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Jin M, Liang S, Wang J, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Liu S, Xie F. Endopeptidase O promotes Streptococcus suis immune evasion by cleaving the host- defence peptide cathelicidins. Virulence 2023; 14:2283896. [PMID: 38010345 PMCID: PMC10732652 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2283896] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic Gram-positive bacterium that causes invasive infections such as sepsis and meningitis, threatening public health worldwide. For successful establishment of infection, the bacterium should subvert the innate effectors of immune defence, including the cathelicidin family of host-defence peptides that combat pathogenic bacteria by directly disrupting cell membranes and coordinating immune responses. Here, our study shows that an extracellular endopeptidase O (PepO) of S. suis contributes to assisting the bacterium to resist cathelicidin-mediated killing, as the deletion of the pepO gene makes S. suis more sensitive to the human cathelicidin LL-37, as well as its mouse equivalent, mCRAMP. This protease targets and cleaves both LL-37 and mCRAMP, degrading them into shorter peptides with only a few amino acids, thereby abrogating their ability to kill S. suis. By cleaving LL-37 and mCRAMP, PepO impairs their chemotactic properties for neutrophil migration and undermines their anti-apoptosis activity, which is required for prolonging neutrophil lifespan. Also, PepO inhibits the ability of LL-37 and mCRAMP to promote lysosome development in macrophages. Moreover, the loss of PepO attenuates organ injury and decreases bacterial burdens in a murine model of S. suis bacteraemia. Taken together, these data provide novel insights into the role of the intrinsic proteolytic characteristics of PepO in S. suis-host interaction. Our findings demonstrate that S. suis utilizes the PepO protease to cleave cathelicidins, which is an immunosuppressive strategy adopted by this bacterium to facilitate pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Siyu Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Huihui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Yueling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Wanjiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Siguo Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Fang Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
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Zarean M, Mastroeni P, Moghaddas E, Hosseini Farash BR, Raouf-Rahmati A, Jamali J, Azadeh H, Kam V. Toxoplasmosis Frequency Rate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Northeastern Iran. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2022; 17:325-331. [PMID: 36466029 PMCID: PMC9682380 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v17i3.10622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Toxo-plasma gondii, a cosmopolitan intracellular parasite. It can be a risk factor for auto-immune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was designed to investigate the possible association between serological history of T. gondii infection and defined clinical manifestation of RA in Northeast of Iran. METHODS Overall, serum samples were collected from 50 RA patients and 40 healthy controls, from Qaem Hospital in Mashhad City, northeastern Iran in 2018. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was determined by ELISA. RESULTS The prevalence of anti -T. gondii IgG in RA patients 48% (24.50) was significantly higher than the control group 10% (4.40) (P <0.001). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and (rheumatoid factor) RF levels between the RA and control groups (P <0.01). Control group were matched with patients for age, gender and living area. CONCLUSION Given that a high correlation has been demonstrated between positivity rate of anti-T. gondii IgG and RA in Northeastern Iran, further studies will be necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of T. gondii among these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Zarean
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Pietro Mastroeni
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elham Moghaddas
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Bibi Razieh Hosseini Farash
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amene Raouf-Rahmati
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jamshid Jamali
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hossein Azadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Division, Orthopaedic Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Vahideh Kam
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Allahyari M. PLGA Nanoparticles as an Efficient Platform in Protein Vaccines Against Toxoplasma gondii. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:582-591. [PMID: 35013939 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00499-w] [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: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) as an obligatory intracellular is widespread all over the world and causes considerable concerns in immunocompromised patients by developing toxoplasmic encephalitis and in pregnancy because of serious consequences in the fetus. Although vaccination is the only approach to overcome toxoplasmosis, there is no commercially available human vaccine against T. gondii. PURPOSE The remarkable features of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles have brought up the application of PLGA as a promising vaccine delivery vehicle against T. gondii and other intracellular parasites. This review focuses on the application of the PLGA delivery system in the development of preventive vaccines against T. gondii. METHODS In this study, all required data were collected from articles indexed in English databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. RESULT Immunity against T. gondii, characteristics of PLGA particles as a delivery vehicle, and all researches on particulate PLGA vaccines with different T. gondii antigens and DNA against were discussed and their efficacies in conferring protection against a lethal challenge based on increased survival or reduced brain cyst loads have been shown. CONCLUSION Although various levels of protection against lethal challenge have been achieved through PLGA-based vaccinations, there is still no complete protection against T. gondii infection. Surprisingly, the application of surface modifications of PLGA particles by mucoadhesive polymers, cationic agents, DCs (dendritic cells) targeting receptors, specialized membranous epithelial cells (M-cells), and co-delivery of the desired antigen along with toll-like receptor ligands would be a revolutionized vaccine strategy against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Allahyari
- Recombinant Protein Production Department, Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran.
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An Exaggerated Immune Response in Female BALB/c Mice Controls Initial Toxoplasma gondii Multiplication but Increases Mortality and Morbidity Relative to Male Mice. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091154. [PMID: 34578186 PMCID: PMC8470933 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies indicate that female mice are more susceptible to T. gondii infection, as defined by higher mortality rates in comparison to male mice. However, whether this is due to an inability to control initial parasite multiplication or due to detrimental effects of the immune system has not been determined. Therefore, the following studies were undertaken to determine the influence of sex on early parasite multiplication and the immune response during T. gondii infection and to correlate this with disease outcome. Early parasite replication was studied through applying an in vivo imaging system (IVIS) with luciferase expressing T. gondii. In parallel immunological events were studied by cytometric bead array to quantify key immunological mediators. The results confirmed the previous findings that female mice are more susceptible to acute infection, as determined by higher mortality rates and weight loss compared with males. However, conflicting with expectations, female mice had lower parasite burdens during the acute infection than male mice. Female mice also exhibited significantly increased production of Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Interferon (IFN)-γ, and Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α than male mice. MCP-1 was found to be induced by T. gondii in a dose dependent manner suggesting that the observed increased levels detected in female mice was due to a host-mediated sex difference rather than due to parasite load. However, MCP-1 was not affected by physiological concentration of estrogen or testosterone, indicating that MCP-1 differences observed between the sexes in vivo are due to an as yet unidentified intermediary factor that in turn influences MCP-1 levels. These results suggest that a stronger immune response in female mice compared with male mice enhances their ability to control parasite replication but increases their morbidity and mortality.
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Fereig RM, Nishikawa Y. From Signaling Pathways to Distinct Immune Responses: Key Factors for Establishing or Combating Neospora caninum Infection in Different Susceptible Hosts. Pathogens 2020; 9:E384. [PMID: 32429367 PMCID: PMC7281608 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
: Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite affecting numerous animal species. It induces significant economic losses because of abortion and neonatal abnormalities in cattle. In case of infection, the parasite secretes numerous arsenals to establish a successful infection in the host cell. In the same context but for a different purpose, the host resorts to different strategies to eliminate the invading parasite. During this battle, numerous key factors from both parasite and host sides are produced and interact for the maintaining and vanishing of the infection, respectively. Although several reviews have highlighted the role of different compartments of the immune system against N. caninum infection, each one of them has mostly targeted specific points related to the immune component and animal host. Thus, in the current review, we will focus on effector molecules derived from the host cell or the parasite using a comprehensive survey method from previous reports. According to our knowledge, this is the first review that highlights and discusses immune response at the host cell-parasite molecular interface against N. caninum infection in different susceptible hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M. Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan;
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena City, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan;
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Attia MM, El-Gameel SM, Ismael E. Evaluation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); gamma interferon (IFN-γ) genes and oxidative stress in sheep: immunological responses induced by Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) infestation. J Parasit Dis 2020; 44:332-337. [PMID: 32508407 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-020-01220-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the cell mediated immune responses against Oestrus ovis (O. ovis) in sheep through measurement of the changes in mRNA expression of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokines using quantitative Real time-PCR (qRt-PCR). Also; to detect the role of Oestrus ovis infestation in the oxidative stress markers in sheep. Fifty sheep head were examined in Cairo abattoir from the period of May to August 2019. Sera were separated and collected for measurement of nitric oxide, zinc and malondialdehyde (MDA). While TNF-α and IFN-γ mRNA were extracted from nasal mucosa. Levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly higher in infested sheep than that in non-infested one. Also, oxidative stresses were indicated by high level of nitric oxide as one of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and serum MDA as oxidative stress marker and low antioxidant capacity (zinc concentration in serum) in infested sheep. The obtained results indicated that measurements of TNF-α and IFN-γ cytokines using qRT-PCR could be used as an association and reproducible quantitative method for the diagnosis of O. ovis infestation in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Attia
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211 Egypt
| | - Sohila M El-Gameel
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211 Egypt
| | - Elshaimaa Ismael
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12211 Egypt
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Zhou N, Fu H, Wang Z, Shi H, Yu Y, Qu T, Wang L, Zhang X, Wang L. Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in children with leukemia in Shandong Province, Eastern China: a case-control prospective study. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6604. [PMID: 30886781 PMCID: PMC6420808 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available concerning the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in children with leukemia in Eastern China. Therefore, a case-control study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in this patient group and to identify risk factors and possible routes of infection. Serum samples were collected from 339 children with leukemia and 339 age matched health control subjects in Qingdao from September 2014 to March 2018. Enzyme linked immunoassays were used to screen anti- T. gondii IgG and anti- T. gondii IgM antibodies. Forty-eight (14.2%) children with leukemia and 31 (9.1%) control subjects were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (P < 0.05), while 13 (3.8%) patients and 14 (4.1%) controls were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies (P = 0.84). Multivariate analysis showed exposure to soil and a history of blood transfusion were risk factors for T. gondii infection. Compared with IgG, patients with a history of blood transfusion were more likely to present anti- T. gondii IgM (P = 0.003). Moreover, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia had higher T. gondii seroprevalence in comparison to control subjects (P = 0.002 and P = 0.016, respectively). The results indicated that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in children with leukemia is higher than that of healthy children in Eastern China. This information may be used to guide future research and clinical management, and further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of T. gondii in children with leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Haiyang Fu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhongjun Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hailei Shi
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tingting Qu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Longlong Wang
- Department of Urinary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Hiob L, Berndt A, Daugschies A, Bangoura B. Host-pathogen interaction in Toxoplasma gondii-infected mixed chicken blood cell cultures. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1479-1491. [PMID: 30798368 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06265-2] [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: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii has the ability to infect various nucleated cell types in different hosts. The aim of the present study was to investigate which chicken blood cells were targeted by T. gondii in a mixed blood cell culture similar to in vivo conditions and to evaluate parasite-host cell interactions. The study consisted of two subsequent experiments. In experiment 1, we applied T. gondii tachyzoites (ME49) at a multiplicity of infection of 1 tachyzoite per blood cell and examined parasite replication, cytokine, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression between 1 h and 48 h post-infection (p.i.) by quantitative PCR. By using T. gondii RH-GFP tachyzoites expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in experiment 2, we aimed for visualizing infected cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometric analysis at 24 h p.i. The parasite replication curve showed a massive decrease of parasite stages until 24 h p.i. followed by an approximately plateau phase. We observed mainly significantly increased iNOS mRNA expression levels in T. gondii-infected culture compared to uninfected cells. Flow cytometry and CLSM data confirmed monocytes/macrophages as main target cells for T. gondii. Moreover, different lymphocytes like B cells and cytotoxic T cells seem to be targeted to a low extent. Our findings indicate that monocytes/macrophages play a key role during T. gondii infection in chicken as host cells and triggering of immune response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a mixed chicken blood cell culture experimentally infected with T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lysanne Hiob
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - A Berndt
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, D-07743, Jena, Germany
| | - A Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - B Bangoura
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
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Wang X, Gong P, Zhang X, Li S, Lu X, Zhao C, Yu Q, Wei Z, Yang Y, Liu Q, Yang Z, Li J, Zhang X. NLRP3 Inflammasome Participates in Host Response to Neospora caninum Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1791. [PMID: 30105037 PMCID: PMC6077289 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii that mainly infects canids as the definitive host and cattle as the intermediate host, resulting in abortion in cattle and leading to financial losses worldwide. Commercial vaccines or drugs are not available for the prevention and treatment of bovine neosporosis. Knowledge about the hallmarks of the immune response to this infection could form the basis of important prevention strategies. The innate immune system first responds to invading parasite and subsequently initiates the appropriate adaptive immune response against this parasite. Upon infection, activation of host pattern-recognition receptors expressed by immune cells triggers the innate immune response. Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and C-type lectin receptors play key roles in recognizing protozoan parasite. Therefore, we aimed to explore the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome during the acute period of N. caninum infection. In vitro results showed that N. caninum infection of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages activated the NLRP3 inflammasome, accompanied by the release of IL-1β and IL-18, cleavage of caspase-1, and induction of cell death. K+ efflux induced by N. caninum infection participated in the activation of the inflammasome. Infection of mice deficient in NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1/11 resulted in decreased production of IL-18 and reduced IFN-γ in serum. Elevated numbers of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils were found at the initial infection site, but they failed to limit N. caninum replication. These findings suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the host response to N. caninum infection at the acute stage and plays an important role in limiting parasite growth, and it may enhance Th1 response by inducing production of IFN-γ. These findings may help devise protocols for controlling neosporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocen Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiangyun Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qile Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhengkai Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yongjun Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Silva-Gutierrez N, Bahsas Zaky R, Bouchard M, Teran Angel G, Amoroso A, Peterson DL, Salmen S. T-cell profiles elicited by Toxoplasma gondii in acutely/chronically infected humans. Parasite Immunol 2018; 40:e12532. [PMID: 29633283 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded species and induce a chronic infection in human hosts. The aim of this work was to investigate Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg polarization, induced by four important T. gondii antigens (SAG1, ROP1, GRA8 and MAG1) in acutely and chronically infected patients. For this purpose, SAG1, ROP1, GRA8 and MAG1 were expressed as recombinant proteins, purified, and used to evaluate the proinflammatory and regulatory immune response profiles in seropositive and seronegative individuals. Our results show that SAG1 and ROP1 elicited a proinflammatory profile (INF-γ, IL-12 and IL-17) in individuals in the acute phase, whereas MAG1 and GRA8 induced a regulatory pattern (Treg and TGF-β) in chronically infected patients. These results reveal fundamental differences in T-cell polarization induced by T. gondii antigens, which could have important implications in the immunopathogenesis of the disease and in future proposals of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Silva-Gutierrez
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - R Bahsas Zaky
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - M Bouchard
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - G Teran Angel
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - A Amoroso
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - D L Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - S Salmen
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Inmunologia Clinica, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China. Infect Dis Poverty 2017; 6:153. [PMID: 29065914 PMCID: PMC5655948 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-017-0367-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infection in these patients. Methods Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude antigen of the parasite in 820 arthritic patients, and an equal number of healthy controls, from Qingdao and Weihai cities, eastern China. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle information on the study participants were also obtained. Results The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in arthritic patients (18.8%) compared with 12% in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Twelve patients with arthritis had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies – comparable with 10 control patients (1.5% vs 1.2%). Demographic factors did not significantly influence these seroprevalence frequencies. The highest T. gondii infection seropositivity rate was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (24.8%), followed by reactive arthritis (23.8%), osteoarthritis (19%), infectious arthritis (18.4%) and gouty arthritis (14.8%). Seroprevalence rates of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were significantly higher when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant association was detected between T. gondii infection and cats being present in the home in arthritic patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 – 2.28; P = 0.001). Conclusions These findings are consistent with and extend previous results, providing further evidence to support a link between contact with cats and an increased risk of T. gondii infection. Our study is also the first to confirm an association between T. gondii infection and arthritis patients in China. Implications for better prevention and control of T. gondii infection in arthritis patients are discussed. Trial registration This is an epidemiological survey, therefore trial registration was not required. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40249-017-0367-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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