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.,Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India
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14
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Basmaciyan L, Azas N, Casanova M. A potential acetyltransferase involved in Leishmania major metacaspase-dependent cell death. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:266. [PMID: 31133064 PMCID: PMC6537415 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3526-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment for leishmaniases, owing to the cost, mode of administration, side effects and to the increasing emergence of drug resistance. As a consequence, the proteins involved in Leishmania apoptosis seem a target of choice for the development of new therapeutic tools against these neglected tropical diseases. Indeed, Leishmania cell death, while phenotypically similar to mammalian apoptosis, is very peculiar, involving no homologue of the key mammalian apoptotic proteins such as caspases and death receptors. Furthermore, very few proteins involved in Leishmania apoptosis have been identified. RESULTS We identified a protein involved in Leishmania apoptosis from a library of genes overexpressed during Leishmania differentiation during which autophagy occurs. Indeed, the gene was overexpressed when L. major cell death was induced by curcumin or miltefosine. Furthermore, its overexpression increased L. major curcumin- and miltefosine-induced apoptosis. This gene, named LmjF.22.0600, whose expression is dependent on the expression of the metacaspase, another apoptotic protein, encodes a putative acetyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS This new protein, identified as being involved in Leishmania apoptosis, will contribute to a better understanding of Leishmania death, which is needed owing to the absence of a satisfactory treatment against leishmaniases. It will also allow a better understanding of the original apoptotic pathways of eukaryotes in general, while evidence of the existence of such pathways is accumulating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- UMR PAM A, Valmis team, 2 rue Angélique Ducoudray, BP 37013, 21070 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Nadine Azas
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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15
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A novel hydrolase with a pro-death activity from the protozoan parasite Leishmania major. Cell Death Discov 2019; 5:99. [PMID: 31149349 PMCID: PMC6534544 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-019-0178-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a cell death process generally described as involving a cascade of caspase activation, death receptors and/or pro- and antiapoptotic molecules from the BcL-2 family. But about 20 years ago, a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway has been described. Regarding this pathway, we can learn a lot from Leishmania parasites. Indeed, these parasitic protozoa enter, in response to different stimuli, in a form of cell death phenotypically similar to mammalian apoptosis but without involving caspases or death receptors. So far, only two proteins have been clearly identified as being involved in Leishmania-regulated cell death: the metacaspase and the endonuclease G. We report here the identification of a new protein modeled as a potential hydrolase, highly conserved among Leishmania species and absent in the very close parasite Trypanosoma brucei. This protein is involved in L. major-regulated cell death induced by curcumin, miltefosine and pentamidine, after gene overexpression and/or protein translocation to the nucleus. The identification of proteins involved in Leishmania-regulated cell death will provide a better understanding of nonconventional apoptotic pathways in higher eukaryotes. It will also allow the development of new therapeutic tools via the identification of new specific targets.
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16
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Basmaciyan L, Azas N, Casanova M. Different apoptosis pathways in Leishmania parasites. Cell Death Discov 2018; 4:27. [PMID: 30155277 PMCID: PMC6102309 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-018-0092-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- UMR PAM A, Valmis Team, 2 rue Angélique Ducoudray, BP 37013, 21070 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Nadine Azas
- 2Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- 2Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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