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Moradimotlagh A, Brar HK, Chen S, Moon KM, Foster LJ, Reiner N, Nandan D. Characterization of Argonaute-containing protein complexes in Leishmania-infected human macrophages. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303686. [PMID: 38781128 PMCID: PMC11115314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania causes leishmaniasis in humans, leading to serious illness and death in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Unfortunately, due to the unavailability of approved vaccines for humans and the limited efficacy of available drugs, leishmaniasis is on the rise. A comprehensive understanding of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level could pave the way to counter leishmaniasis. There is growing evidence that several intracellular pathogens target RNA interference (RNAi) pathways in host cells to facilitate their persistence. The core elements of the RNAi system are complexes of Argonaute (Ago) proteins with small non-coding RNAs, also known as RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs). Recently, we have shown that Leishmania modulates Ago1 protein of host macrophages for its survival. In this study, we biochemically characterize the Ago proteins' interactome in Leishmania-infected macrophages compared to non-infected cells. For this, a quantitative proteomic approach using stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) was employed, followed by purification of host Ago-complexes using a short TNRC6 protein-derived peptide fused to glutathione S-transferase beads as an affinity matrix. Proteomic-based detailed biochemical analysis revealed Leishmania modulated host macrophage RISC composition during infection. This analysis identified 51 Ago-interacting proteins with a broad range of biological activities. Strikingly, Leishmania proteins were detected as part of host Ago-containing complexes in infected cells. Our results present the first report of comprehensive quantitative proteomics of Ago-containing complexes isolated from Leishmania-infected macrophages and suggest targeting the effector complex of host RNAi machinery. Additionally, these results expand knowledge of RISC in the context of host-pathogen interactions in parasitology in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Moradimotlagh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Harsimran Kaur Brar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Stella Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Kyung-Mee Moon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Neil Reiner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
| | - Devki Nandan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
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Costa SF, Soares MF, Poleto Bragato J, dos Santos MO, Rebech GT, de Freitas JH, de Lima VMF. MicroRNA-194 regulates parasitic load and IL-1β-dependent nitric oxide production in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of dogs with leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011789. [PMID: 38241360 PMCID: PMC10798644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic dogs are the primary urban reservoirs of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. In Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL), modulation of the host's immune response may be associated with the expression of small non-coding RNAs called microRNA (miR). miR-194 expression increases in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of dogs with leishmaniasis with a positive correlation with the parasite load and in silico analysis demonstrated that the TRAF6 gene is the target of miR-194 in PBMCs from diseased dogs. Here, we isolated PBMCs from 5 healthy dogs and 28 dogs with leishmaniasis, naturally infected with L. infantum. To confirm changes in miR-194 and TRAF6 expression, basal expression of miR-194 and gene expression of TRAF6 was measured using qPCR. PBMCs from healthy dogs and dogs with leishmaniasis were transfected with miR-194 scramble, mimic, and inhibitor and cultured at 37° C, 5% CO2 for 48 hours. The expression of possible targets was measured: iNOS, NO, T-bet, GATA3, and FoxP3 were measured using flow cytometry; the production of cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and TGF-β in cell culture supernatants was measured using capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Parasite load was measured using cytometry and qPCR. Functional assays followed by miR-194 inhibitor and IL-1β blockade and assessment of NO production were also performed. Basal miR-194 expression was increased in PBMC from dogs with Leishmaniasis and was negatively correlated with TRAF6 expression. The mimic of miR-194 promoted an increase in parasite load. There were no significant changes in T-bet, GATA3, or FoxP3 expression with miR-194 enhancement or inhibition. Inhibition of miR-194 increased IL-1β and NO in PBMCs from diseased dogs, and blockade of IL-1β following miR-194 inhibition decreased NO levels. These findings suggest that miR-194 is upregulated in PBMCs from dogs with leishmaniasis and increases parasite load, possibly decreasing NO production via IL-1β. These results increase our understanding of the mechanisms of evasion of the immune response by the parasite and the identification of possible therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidnei Ferro Costa
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Fujimura Soares
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline Poleto Bragato
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marilene Oliveira dos Santos
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Torres Rebech
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Henrique de Freitas
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
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3
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Moradimotlagh A, Chen S, Koohbor S, Moon KM, Foster LJ, Reiner N, Nandan D. Leishmania infection upregulates and engages host macrophage Argonaute 1, and system-wide proteomics reveals Argonaute 1-dependent host response. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1287539. [PMID: 38098491 PMCID: PMC10720368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1287539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania donovani, an intracellular protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, the most severe form of leishmaniasis in humans. It is becoming increasingly clear that several intracellular pathogens target host cell RNA interference (RNAi) pathways to promote their survival. Complexes of Argonaute proteins with small RNAs are core components of the RNAi. In this study, we investigated the potential role of host macrophage Argonautes in Leishmania pathogenesis. Using Western blot analysis of Leishmania donovani-infected macrophages, we show here that Leishmania infection selectively increased the abundance of host Argonaute 1 (Ago1). This increased abundance of Ago1 in infected cells also resulted in higher levels of Ago1 in active Ago-complexes, suggesting the preferred use of Ago1 in RNAi in Leishmania-infected cells. This analysis used a short trinucleotide repeat containing 6 (TNRC6)/glycine-tryptophan repeat protein (GW182) protein-derived peptide fused to Glutathione S-transferase as an affinity matrix to capture mature Ago-small RNAs complexes from the cytosol of non-infected and Leishmania-infected cells. Furthermore, Ago1 silencing significantly reduced intracellular survival of Leishmania, demonstrating that Ago1 is essential for Leishmania pathogenesis. To investigate the role of host Ago1 in Leishmania pathogenesis, a quantitative whole proteome approach was employed, which showed that expression of several previously reported Leishmania pathogenesis-related proteins was dependent on the level of macrophage Ago1. Together, these findings identify Ago1 as the preferred Argonaute of RNAi machinery in infected cells and a novel and essential virulence factor by proxy that promotes Leishmania survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Moradimotlagh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stella Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sara Koohbor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kyung-Mee Moon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Neil Reiner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Devki Nandan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Das K, Nozaki T. Non-Vesicular Lipid Transport Machinery in Leishmania donovani: Functional Implications in Host-Parasite Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10637. [PMID: 37445815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have distinct membrane-enclosed organelles, each with a unique biochemical signature and specialized function. The unique identity of each organelle is greatly governed by the asymmetric distribution and regulated intracellular movement of two important biomolecules, lipids, and proteins. Non-vesicular lipid transport mediated by lipid-transfer proteins (LTPs) plays essential roles in intra-cellular lipid trafficking and cellular lipid homeostasis, while vesicular transport regulates protein trafficking. A comparative analysis of non-vesicular lipid transport machinery in protists could enhance our understanding of parasitism and basis of eukaryotic evolution. Leishmania donovani, the trypanosomatid parasite, greatly depends on receptor-ligand mediated signalling pathways for cellular differentiation, nutrient uptake, secretion of virulence factors, and pathogenesis. Lipids, despite being important signalling molecules, have intracellular transport mechanisms that are largely unexplored in L. donovani. We have identified a repertoire of sixteen (16) potential lipid transfer protein (LTP) homologs based on a domain-based search on TriTrypDB coupled with bioinformatics analyses, which signifies the presence of well-organized lipid transport machinery in this parasite. We emphasized here their evolutionary uniqueness and conservation and discussed their potential implications for parasite biology with regards to future therapeutic targets against visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Das
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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5
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Kamran M, Bhattacharjee R, Das S, Mukherjee S, Ali N. The paradigm of intracellular parasite survival and drug resistance in leishmanial parasite through genome plasticity and epigenetics: Perception and future perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1001973. [PMID: 36814446 PMCID: PMC9939536 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1001973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is an intracellular, zoonotic, kinetoplastid eukaryote with more than 1.2 million cases all over the world. The leishmanial chromosomes are divided into polymorphic chromosomal ends, conserved central domains, and antigen-encoding genes found in telomere-proximal regions. The genome flexibility of chromosomal ends of the leishmanial parasite is known to cause drug resistance and intracellular survival through the evasion of host defense mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the plasticity of Leishmania genome organization which is the primary cause of drug resistance and parasite survival. Moreover, we have not only elucidated the causes of such genome plasticity which includes aneuploidy, epigenetic factors, copy number variation (CNV), and post-translation modification (PTM) but also highlighted their impact on drug resistance and parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sonali Das
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Sohitri Mukherjee
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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6
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Fernandes JCR, Gonçalves ANA, Floeter-Winter LM, Nakaya HI, Muxel SM. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of long noncoding RNAs in Leishmania-infected human macrophages. Front Genet 2023; 13:1051568. [PMID: 36685903 PMCID: PMC9845402 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1051568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that infection with Leishmania alters the host cell's transcriptome. Since mammalian cells have multiple mechanisms to control gene expression, different molecules, such as noncoding RNAs, can be involved in this process. MicroRNAs have been extensively studied upon Leishmania infection, but whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also altered in macrophages is still unexplored. We performed RNA-seq from THP-1-derived macrophages infected with Leishmania amazonensis (La), L. braziliensis (Lb), and L. infantum (Li), investigating a previously unappreciated fraction of macrophage transcriptome. We found that more than 24% of the total annotated transcripts and 30% of differentially expressed (DE) RNAs in Leishmania-infected macrophage correspond to lncRNAs. LncRNAs and protein coding RNAs with altered expression are similar among macrophages infected with the Leishmania species. Still, some species-specific alterations could occur due to distinct pathophysiology in which Li infection led to a more significant number of exclusively DE RNAs. The most represented classes among DE lncRNAs were intergenic and antisense lncRNAs. We also found enrichment for immune response-related pathways in the DE protein coding RNAs, as well as putative targets of the lncRNAs. We performed a coexpression analysis to explore potential cis regulation of coding and antisense noncoding transcripts. We identified that antisense lncRNAs are similarly regulated as its neighbor protein coding genes, such as the BAALC/BAALC-AS1, BAALC/BAALC-AS2, HIF1A/HIF1A-AS1, HIF1A/HIF1A-AS3 and IRF1/IRF1-AS1 pairs, which can occur as a species-specific modulation. These findings are a novelty in the field because, to date, no study has focused on analyzing lncRNAs in Leishmania-infected macrophage. Our results suggest that lncRNAs may account for a novel mechanism by which Leishmania can control macrophage function. Further research must validate putative lncRNA targets and provide additional prospects in lncRNA function during Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane C. R. Fernandes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Lucile M. Floeter-Winter
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Sandra M. Muxel
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,*Correspondence: Sandra M. Muxel,
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7
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Zhao D, Hu G, Chen R, Xiao G, Teng S. Molecular cloning, characterization, and tissue distribution of c-Myc from blood clam Tegillarca granosa and its role in cadmium-induced stress response. Gene 2022; 834:146611. [PMID: 35618219 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146611] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution threatens the cultivation of the blood clam Tegillarca granosa (T. granosa) in coastal regions of the East China Sea. The molecular mechanisms regulating Cd stress response and detoxification in blood clams are largely unclear. In the present study, the full-length T. granosa c-Myc (Tgc-Myc) cDNA was cloned for the first time. The 3063-bp cDNA consisted of a 129-bp 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 1746-bp 3' UTR, and a 1188-bp open reading frame encoding a predicted protein of 395 amino acid residues. The predicted protein had a calculated molecular weight of 44.9 kDa and an estimated isoelectric point of 6.82. The predicted protein contained an N-terminal transactivation domain and a C-terminal basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper domain, which are conserved functional domains of c-Myc proteins. Tgc-Myc showed broad tissue distribution in blood clams, with the highest expression detected in the gill and hepatopancreas. Exposure to Cd, a major heavy metal pollutant in coastal regions of the East China Sea, induced Tgc-Myc expression in gill tissues. Tgc-Myc knockdown led to reduced expression of a variety of stress response/detoxification genes in blood clams cultivated in Cd-contaminated seawater. Tgc-Myc knockdown also led to decreased expression of IGF1R, a proto-oncogene that promotes cell proliferation. These findings indicated that Tgc-Myc regulates Cd-induced stress response and detoxification in blood clams. The upregulation of Tgc-Myc may serve as an approach to generate strains with an enhanced detoxification response and consequently a low heavy metal buildup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Defeng Zhao
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Zhejiang Key Lab of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-Resource, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Genetics and Breeding, Wenzhou 325005, China; Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Gaoyu Hu
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Zhejiang Key Lab of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-Resource, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Genetics and Breeding, Wenzhou 325005, China
| | - Ran Chen
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Zhejiang Key Lab of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-Resource, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Genetics and Breeding, Wenzhou 325005, China
| | - Guoqiang Xiao
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Zhejiang Key Lab of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-Resource, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Genetics and Breeding, Wenzhou 325005, China; Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
| | - Shuangshuang Teng
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Zhejiang Key Lab of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-Resource, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Genetics and Breeding, Wenzhou 325005, China.
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8
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Jafarzadeh A, Nemati M, Aminizadeh N, Bodhale N, Sarkar A, Jafarzadeh S, Sharifi I, Saha B. Bidirectional cytokine-microRNA control: A novel immunoregulatory framework in leishmaniasis. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010696. [PMID: 35925884 PMCID: PMC9351994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As effector innate immune cells and as a host to the protozoan parasite Leishmania, macrophages play a dual role in antileishmanial immunoregulation. The 2 key players in this immunoregulation are the macrophage-expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and the macrophage-secreted cytokines. miRNAs, as small noncoding RNAs, play vital roles in macrophage functions including cytokines and chemokines production. In the reverse direction, Leishmania-regulated cytokines alter miRNAs expression to regulate the antileishmanial functions of macrophages. The miRNA patterns vary with the time and stage of infection. The cytokine-regulated macrophage miRNAs not only help parasite elimination or persistence but also regulate cytokine production from macrophages. Based on these observations, we propose a novel immunoregulatory framework as a scientific rationale for antileishmanial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- * E-mail: (AJ); (BS)
| | - Maryam Nemati
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Department of Haematology and Laboratory Sciences, School of Para-Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Najmeh Aminizadeh
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University Branch of Kerman, Kerman
| | | | - Arup Sarkar
- Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sara Jafarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre For Cell Science, Pune, India
- Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
- * E-mail: (AJ); (BS)
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Gupta AK, Das S, Kamran M, Ejazi SA, Ali N. The Pathogenicity and Virulence of Leishmania - interplay of virulence factors with host defenses. Virulence 2022; 13:903-935. [PMID: 35531875 PMCID: PMC9154802 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2074130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania. Infection by different species of Leishmania results in various host immune responses, which usually lead to parasite clearance and may also contribute to pathogenesis and, hence, increasing the complexity of the disease. Interestingly, the parasite tends to reside within the unfriendly environment of the macrophages and has evolved various survival strategies to evade or modulate host immune defense. This can be attributed to the array of virulence factors of the vicious parasite, which target important host functioning and machineries. This review encompasses a holistic overview of leishmanial virulence factors, their role in assisting parasite-mediated evasion of host defense weaponries, and modulating epigenetic landscapes of host immune regulatory genes. Furthermore, the review also discusses the diagnostic potential of various leishmanial virulence factors and the advent of immunomodulators as futuristic antileishmanial drug therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Kumar Gupta
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Sonali Das
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Mohd Kamran
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Sarfaraz Ahmad Ejazi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Nahid Ali
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 700032, India
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10
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Rashidi S, Mansouri R, Ali-Hassanzadeh M, Ghani E, Barazesh A, Karimazar M, Nguewa P, Carrera Silva EA. Highlighting the interplay of microRNAs from Leishmania parasites and infected-host cells. Parasitology 2021; 148:1434-1446. [PMID: 34218829 PMCID: PMC11010138 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021001177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites, the causative agents of leishmaniasis, are protozoan parasites with the ability to modify the signalling pathway and cell responses of their infected host cells. These parasite strategies alter the host cell environment and conditions favouring their replication, survival and pathogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) are able to post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression processes, these biomolecules can exert critical roles in controlling Leishmania-host cell interplay. Therefore, the identification of relevant miRNAs differentially expressed in Leishmania parasites as well as in infected cells, which affect the host fitness, could be critical to understand the infection biology, pathogenicity and immune response against these parasites. Accordingly, the current review aims to address the differentially expressed miRNAs in both, the parasite and infected host cells and how these biomolecules change cell signalling and host immune responses during infection. A deep understanding of these processes could provide novel guidelines and therapeutic strategies for managing and treating leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Rashidi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Mansouri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali-Hassanzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Ghani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Afshin Barazesh
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Karimazar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Paul Nguewa
- University of Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008Pamplona, Spain
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11
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Gupta A, Sinha KM, Abdin MZ, Puri N, Selvapandiyan A. NDK/NME proteins: a host-pathogen interface perspective towards therapeutics. Curr Genet 2021; 68:15-25. [PMID: 34480234 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-021-01198-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
No effective vaccine is available for any parasitic disease. The treatment to those is solely dependent on chemotherapy, which is always threatened due to development of drug resistance in bugs. This warrants identification of new drug targets. Here, we discuss Nucleoside diphosphate kinases (NDKs) of pathogens that alter host's intra and extracellular environment, as novel drug targets to simultaneously tackle multiple pathogens. NDKs having diverse functions, are highly conserved among prokaryotes and eukaryotes (the mammal NDKs are called NMEs [non-metastatic enzymes]). However, NDKs and NMEs have been separately analysed in the past for their structure and functions. The role of NDKs of pathogen in modulation of inflammation, phagocytosis, apoptosis, and ROS generation in host is known. Conversely, its combined contribution in host-pathogen interaction has not been studied yet. Through the sequence and domain analysis, we found that NDKs can be classified in two groups. One group comprised NMEs 1-4 and few NDKs of select essential protozoan parasites and the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The other group included NME7 and the other NDKs of those parasites, posing challenges in the development of drugs specifically targeting pathogen NDKs, without affecting NME7. However, common drugs targeting group 2 NDKs of pathogens can be designed, as NME7 of group 2 is expressed only in ciliated host cells. This review thus analyses comparatively for the first time the structures and functions of human NMEs and pathogen NDKs and predicts the possibilities of NDKs as drug targets. In addition, pathogen NDKs have been now provided a nomenclature in alignment with the NMEs of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Gupta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Technology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Krishna Murari Sinha
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Gurgaon, Haryana, 122413, India
| | - Malik Z Abdin
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India
| | - Niti Puri
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Angamuthu Selvapandiyan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Technology, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India.
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12
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Walters HA, Temesvari LA. Target acquired: transcriptional regulators as drug targets for protozoan parasites. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:599-611. [PMID: 33722681 PMCID: PMC8169582 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites are single-celled eukaryotic organisms that cause significant human disease and pose a substantial health and socioeconomic burden worldwide. They are responsible for at least 1 million deaths annually. The treatment of such diseases is hindered by the ability of parasites to form latent cysts, develop drug resistance, or be transmitted by insect vectors. Additionally, these pathogens have developed complex mechanisms to alter host gene expression. The prevalence of these diseases is predicted to increase as climate change leads to the augmentation of ambient temperatures, insect ranges, and warm water reservoirs. Therefore, the discovery of novel treatments is necessary. Transcription factors lie at the junction of multiple signalling pathways in eukaryotes and aberrant transcription factor function contributes to the progression of numerous human diseases including cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease. Transcription factors were previously thought to be undruggable. However, due to recent advances, transcription factors now represent appealing drug targets. It is conceivable that transcription factors, and the pathways they regulate, may also serve as targets for anti-parasitic drug design. Here, we review transcription factors and transcriptional modulators of protozoan parasites, and discuss how they may be useful in drug discovery. We also provide information on transcription factors that play a role in stage conversion of parasites, TATA box-binding proteins, and transcription factors and cofactors that participate with RNA polymerases I, II and III. We also highlight a significant gap in knowledge in that the transcription factors of some of parasites have been under-investigated. Understanding parasite transcriptional pathways and how parasites alter host gene expression will be essential in discovering innovative drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- H A Walters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States; Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
| | - L A Temesvari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States; Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States.
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13
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Hu M, Zhang Y, Gu D, Chen X, Waldor MK, Zhou X. Nucleolar c-Myc recruitment by a Vibrio T3SS effector promotes host cell proliferation and bacterial virulence. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105699. [PMID: 33347626 PMCID: PMC7809790 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogen type 3 secretion systems (T3SS) manipulate host cell pathways by directly delivering effector proteins into host cells. In Vibrio parahaemolyticus, the leading cause of bacterial seafood-borne diarrheal disease, we showed that a T3SS effector, VgpA, localizes to the host cell nucleolus where it binds Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1-binding protein 2 (EBP2). An amino acid substitution in VgpA (VgpAL10A ) did not alter its translocation to the nucleus but abolished the effector's capacity to interact with EBP2. VgpA-EBP2 interaction led to the re-localization of c-Myc to the nucleolus and increased cellular rRNA expression and proliferation of cultured cells. The VgpA-EBP2 interaction elevated EBP2's affinity for c-Myc and prolonged the oncoprotein's half-life. Studies in infant rabbits demonstrated that VgpA is translocated into intestinal epithelial cells, where it interacts with EBP2 and leads to nucleolar re-localization of c-Myc. Moreover, the in vivo VgpA-EBP2 interaction during infection led to proliferation of intestinal cells and heightened V. parahaemolyticus' colonization and virulence. These observations suggest that direct effector stimulation of a c-Myc controlled host cell growth program can contribute to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maozhi Hu
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary ScienceUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Yibei Zhang
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary ScienceUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Dan Gu
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary ScienceUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Division of Infectious DiseasesBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Matthew K Waldor
- Division of Infectious DiseasesBrigham and Women's HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Howard Hughes Medical InstituteBostonMAUSA
| | - Xiaohui Zhou
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary ScienceUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldCTUSA
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14
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Nandan D, Rath CT, Reiner NE. Leishmania regulates host macrophage miRNAs expression by engaging transcription factor c-Myc. J Leukoc Biol 2020; 109:999-1007. [PMID: 33211335 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.4ru0920-614r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of Leishmania genus have developed sophisticated strategies allowing them to deactivate their host macrophage to promote their survival. It has become clear that miRNAs play important roles in shaping innate and adaptive immune responses toward pathogens. It is not surprising that several pathogens including Leishmania have evolved the ability to regulate host macrophage miRNA expression in order to manipulate host cell phenotypes to their advantage. However, very little is known about the mechanisms used by intracellular pathogens to drive changes in host cell miRNA abundance. In this review, Leishmania exploitation of macrophage transcription factor c-Myc as a critical proxy virulence factor to regulate abundance of macrophage miRNAs influencing macrophage physiology to promote its survival will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devki Nandan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Carolina Torturella Rath
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Neil E Reiner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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15
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Parmar N, Chandrakar P, Kar S. Leishmania donovani Subverts Host Immune Response by Epigenetic Reprogramming of Macrophage M(Lipopolysaccharides + IFN-γ)/M(IL-10) Polarization. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:2762-2778. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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16
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Acuña SM, Floeter-Winter LM, Muxel SM. MicroRNAs: Biological Regulators in Pathogen-Host Interactions. Cells 2020; 9:E113. [PMID: 31906500 PMCID: PMC7016591 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An inflammatory response is essential for combating invading pathogens. Several effector components, as well as immune cell populations, are involved in mounting an immune response, thereby destroying pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In the past decade, microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding small RNAs, have emerged as functionally significant regulatory molecules with the significant capability of fine-tuning biological processes. The important role of miRNAs in inflammation and immune responses is highlighted by studies in which the regulation of miRNAs in the host was shown to be related to infectious diseases and associated with the eradication or susceptibility of the infection. Here, we review the biological aspects of microRNAs, focusing on their roles as regulators of gene expression during pathogen-host interactions and their implications in the immune response against Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Toxoplasma, and Plasmodium infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Marcia Muxel
- Department of Physiology, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, Brazil; (S.M.A.); (L.M.F.-W.)
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17
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Zhang W, Deng W, Wang Y. microRNA-103 promotes LPS-induced inflammatory injury by targeting c-Myc in HK-2 cells. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 47:2791-2799. [PMID: 31284776 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2019.1636806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Wenyan Deng
- Department of Nephrology, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China
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18
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Afrin F, Khan I, Hemeg HA. Leishmania-Host Interactions-An Epigenetic Paradigm. Front Immunol 2019; 10:492. [PMID: 30967861 PMCID: PMC6438953 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the major neglected tropical diseases, for which no vaccines exist. Chemotherapy is hampered by limited efficacy coupled with development of resistance and other side effects. Leishmania parasites elude the host defensive mechanisms by modulating their surface proteins as well as dampening the host's immune responses. The parasites use the conventional RNA polymerases peculiarly under different environmental cues or pressures such as the host's milieu or the drugs. The mechanisms that restructure post-translational modifications are poorly understood but altered epigenetic histone modifications are believed to be instrumental in influencing the chromatin remodeling in the parasite. Interestingly, the parasite also modulates gene expression of the hosts, thereby hijacking or dampening the host immune response. Epigenetic factor such as DNA methylation of cytosine residues has been incriminated in silencing of macrophage-specific genes responsible for defense against these parasites. Although there is dearth of information regarding the epigenetic alterations-mediated pathogenesis in these parasites and the host, the unique epigenetic marks may represent targets for potential anti-leishmanial drug candidates. This review circumscribes the epigenetic changes during Leishmania infection, and the epigenetic modifications they enforce upon the host cells to ensure a safe haven. The non-coding micro RNAs as post-transcriptional regulators and correlates of wound healing and toll-like receptor signaling, as well as prognostic biomarkers of therapeutic failure and healing time are also explored. Finally, we highlight the recent advances on how the epigenetic perturbations may impact leishmaniasis vaccine development as biomarkers of safety and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhat Afrin
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madina, Saudi Arabia
| | - Inbesat Khan
- Rajiv Gandhi Technical University, Bhopal, India
| | - Hassan A Hemeg
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madina, Saudi Arabia
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19
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Wang S, Liu R, Yu Q, Dong L, Bi Y, Liu G. Metabolic reprogramming of macrophages during infections and cancer. Cancer Lett 2019; 452:14-22. [PMID: 30905817 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In response to different microenvironmental stimuli, macrophages are polarized into two populations, M1 macrophages which are classically activated by interferon (IFN)-γ with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) and M2 macrophages which are alternatively activated by interleukin-4 (IL-4), to perform specific roles in innate immune responses. Accordingly, macrophages occupy distinct metabolic profiles, regulated by orchestrated factors and signaling pathways, including the PI3K-AKT, HIF, c-Myc, AMPK, and PPARs pathways. These factors and pathways play pivotal roles not only in metabolic regulation but also in macrophage polarization. After activation, classically activated M1 macrophages and alternatively activated M2 macrophages display distinct patterns in glucose, lipid, amino acid and iron metabolism. Here, we summarized recently discovered metabolism-related inflammatory signaling factors, along with reprogrammed metabolism, after the activation of macrophages under conditions related to immunity and cancer. Additionally, macrophage regulatory roles in infectious diseases, cancer progression and anti-cancer immunotherapy are discussed in terms of metabolic profiles, providing insight into the prevention and treatment of immune-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ruichen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Qing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Yujing Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
| | - Guangwei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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