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Cudjoe O, Afful R, Hagan TA. Toxoplasma-host endoplasmic reticulum interaction: How T. gondii activates unfolded protein response and modulates immune response. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2024; 6:100223. [PMID: 38352129 PMCID: PMC10861954 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100223] [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] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic single-celled zoonotic parasite that can infect human beings and animals. Infection with T. gondii is usually asymptomatic in immune-competent individual, however, it can cause symptomatic and life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals and in developing foetuses. Although the mechanisms that allow T. gondii to persist in host cells are poorly understood, studies in animal models have greatly improved our understanding of Toxoplasma-host cell interaction and how this interaction modulates parasite proliferation and development, host immune response and virulence of the parasite. T. gondii is capable of recruiting the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER), suggesting it may influence the host ER function. Herein, we provide an overview of T. gondii infection and the role of host ER during stressed conditions. Furthermore, we highlight studies that explore T. gondii's interaction with the host ER. We delve into how this interaction activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, we examine how T. gondii exploits these pathways to its advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obed Cudjoe
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Klintaps College of Health and Allied Sciences, DTD TDC Plot 30A, Klagon, Tema, Ghana
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Roger Afful
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Klintaps College of Health and Allied Sciences, DTD TDC Plot 30A, Klagon, Tema, Ghana
| | - Tonny Abraham Hagan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
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Obed C, Wu M, Chen Y, An R, Cai H, Luo Q, Yu L, Wang J, Liu F, Shen J, Du J. Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein 3 promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis by activating the PERK pathway. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:276. [PMID: 35918751 PMCID: PMC9344675 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05394-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic single-celled parasite that can infect mammals, including humans. Central nervous system infection with T. gondii infection can lead to Toxoplasma encephalitis. Toxoplasma infection can cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) activation, which ultimately can lead to apoptosis of host cells. The dense granule protein GRA3 has been identified as one of the secretory proteins that contribute to the virulence of T. gondii; however, the mechanism remains enigmatic. Methods The expression of the GRA3 gene in RH, ME49, Wh3, and Wh6 strains was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). pEGFP-GRA3Wh6 was constructed by inserting Chinese 1 Wh6 GRA3 (GRA3Wh6) cDNA into a plasmid encoding the enhanced GFP. Mouse neuro2a (N2a) cells were transfected with either pEGFP or pEGFP-GRA3Wh6 (GRA3Wh6) and incubated for 24–36 h. N2a cell apoptosis and ER stress-associated proteins were determined using flow cytometry and immunoblotting. Furthermore, N2a cells were pretreated with GSK2656157 (a PERK inhibitor) and Z-ATAD-FMK (a caspase-12 inhibitor) before GRA3Wh6 transfection, and the effect of the inhibitors on GRA3Wh6-induced ER stress and apoptosis were investigated. Results GRA3 gene expression was higher in the less virulent strains of type II ME49 and type Chinese 1 Wh6 strains compared with the virulent strains of type I RH strain and type Chinese 1 Wh3 strain. Transfection with GRA3Wh6 plasmid induced neuronal apoptosis and increased the expression of GRP78, p-PERK, cleaved caspase-12, cleaved caspase-3, and CHOP compared with the control vector. Pretreatment with GSK2656157 and Z-ATAD-FMK decreased apoptosis in N2a cells, and similarly, ER stress- and apoptosis-associated protein levels were significantly decreased. Conclusion GRA3 induces neural cell apoptosis via the ER stress signaling pathway, which could play a role in toxoplasmic encephalitis. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Cudjoe Obed
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,Department of Microbiology & Immunology School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Minmin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ying Chen
- The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ran An
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Haijian Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Qingli Luo
- The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Li Yu
- The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China. .,The Research Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China. .,The Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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