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Maizels RM, Newfeld SJ. Convergent Evolution in a Murine Intestinal Parasite Rapidly Created the TGM Family of Molecular Mimics to Suppress the Host Immune Response. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad158. [PMID: 37625791 PMCID: PMC10516467 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Transforming Growth Factor-β mimic (TGM) multigene family was recently discovered in the murine intestinal parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus. This family was shaped by an atypical set of organismal and molecular evolutionary mechanisms along its path through the adaptive landscape. The relevant mechanisms are mimicry, convergence, exon modularity, new gene origination, and gene family neofunctionalization. We begin this review with a description of the TGM family and then address two evolutionary questions: "Why were TGM proteins needed for parasite survival" and "when did the TGM family originate"? For the former, we provide a likely answer, and for the latter, we identify multiple TGM building blocks in the ruminant intestinal parasite Haemonchus contortus. We close by identifying avenues for future investigation: new biochemical data to assign functions to more family members as well as new sequenced genomes in the Trichostrongyloidea superfamily and the Heligmosomoides genus to clarify TGM origins and expansion. Continued study of TGM proteins will generate increased knowledge of Transforming Growth Factor-β signaling, host-parasite interactions, and metazoan evolutionary mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart J Newfeld
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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2
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Chakraborty P, Aravindhan V, Mukherjee S. Helminth-derived biomacromolecules as therapeutic agents for treating inflammatory and infectious diseases: What lessons do we get from recent findings? Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 241:124649. [PMID: 37119907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite the tremendous progress in healthcare sectors, a number of life-threatening infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases are continuously challenging mankind throughout the globe. In this context, recent successes in utilizing helminth parasite-derived bioactive macromolecules viz. glycoproteins, enzymes, polysaccharides, lipids/lipoproteins, nucleic acids/nucleotides, and small organic molecules for treating various disorders primarily resulted from inflammation. Among the several parasites that infect humans, helminths (cestodes, nematodes, and trematodes) are known as efficient immune manipulators owing to their explicit ability to modulate and modify the innate and adaptive immune responses of humans. These molecules selectively bind to immune receptors on innate and adaptive immune cells and trigger multiple signaling pathways to elicit anti-inflammatory cytokines, expansion of alternatively activated macrophages, T-helper 2, and immunoregulatory T regulatory cell types to induce an anti-inflammatory milieu. Reduction of pro-inflammatory responses and repair of tissue damage by these anti-inflammatory mediators have been exploited for treating a number of autoimmune, allergic, and metabolic diseases. Herein, the potential and promises of different helminths/helminth-derived products as therapeutic agents in ameliorating immunopathology of different human diseases and their mechanistic insights of function at cell and molecular level alongside the molecular signaling cross-talks have been reviewed by incorporating up-to-date findings achieved in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritha Chakraborty
- Integrative Biochemistry & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol 713340, India
| | | | - Suprabhat Mukherjee
- Integrative Biochemistry & Immunology Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol 713340, India.
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3
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The Immune Response to Nematode Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032283. [PMID: 36768605 PMCID: PMC9916427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Nematode infection is a major threat to the health of humans, domestic animals and wildlife. Nematodes vary in their effect on the host and in the mechanisms underlying immunity but the general features are becoming clear. There is considerable variation among individuals in resistance to infection and much of this variation is due to genetic variation in the immune response. The major histocompatibility complex has a strong influence on resistance to infection but other genes are collectively more important. Resistant individuals produce more IgA, eosinophils, IgE and mast cells than susceptible individuals and this is a consequence of stronger type 2 (Th2) immune responses. A variety of factors promote Th2 responses including genetic background, diet, molecules produced by the parasite and the location of the infection. A variety of cells and molecules including proteins, glycolipids and RNA act in concert to promote responses and to regulate the response. Nematodes themselves also modulate the host response and over 20 parasite-derived immunomodulatory molecules have been identified. Different species of nematodes modulate the immune response in different ways and probably use multiple molecules. The reasons for this are unclear and the interactions among immunomodulators have still to be investigated.
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4
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Lo WS, Roca M, Dardiry M, Mackie M, Eberhardt G, Witte H, Hong R, Sommer RJ, Lightfoot JW. Evolution and Diversity of TGF-β Pathways are Linked with Novel Developmental and Behavioral Traits. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac252. [PMID: 36469861 PMCID: PMC9733428 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential for numerous biologic functions. It is a highly conserved pathway found in all metazoans including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has also been pivotal in identifying many components. Utilizing a comparative evolutionary approach, we explored TGF-β signaling in nine nematode species and revealed striking variability in TGF-β gene frequency across the lineage. Of the species analyzed, gene duplications in the DAF-7 pathway appear common with the greatest disparity observed in Pristionchus pacificus. Specifically, multiple paralogues of daf-3, daf-4 and daf-7 were detected. To investigate this additional diversity, we induced mutations in 22 TGF-β components and generated corresponding double, triple, and quadruple mutants revealing both conservation and diversification in function. Although the DBL-1 pathway regulating body morphology appears highly conserved, the DAF-7 pathway exhibits functional divergence, notably in some aspects of dauer formation. Furthermore, the formation of the phenotypically plastic mouth in P. pacificus is partially influenced through TGF-β with the strongest effect in Ppa-tag-68. This appears important for numerous processes in P. pacificus but has no known function in C. elegans. Finally, we observe behavioral differences in TGF-β mutants including in chemosensation and the establishment of the P. pacificus kin-recognition signal. Thus, TGF-β signaling in nematodes represents a stochastic genetic network capable of generating novel functions through the duplication and deletion of associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Sui Lo
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Max-Planck Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marianne Roca
- Max Planck Research Group Genetics of Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior—Caesar, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mohannad Dardiry
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Max-Planck Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marisa Mackie
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA
| | - Gabi Eberhardt
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Max-Planck Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hanh Witte
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Max-Planck Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ray Hong
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA
| | - Ralf J Sommer
- Department for Integrative Evolutionary Biology, Max-Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Max-Planck Ring 9, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - James W Lightfoot
- Max Planck Research Group Genetics of Behavior, Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior—Caesar, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany
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Maruszewska-Cheruiyot M, Stear MJ, Machcińska M, Donskow-Łysoniewska K. Importance of TGFβ in Cancer and Nematode Infection and Their Interaction-Opinion. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1572. [PMID: 36358922 PMCID: PMC9687433 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, there has been little interaction between parasitologists and oncologists, although some helminth infections predispose to the development of tumours. In addition, both parasites and tumours need to survive immune attack. Recent research suggests that both tumours and parasites suppress the immune response to increase their chances of survival. They both co-opt the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signalling pathway to modulate the immune response to their benefit. In particular, there is concern that suppression of the immune response by nematodes and their products could enhance susceptibility to tumours in both natural and artificial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael James Stear
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science, Agribio, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia
| | - Maja Machcińska
- Department of Experimental Immunotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Lazarski University, 02-662 Warsaw, Poland
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6
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Identification and expression of a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) homologue in the tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3547-3559. [PMID: 36194274 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
Liver flukes, Fasciola spp., are veterinary and medically important parasites infecting numerous species of economically important animals in addition to humans on a global scale. The components of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling are widely distributed throughout the animal kingdom and are considerably conserved. Through shared common signal transduction mechanisms, crosstalk of TGF-β signalling between a host and the parasite during infection is possible. Herein, we have identified and undertaken the molecular characterisation of a putative TGF-β homologue from the tropical liver fluke F. gigantica (FgTLM). A FgTLM cDNA was 3557 bp in length, it encoded for 620 amino acid polypeptide which consisted of 494 amino acids of prodomain and 126 amino acids comprising the mature protein. FgTLM displayed characteristic structures of mammalian TGF-β ligands that were unique to the inhibin-β chain, monomer of activin. A phylogenetic analysis revealed the high degree of conservation with TGF-β molecules from trematode species. Interestingly, the sequence of amino acid in the active domain of FgTLM was completely identical to FhTLM from F. hepatica. FgTLM expressed throughout the lifecycle of F. gigantica but was highly expressed in developmental active stages. The dynamics of expression of FgTLM during the developmental stages of F. gigantica was comparable to the pattern of TGF-β expression in F. hepatica. Our findings demonstrated that FgTLM exhibits a high level of similarity to FhTLM in the context of both amino acid sequence and the life stage expression patterns. These similarities underline the possibility that the FgTLM molecule might have the same properties and functions as FhTLM in biological processes of the immature parasites and host immune evasion. Consequently, the specific biological functions of FgTLM on either parasite or relevant hosts need to be defined experimentally.
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Ricciardi A, Hassan SA, Kamenyeva O, Bennuru S, Andersen J, Nutman TB. A filarial parasite-encoded human IL-10 receptor antagonist reveals a novel strategy to modulate host responses. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac184. [PMID: 36246151 PMCID: PMC9552326 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-10 is the primary cytokine driving the modulation of the host response in filarial infections. We performed binding assays with Brugia malayi antigen extracts and human IL-10R1. Bm5539 was the top-binding hit. We identified a short sequence, termed truncated Bm5339, that has structural similarities to the human IL-10 functional dimer. Sequence comparisons revealed that other filarial parasites possess Bm5539 orthologues. Using recombinant Bm5539 in a modified Luciferase Immunoprecipitation System assay, we confirmed that both the truncated and full-length forms of the protein can bind to human IL-10R1. Truncated Bm5539 could inhibit human IL-10-driven phosphorylation of STAT3, thereby demonstrating that Bm5539 acts as an IL-10 antagonist, most likely through competitive binding to the receptor. We provide a structural basis for these observations using computational modeling and simulations. This parasite-encoded cytokine receptor antagonist provides an additional lens through which parasite-induced modulation of the host immune response can be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Ricciardi
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sergio A Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Olena Kamenyeva
- Research Technology Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sasisekhar Bennuru
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - John Andersen
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
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Loghry HJ, Sondjaja NA, Minkler SJ, Kimber MJ. Secreted filarial nematode galectins modulate host immune cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:952104. [PMID: 36032131 PMCID: PMC9402972 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.952104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a mosquito-borne disease caused by filarial nematodes including Brugia malayi. Over 860 million people worldwide are infected or at risk of infection in 72 endemic countries. The absence of a protective vaccine means that current control strategies rely on mass drug administration programs that utilize inadequate drugs that cannot effectively kill adult parasites, thus established infections are incurable. Progress to address deficiencies in the approach to LF control is hindered by a poor mechanistic understanding of host-parasite interactions, including mechanisms of host immunomodulation by the parasite, a critical adaptation for establishing and maintaining infections. The canonical type 2 host response to helminth infection characterized by anti-inflammatory and regulatory immune phenotypes is modified by filarial nematodes during chronic LF. Current efforts at identifying parasite-derived factors driving this modification focus on parasite excretory-secretory products (ESP), including extracellular vesicles (EVs). We have previously profiled the cargo of B. malayi EVs and identified B. malayi galectin-1 and galectin-2 as among the most abundant EV proteins. In this study we further investigated the function of these proteins. Sequence analysis of the parasite galectins revealed highest homology to mammalian galectin-9 and functional characterization identified similar substrate affinities consistent with this designation. Immunological assays showed that Bma-LEC-2 is a bioactive protein that can polarize macrophages to an alternatively activated phenotype and selectively induce apoptosis in Th1 cells. Our data shows that an abundantly secreted parasite galectin is immunomodulatory and induces phenotypes consistent with the modified type 2 response characteristic of chronic LF infection.
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Bhoj P, Togre N, Khatri V, Goswami K. Harnessing Immune Evasion Strategy of Lymphatic Filariae: A Therapeutic Approach against Inflammatory and Infective Pathology. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10081235. [PMID: 36016123 PMCID: PMC9415972 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10081235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human lymphatic filariae have evolved numerous immune evasion strategies to secure their long-term survival in a host. These strategies include regulation of pattern recognition receptors, mimicry with host glycans and immune molecules, manipulation of innate and adaptive immune cells, induction of apoptosis in effector immune cells, and neutralization of free radicals. This creates an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory milieu in the host: a modified Th2 immune response. Therefore, targeting filarial immunomodulators and manipulating the filariae-driven immune system against the filariae can be a potential therapeutic and prophylactic strategy. Filariae-derived immunosuppression can also be exploited to treat other inflammatory diseases and immunopathologic states of parasitic diseases, such as cerebral malaria, and to prevent leishmaniasis. This paper reviews immunomodulatory mechanisms acquired by these filariae for their own survival and their potential application in the development of novel therapeutic approaches against parasitic and inflammatory diseases. Insight into the intricate network of host immune-parasite interactions would aid in the development of effective immune-therapeutic options for both infectious and immune-pathological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Namdev Togre
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
- Correspondence: (N.T.); (K.G.)
| | | | - Kalyan Goswami
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Saguna, Kalyani 741245, India
- Correspondence: (N.T.); (K.G.)
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Lok JB, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ. The 'nuclear option' revisited: Confirmation of Ss-daf-12 function and therapeutic potential in Strongyloides stercoralis and other parasitic nematode infections. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 250:111490. [PMID: 35697206 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms governing morphogenesis and development of infectious third-stage larvae (L3i) of parasitic nematodes have been likened to those regulating dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dauer regulatory signal transduction comprises initial G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in chemosensory neurons of the amphidial complex that regulates parallel insulin- and TGFβ-like signaling in the tissues. Insulin- and TGFβ-like signals converge to co-regulate steroid signaling through the nuclear receptor (NR) DAF-12. Discovery of the steroid ligands of DAF-12 opened a new avenue of small molecule physiology in C. elegans. These signaling pathways are conserved in parasitic nematodes and an increasing body of evidence supports their function in formation and developmental regulation of L3i during the infectious process in soil transmitted species. This review presents these lines of evidence for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), insulin- and TGFβ-like signaling in brief and focuses primarily on signaling through parasite orthologs of DAF-12. We discuss in some depth the deployment of sensitive analytical techniques to identify Δ7-dafachronic acid as the natural ligand of DAF-12 homologs in Strongyloides stercoralis and Haemonchus contortus and of targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 to assign dauer-like regulatory function to the NR Ss-DAF-12, its coactivator Ss-DIP-1 and the key ligand biosynthetic enzyme Ss-CYP-22a9. Finally, we present published evidence of the potential of Ss-DAF-12 signaling as a chemotherapeutic target in human strongyloidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Steven A Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David J Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
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11
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Localization and RNA Interference-Driven Inhibition of a Brugia malayi-Encoded Interleukin-5 Receptor Binding Protein. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0031721. [PMID: 35467360 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00317-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A molecule we termed Brugia malayi IL-5 receptor (IL-5R) binding protein (BmIL5Rbp; also known as Bm8757) was identified from B. malayi filarial worms and found to inhibit human interleukin-5 (IL-5) binding to its human receptor competitively. After the expression and purification of a recombinant BmIL5Rbp and generation of BmIL5Rbp-specific rabbit antibody, we localized the molecule on B. malayi worms through immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to inhibit BmIL5Rbp mRNA and protein production. BmIL5Rbp was shown to localize to the cuticle of Brugia malayi and to be released in its excretory/secretory products. RNAi inhibited BmIL5Rbp mRNA production by 33%, reduced the surface protein expression by ~50%, and suppressed the release of BmIL5Rbp in the excretory/secretory products. RNAi has been used successfully to knock down the mRNA and protein expression of BmIL5Rbp in the early larval stages of B. malayi and provided a proof of principle for the local inhibition of the human IL-5R. These findings provide evidence that a parasite-encoded IL-5R antagonist may locally inhibit a vital host innate immune activation of IL-5 on eosinophils.
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Nagai K, Goto Y. Parasitomimetics: Can We Utilize Parasite-Derived Immunomodulatory Molecules for Interventions to Immunological Disorders? Front Immunol 2022; 13:824695. [PMID: 35386686 PMCID: PMC8977410 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.824695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Because our immune system has ability to expel microorganisms invading our body, parasites need evolution to maintain their symbiosis with the hosts. One such strategy of the parasites is to manipulate host immunity by producing immunomodulatory molecules and the ability of parasites to regulate host immunity has long been a target of research. Parasites can not only manipulate host immune response specific to them, but also influence the host's entire immune system. Such ability of the parasites may sometimes bring benefit to the hosts as many studies have indicated the "hygiene hypothesis" that a decreased opportunity of parasitic infections is associated with an increased incidence of allergy and autoimmune diseases. In other words, elucidating the mechanisms of parasites to regulate host immunity could be applied not only to resolution of parasitic infections but also to treatment of non-parasitic immunological disorders. In this review, we show how much progress has been made in the research on immunomodulation of host immunity by parasites. Here, we define the word 'parasitomimetics' as emulation of parasites' immunomodulatory systems to solve immunological problems in humans and discuss potential applications of parasite-derived molecules to other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasuyuki Goto
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Vlaar LE, Bertran A, Rahimi M, Dong L, Kammenga JE, Helder J, Goverse A, Bouwmeester HJ. On the role of dauer in the adaptation of nematodes to a parasitic lifestyle. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:554. [PMID: 34706780 PMCID: PMC8555053 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04953-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematodes are presumably the most abundant Metazoa on Earth, and can even be found in some of the most hostile environments of our planet. Various types of hypobiosis evolved to adapt their life cycles to such harsh environmental conditions. The five most distal major clades of the phylum Nematoda (Clades 8-12), formerly referred to as the Secernentea, contain many economically relevant parasitic nematodes. In this group, a special type of hypobiosis, dauer, has evolved. The dauer signalling pathway, which culminates in the biosynthesis of dafachronic acid (DA), is intensively studied in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and it has been hypothesized that the dauer stage may have been a prerequisite for the evolution of a wide range of parasitic lifestyles among other nematode species. Biosynthesis of DA is not specific for hypobiosis, but if it results in exit of the hypobiotic state, it is one of the main criteria to define certain behaviour as dauer. Within Clades 9 and 10, the involvement of DA has been validated experimentally, and dauer is therefore generally accepted to occur in those clades. However, for other clades, such as Clade 12, this has hardly been explored. In this review, we provide clarity on the nomenclature associated with hypobiosis and dauer across different nematological subfields. We discuss evidence for dauer-like stages in Clades 8 to 12 and support this with a meta-analysis of available genomic data. Furthermore, we discuss indications for a simplified dauer signalling pathway in parasitic nematodes. Finally, we zoom in on the host cues that induce exit from the hypobiotic stage and introduce two hypotheses on how these signals might feed into the dauer signalling pathway for plant-parasitic nematodes. With this work, we contribute to the deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying hypobiosis in parasitic nematodes. Based on this, novel strategies for the control of parasitic nematodes can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke E Vlaar
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andre Bertran
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mehran Rahimi
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lemeng Dong
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan E Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Helder
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aska Goverse
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-β is a potent regulator of the immune system, acting at every stage from thymic differentiation, population of the periphery, control of responsiveness, tissue repair and generation of memory. It is therefore a central player in the immune response to infectious pathogens, but its contribution is often clouded by multiple roles acting on different cells in time and space. Hence, context is all-important in understanding when TGF-β is beneficial or detrimental to the outcome of infection. In this review, a full range of infectious agents from viruses to helminth parasites are explored within this framework, drawing contrasts and general conclusions about the importance of TGF-β in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
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Mierzejewski K, Stryiński R, Łopieńska-Biernat E, Mateos J, Bogacka I, Carrera M. A Complex Proteomic Response of the Parasitic Nematode Anisakis simplex s.s. to Escherichia coliLipopolysaccharide. Mol Cell Proteomics 2021; 20:100166. [PMID: 34673282 PMCID: PMC8605257 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2021.100166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths are masters at manipulating host's immune response. Especially, parasitic nematodes have evolved strategies that allow them to evade, suppress, or modulate host's immune response to persist and spread in the host's organism. While the immunomodulatory effects of nematodes on their hosts are studied with a great commitment, very little is known about nematodes' own immune system, immune response to their pathogens, and interactions between parasites and bacteria in the host's organism. To illustrate the response of the parasitic nematode Anisakis simplex s.s. during simulated interaction with Escherichia coli, different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used, and the proteomic analysis with isobaric mass tags for relative and absolute quantification (tandem mass tag-based LC-MS/MS) was performed. In addition, gene expression and biochemical analyses of selected markers of oxidative stress were determined. The results revealed 1148 proteins in a group of which 115 were identified as differentially regulated proteins, for example, peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor. Gene Ontology annotation and Reactome pathway analysis indicated that metabolic pathways related to catalytic activity, oxidation-reduction processes, antioxidant activity, response to stress, and innate immune system were the most common, in which differentially regulated proteins were involved. Further biochemical analyses let us confirm that the LPS induced the oxidative stress response, which plays a key role in the innate immunity of parasitic nematodes. Our findings, to our knowledge, indicate for the first time, the complexity of the interaction of parasitic nematode, A. simplex s.s. with bacterial LPS, which mimics the coexistence of helminth and gut bacteria in the host. The simulation of this crosstalk led us to conclude that the obtained results could be hugely valuable in the integrated systems biology approach to describe a relationship between parasite, host, and its commensal bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Mierzejewski
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Robert Stryiński
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Łopieńska-Biernat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | | | - Iwona Bogacka
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mónica Carrera
- Department of Food Technology, Marine Research Institute (IIM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Vigo, Spain.
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Kwarteng A, Sylverken A, Asiedu E, Ahuno ST. Genome editing as control tool for filarial infections. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111292. [PMID: 33581654 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111292] [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: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human filarial infections are vector-borne nematode infections, which include lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, loiasis, and mansonella filariasis. With a high prevalence in developing countries, filarial infections are responsible for some of the most debilitating morbidities and a vicious cycle of poverty and disease. Global initiatives set to eradicate these infections include community mass treatments, vector control, provision of care for morbidity, and search for vaccines. However, there are growing challenges associated with mass treatments, vector control, and antifilarial vaccine development. With the emergence of genome editing tools and successful applications in other infectious diseases, the integration of genetic editing techniques in future control strategies for filarial infections would offer the best option for eliminating filarial infections. In this review, we briefly discuss the mechanisms of the three main genetic editing techniques and explore the potential applications of these powerful tools to control filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kwarteng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Augustina Sylverken
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana; Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Asiedu
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Samuel Terkper Ahuno
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
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Maruszewska-Cheruiyot M, Szewczak L, Krawczak-Wójcik K, Głaczyńska M, Donskow-Łysoniewska K. The production of excretory-secretory molecules from Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri fourth stage larvae varies between mixed and single sex cultures. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:106. [PMID: 33557937 PMCID: PMC7871589 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04613-9] [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: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Excretory-secretory (ES) products are crucial in maintaining helminths in the host. Consequently, the proteins of ES are potential vaccine molecules and potential therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases. Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri, a gastrointestinal parasite of mice, is a model of hookworm infection in humans. ES produced by both sexes of H. polygyrus bakeri L4 stage cultured separately shows different immunomodulatory properties than ES obtained when both sexes are cultured together. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to identify and compare the excretory-secretory molecules from single-sex and mixed cultures. Methods The composition of ES of male and female L4 stage nematodes in the presence (cultured together) or absence (cultured alone) of the opposite sex was examined. Proteins were identified using mass spectrometry. The functions of identified proteins were explored with Blast2GO. Results A total of 258 proteins derived from mixed larval culture in the presence of sex pheromones were identified, 160 proteins from pure female cultures and 172 from pure male cultures. Exposure of nematodes to the sex pheromones results in abundant production of proteins with immunomodulatory properties such as Val proteins, acetylcholinesterases, TGF-β mimic 9 and HpARI. Proteins found only in ES from mixed larval cultures were TGF-β mimics 6 and 7 as well as galectin. Conclusions The presence of the opposite sex strongly influences the composition of ES products, probably by chemical (pheromone) communication between individuals. However, examination of the composition of ES from various conditions gives an opportunity for searching for new potentially therapeutic compounds and anthelminthics as well as components of vaccines. Manipulation of the nematode environment might be important for the studies on the immunomodulatory potential of nematodes.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Maruszewska-Cheruiyot
- Laboratory of Parasitology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ludmiła Szewczak
- Laboratory of Parasitology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik
- Laboratory of Parasitology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Głaczyńska
- Laboratory of Parasitology, General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland
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Bohnacker S, Troisi F, de Los Reyes Jiménez M, Esser-von Bieren J. What Can Parasites Tell Us About the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Asthma and Allergic Diseases. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2106. [PMID: 33013887 PMCID: PMC7516051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The same mechanisms that enable host defense against helminths also drive allergic inflammation. This suggests that pathomechanisms of allergic diseases represent evolutionary old responses against helminth parasites and that studying antihelminth immunity may provide insights into pathomechanisms of asthma. However, helminths have developed an intricate array of immunoregulatory mechanisms to modulate type 2 immune mechanisms. This has led to the hypothesis that the lack of helminth infection may contribute to the rise in allergic sensitization in modern societies. Indeed, the anti-inflammatory potential of helminth (worm) parasites and their products in allergy and asthma has been recognized for decades. As helminth infections bring about multiple undesired effects including an increased susceptibility to other infections, intended helminth infection is not a feasible approach to broadly prevent or treat allergic asthma. Thus, the development of new helminth-based biopharmaceutics may represent a safer approach of harnessing type 2–suppressive effects of helminths. However, progress regarding the mechanisms and molecules that are employed by helminths to modulate allergic inflammation has been relatively recent. The scavenging of alarmins and the modulation of lipid mediator pathways and macrophage function by helminth proteins have been identified as important immunoregulatory mechanisms targeting innate immunity in asthma and allergy. In addition, by regulating the activation of dendritic cells and by promoting regulatory T-cell responses, helminth proteins can counterregulate the adaptive T helper 2 cell response that drives allergic inflammation. Despite these insights, important open questions remain to be addressed before helminth molecules can be used for the prevention and treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Bohnacker
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabiana Troisi
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marta de Los Reyes Jiménez
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Esser-von Bieren
- Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technical University of Munich and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
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He L, Liu H, Zhang BY, Li FF, Di WD, Wang CQ, Zhou CX, Liu L, Li TT, Zhang T, Fang R, Hu M. A daf-7-related TGF-β ligand (Hc-tgh-2) shows important regulations on the development of Haemonchus contortus. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:326. [PMID: 32586367 PMCID: PMC7318536 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In most multicellular organisms, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway is involved in regulating the growth and stem cell differentiation. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of three key molecules in this pathway in the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus, including one TGF-β type I receptor (Hc-tgfbr1), one TGF-β type II receptor (Hc-tgfbr2), and one co-Smad (Hc-daf-3), which regulated the developmental transition from the free-living to the parasitic stages of this parasite. However, almost nothing is known about the function of the TGF-β ligand (Hc-tgh-2) of H. contortus. METHODS Here, the temporal transcription profiles of Hc-tgh-2 at eight different developmental stages and spatial expression patterns of Hc-TGH-2 in adult female and male worms of H. contortus have been examined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) by soaking was employed to assess the importance of Hc-tgh-2 in the development from exsheathed third-stage larvae (xL3s) to fourth-stage larvae (L4s) in H. contortus. RESULTS Hc-tgh-2 was continuously transcribed in all eight developmental stages of H. contortus studied with the highest level in the infective third-stage larvae (iL3) and Hc-TGH-2 was located in the muscle of the body wall, intestine, ovary of adult females and testes of adult males. Silencing Hc-tgh-2 by the specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), decreased the transcript level of Hc-tgh-2 and resulted in fewer xL3s developing to L4s in vitro. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that the TGF-β ligand, Hc-TGH-2, could play important roles in the developmental transition from the free-living (L3s) to the parasitic stage (L4s). Furthermore, it may also take part in the processes such as digestion, absorption, host immune response and reproductive development in H. contortus adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Bi-Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Fang-Fang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Wen-Da Di
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Chun-Qun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Cai-Xian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Ting-Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Min Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China.
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20
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Nono JK, Lutz MB, Brehm K. Expansion of Host Regulatory T Cells by Secreted Products of the Tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:798. [PMID: 32457746 PMCID: PMC7225322 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by the metacestode larval stage of the fox-tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is a chronic zoonosis associated with significant modulation of the host immune response. A role of regulatory T-cells (Treg) in generating an immunosuppressive environment around the metacestode during chronic disease has been reported, but the molecular mechanisms of Treg induction by E. multilocularis, particularly parasite immunoregulatory factors involved, remain elusive so far. Methodology/Principal Findings We herein demonstrate that excretory/secretory (E/S) products of the E. multilocularis metacestode promote the formation of Foxp3+ Treg from CD4+ T-cells in vitro in a TGF-β-dependent manner, given that this effect was abrogated by treatment with antibody to mammalian TGF-β. We also show that host T-cells secrete elevated levels of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 in response to metacestode E/S products. Within the E/S fraction of the metacestode we identified an E. multilocularis activin A homolog (EmACT) that displays significant similarities to mammalian Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β/activin subfamily members. EmACT obtained from heterologous expression failed to directly induce Treg expansion from naïve T cells but required addition of recombinant host TGF-β to promote CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg conversion in vitro. Furthermore, like in the case of metacestode E/S products, EmACT-treated CD4+ T-cells secreted higher levels of IL-10. These observations suggest a contribution of EmACT to in vitro expansion of Foxp3+ Treg by the E. multilocularis metacestode. Using infection experiments we show that intraperitoneally injected metacestode tissue expands host Foxp3+ Treg, confirming the expansion of this cell type in vivo during parasite establishment. Conclusion/Significance In conclusion, we herein demonstrate that E. multilocularis larvae secrete factors that induce the secretion of IL-10 by T-cells and contribute to the expansion of TGF-b-driven Foxp3+ Treg, a cell type that has been reported crucial for generating a tolerogenic environment to support parasite establishment and proliferation. Among the E/S factors of the parasite we identified a factor with structural and functional homologies to mammalian activin A which might play an important role in these activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Komguep Nono
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Division of Immunology, Health Science Faculty, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- The Medical Research Centre, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Manfred B. Lutz
- Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Elucidating the molecular and developmental biology of parasitic nematodes: Moving to a multiomics paradigm. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 108:175-229. [PMID: 32291085 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the sequencing, assembly, annotation and analyses of genomes and transcriptomes of parasitic worms of socioeconomic importance. This progress has somewhat improved our knowledge and understanding of these pathogens at the molecular level. However, compared with the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the areas of functional genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics of parasitic nematodes are still in their infancy, and there are major gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes. The information on signalling molecules, molecular pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs) that are known to be involved in developmental processes in C. elegans and the availability of some molecular resources (draft genomes, transcriptomes and some proteomes) for selected parasitic nematodes provide a basis to start exploring the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes. Indeed, some studies have identified molecules and pathways that might associate with developmental processes in related, parasitic nematodes, such as Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm). However, detailed information is often scant and 'omics resources are limited, preventing a proper integration of 'omic data sets and comprehensive analyses. Moreover, little is known about the functional roles of pheromones, hormones, signalling pathways and post-transcriptional/post-translational regulations in the development of key parasitic nematodes throughout their entire life cycles. Although C. elegans is an excellent model to assist molecular studies of parasitic nematodes, its use is limited when it comes to explorations of processes that are specific to parasitism within host animals. A deep understanding of parasitic nematodes, such as H. contortus, requires substantially enhanced resources and the use of integrative 'omics approaches for analyses. The improved genome and well-established in vitro larval culture system for H. contortus provide unprecedented opportunities for comprehensive studies of the transcriptomes (mRNA and miRNA), proteomes (somatic, excretory/secretory and phosphorylated proteins) and lipidomes (e.g., polar and neutral lipids) of this nematode. Such resources should enable in-depth explorations of its developmental biology at a level, not previously possible. The main aims of this review are (i) to provide a background on the development of nematodes, with a particular emphasis on the molecular aspects involved in the dauer formation and exit in C. elegans; (ii) to critically appraise the current state of knowledge of the developmental biology of parasitic nematodes and identify key knowledge gaps; (iii) to cover salient aspects of H. contortus, with a focus on the recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and lipidomics as well as in vitro culturing systems; (iv) to review recent advances in our knowledge and understanding of the molecular and developmental biology of H. contortus using an integrative multiomics approach, and discuss the implications of this approach for detailed explorations of signalling molecules, molecular processes and pathways likely associated with nematode development, adaptation and parasitism, and for the identification of novel intervention targets against these pathogens. Clearly, the multiomics approach established recently is readily applicable to exploring a wide range of interesting and socioeconomically significant parasitic worms (including also trematodes and cestodes) at the molecular level, and to elucidate host-parasite interactions and disease processes.
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He L, Gasser RB, Li T, Di W, Li F, Zhang H, Zhou C, Fang R, Hu M. A TGF-β type II receptor that associates with developmental transition in Haemonchus contortus in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007913. [PMID: 31790412 PMCID: PMC6938378 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The TGF-β signalling pathway plays a key role in regulating dauer formation in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and previous work has shown that TGF-β receptors are involved in parasitic nematodes. Here, we explored the structure and function of a TGF-β type II receptor homologue in the TGF-β signalling pathway in Haemonchus contortus, a highly pathogenic, haematophagous parasitic nematode. Methodology/Principal findings Amino acid sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the protein, called Hc-TGFBR2 (encoded by the gene Hc-tgfbr2), is a member of TGF-β type II receptor family and contains conserved functional domains, both in the extracellular region containing cysteine residues that form a characteristic feature (CXCX4C) of TGF-β type II receptor and in the intracellular regions containing a serine/threonine kinase domain. The Hc-tgfbr2 gene was transcribed in all key developmental stages of H. contortus, with particularly high levels in the infective third-stage larvae (L3s) and male adults. Immunohistochemical results revealed that Hc-TGFBR2 was expressed in the intestine, ovary and eggs within the uterus of female adults, and also in the testes of male adults of H. contortus. Double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) in this nematode by soaking induced a marked decrease in transcription of Hc-tgfbr2 and in development from the exsheathed L3 to the fourth-stage larva (L4) in vitro. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that Hc-TGFBR2 plays an important role in governing developmental processes in H. contortus via the TGF-β signalling pathway, particularly in the transition from the free-living to the parasitic stages. Haemonchus contortus is a gastrointestinal parasitic nematode that causes major economic losses in small ruminants. Here, we investigated the structure and function of a TGF-β type II receptor homologue (Hc-TGFBR2) and its role in regulating H. contortus development. The results showed that the Hc-tgfbr2 gene was transcribed in all developmental stages of H. contortus, with the highest level in L3s and male adults; the encoded protein Hc-TGFBR2 was expressed in the intestine and gonads of adult stages of this nematode. The transcriptional abundance of Hc-tgfbr2 decreased significantly following knockdown by RNA interference in xL3s of H. contortus, which also caused a marked reduction in the number of xL3s developing to L4s in vitro. These findings reveal that the TGF-β type II receptor (Hc-TGFBR2) associates with development of H. contortus, particularly in its transition from the free-living to the parasitic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tingting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenda Di
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hongrun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Caixian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Key Laboratory for the Development of Veterinary Products, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail:
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23
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Pillai MR, Mihi B, Ishiwata K, Nakamura K, Sakuragi N, Finkelstein DB, McGargill MA, Nakayama T, Ayabe T, Coleman ML, Bix M. Myc-induced nuclear antigen constrains a latent intestinal epithelial cell-intrinsic anthelmintic pathway. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211244. [PMID: 30807587 PMCID: PMC6391002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Expulsion of parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes requires diverse effector mechanisms coordinated by a Th2-type response. The evolutionarily conserved JmjC protein; Myc Induced Nuclear Antigen (Mina) has been shown to repress IL4, a key Th2 cytokine, suggesting Mina may negatively regulate nematode expulsion. Here we report that expulsion of the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris was indeed accelerated in Mina deficient mice. Unexpectedly, this was associated not with an elevated Th2- but rather an impaired Th1-type response. Further reciprocal bone marrow chimera and conditional KO experiments demonstrated that retarded parasite expulsion and a normal Th1-type response both required Mina in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Transcriptional profiling experiments in IECs revealed anti-microbial α-defensin peptides to be the major target of Mina-dependent retention of worms in infected mice. In vitro exposure to recombinant α-defensin peptides caused cytotoxic damage to whipworms. These results identify a latent IEC-intrinsic anthelmintic pathway actively constrained by Mina and point to α-defensins as important effectors that together with Mina may be attractive therapeutic targets for the control of nematode infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenu R Pillai
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Belgacem Mihi
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Institute for Global Prominent Research, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kenji Ishiwata
- Department of Tropical Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiminori Nakamura
- Department of Cell Biological Science, Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakuragi
- Department of Cell Biological Science, Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - David B Finkelstein
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Maureen A McGargill
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Toshinori Nakayama
- Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tokiyoshi Ayabe
- Department of Cell Biological Science, Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mathew L Coleman
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Bix
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Institute for Global Prominent Research, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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24
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Maizels RM, Smits HH, McSorley HJ. Modulation of Host Immunity by Helminths: The Expanding Repertoire of Parasite Effector Molecules. Immunity 2018; 49:801-818. [PMID: 30462997 PMCID: PMC6269126 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Helminths are extraordinarily successful parasites due to their ability to modulate the host immune response. They have evolved a spectrum of immunomodulatory molecules that are now beginning to be defined, heralding a molecular revolution in parasite immunology. These discoveries have the potential both to transform our understanding of parasite adaptation to the host and to develop possible therapies for immune-mediated disease. In this review we will summarize the current state of the art in parasite immunomodulation and discuss perspectives on future areas for research and discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | | | - Henry J McSorley
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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25
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Musah-Eroje M, Flynn RJ. Fasciola hepatica, TGF-β and host mimicry: the enemy within. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 46:80-85. [PMID: 30317150 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Helminths parasites undergo developmental changes and migration within their definitive host, in addition to establishing chronic infection. Essential to this is the evasion of host immune responses; the canonical Th2 response is effective at removing parasites resident in the intestine. Conversely, helminths also promote the development of antigen-specific anergy and regulation. This often limits pathology but allows parasite survival, parasite effectors mediating this are the subject of intense study. They may be useful as future vaccine targets or xenogenic therapeutics. Fasciola hepatica possesses a family of TGF-like molecules of which one member, FhTLM, is capable of promoting intrinsic and extrinsic effects. Here we review the extrinsic effects of FhTLM on the host macrophage and its consequences for protective immunity. This review also discusses the specificities of FhTLM in light a very recent description of a nematode TGF-β mimic and the effects of endogenous TGF-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayowa Musah-Eroje
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Robin J Flynn
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.
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26
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Rajakulendran M, Tham EH, Soh JY, Van Bever HP. Novel strategies in immunotherapy for allergic diseases. Asia Pac Allergy 2018; 8:e14. [PMID: 29732290 PMCID: PMC5931921 DOI: 10.5415/apallergy.2018.8.e14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional immunotherapy (IT) for optimal control of respiratory and food allergies has been fraught with concerns of efficacy, safety, and tolerability. The development of adjuvants to conventional IT has potentially increased the effectiveness and safety of allergen IT, which may translate into improved clinical outcomes and sustained unresponsiveness even after cessation of therapy. Novel strategies incorporating the successful use of adjuvants such as allergoids, immunostimulatory DNA sequences, monoclonal antibodies, carriers, recombinant proteins, and probiotics have now been described in clinical and murine studies. Future approaches may include fungal compounds, parasitic molecules, vitamin D, and traditional Chinese herbs. More robust comparative clinical trials are needed to evaluate the safety, clinical efficacy, and cost effectiveness of various adjuvants in order to determine ideal candidates in disease-specific and allergen-specific models. Other suggested approaches to further optimize outcomes of IT include early introduction of IT during an optimal window period. Alternative routes of administration of IT to optimize delivery and yet minimize potential side effects require further evaluation for safety and efficacy before they can be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Rajakulendran
- Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119229
| | - Elizabeth Huiwen Tham
- Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119229.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119229
| | - Jian Yi Soh
- Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119229.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119229
| | - H P Van Bever
- Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore 119229.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119229
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27
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Smyth DJ, Harcus Y, White MPJ, Gregory WF, Nahler J, Stephens I, Toke-Bjolgerud E, Hewitson JP, Ivens A, McSorley HJ, Maizels RM. TGF-β mimic proteins form an extended gene family in the murine parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:379-385. [PMID: 29510118 PMCID: PMC5904571 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported the discovery of a new parasite-derived protein that functionally mimics the immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The Heligmosomoides polygyrus TGF-β Mimic (Hp-TGM) shares no homology to any TGF-β family member, however it binds the mammalian TGF-β receptor and induces expression of Foxp3, the canonical transcription factor of both mouse and human regulatory T cells. Hp-TGM consists of five atypical Complement Control Protein (CCP, Pfam 00084) domains, each lacking certain conserved residues and 12-15 amino acids longer than the 60-70 amino acids consensus domain, but with a recognizable 3-cysteine, tryptophan, cysteine motif. We now report on the identification of a family of nine related Hp-TGM homologues represented in the secreted proteome and transcriptome of H. polygyrus. Recombinant proteins from five of the nine new TGM members were tested for TGF-β activity, but only two were functionally active in an MFB-F11 reporter assay, and by the induction of T cell Foxp3 expression. Sequence comparisons reveal that proteins with functional activity are similar or identical to Hp-TGM across the first three CCP domains, but more variable in domains 4 and 5. Inactive proteins diverged in all domains, or lacked some domains entirely. Testing truncated versions of Hp-TGM confirmed that domains 1-3 are essential for full activity in vitro, while domains 4 and 5 are not required. Further studies will elucidate whether these latter domains fulfill other functions in promoting host immune regulation during infection and if the more divergent family members play other roles in immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Smyth
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Yvonne Harcus
- Institute of Infection and Immunology Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Madeleine P J White
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - William F Gregory
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Janina Nahler
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Ian Stephens
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Edward Toke-Bjolgerud
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - James P Hewitson
- Centre for Infection and Immunology, Department of Biology, University of York, UK
| | - Alasdair Ivens
- Institute of Infection and Immunology Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henry J McSorley
- Institute of Infection and Immunology Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK; MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK; Institute of Infection and Immunology Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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28
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Lian SL, Mihi B, Koyanagi M, Nakayama T, Bix M. A SNP uncoupling Mina expression from the TGFβ signaling pathway. Immun Inflamm Dis 2018; 6:58-71. [PMID: 28967702 PMCID: PMC5818440 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mina is a JmjC family 2-oxoglutarate oxygenase with pleiotropic roles in cell proliferation, cancer, T cell differentiation, pulmonary inflammation, and intestinal parasite expulsion. Although Mina expression varies according to cell-type, developmental stage and activation state, its transcriptional regulation is poorly understood. Across inbred mouse strains, Mina protein level exhibits a bimodal distribution, correlating with inheritance of a biallelic haplotype block comprising 21 promoter/intron 1-region SNPs. We previously showed that heritable differences in Mina protein level are transcriptionally regulated. METHODS Accordingly, we decided to test the hypothesis that at least one of the promoter/intron 1-region SNPs perturbs a Mina cis-regulatory element (CRE). Here, we have comprehensively scanned for CREs across a Mina locus-spanning 26-kilobase genomic interval. RESULTS We discovered 8 potential CREs and functionally validated 4 of these, the strongest of which (E2), residing in intron 1, contained a SNP whose BALB/c-but not C57Bl/6 allele-abolished both Smad3 binding and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the TGFβ signaling pathway plays a critical role in regulating Mina expression and SNP rs4191790 controls heritable variation in Mina expression level, raising important questions regarding the evolution of an allele that uncouples Mina expression from the TGFβ signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang L. Lian
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital262 Danny Thomas Place St.MemphisTN 38105USA
| | - Belgacem Mihi
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital262 Danny Thomas Place St.MemphisTN 38105USA
| | - Madoka Koyanagi
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital262 Danny Thomas Place St.MemphisTN 38105USA
| | - Toshinori Nakayama
- Department of ImmunologyGraduate School of MedicineChiba University1‐8‐1 InohanaChuo‐kuChiba 260‐8670Japan
| | - Mark Bix
- Institute for Global Prominent ResearchChiba University1‐8‐1 InohanaChuo‐kuChiba 260‐8670Japan
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29
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A structurally distinct TGF-β mimic from an intestinal helminth parasite potently induces regulatory T cells. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1741. [PMID: 29170498 PMCID: PMC5701006 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01886-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Helminth parasites defy immune exclusion through sophisticated evasion mechanisms, including activation of host immunosuppressive regulatory T (Treg) cells. The mouse parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus can expand the host Treg population by secreting products that activate TGF-β signalling, but the identity of the active molecule is unknown. Here we identify an H. polygyrus TGF-β mimic (Hp-TGM) that replicates the biological and functional properties of TGF-β, including binding to mammalian TGF-β receptors and inducing mouse and human Foxp3+ Treg cells. Hp-TGM has no homology with mammalian TGF-β or other members of the TGF-β family, but is a member of the complement control protein superfamily. Thus, our data indicate that through convergent evolution, the parasite has acquired a protein with cytokine-like function that is able to exploit an endogenous pathway of immunoregulation in the host. Heligmosomoides polygyrus can activate mammalian TGF-β signalling pathways, but how it does so is not known. Here the authors identify and isolate a H. polygyrus TFG-β mimic that can bind both mammalian TGF-β receptor subunits, activate Smad signalling and generate inducible regulatory T cells.
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30
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Venugopal G, Mueller M, Hartmann S, Steinfelder S. Differential immunomodulation in human monocytes versus macrophages by filarial cystatin. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188138. [PMID: 29141050 PMCID: PMC5687743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes have evolved powerful immunomodulatory molecules to enable their survival in immunocompetent hosts by subverting immune responses and minimizing pathological processes. One filarial molecule known to counteract host immune responses by inducing IL-10 and regulatory macrophages in mice is filarial cystatin. During a patent filarial infection monocytes encounter microfilariae in the blood, an event that occurs in asymptomatically infected filariasis patients that are immunologically hyporeactive. The microfilarial larval stage was formerly shown to induce human regulatory monocytes and macrophages. Thus, here we aim was to determine how filarial cystatin of the human pathogenic filaria Brugia malayi (BmCPI-2) contributes to immune hyporesponsiveness in human monocytes and macrophages elicited by microfilaria. For this purpose, filarial cystatin was depleted from microfilarial lysate (Mf). Detecting the immunomodulatory potential of cystatin-depleted Mf revealed that IL-10, but not IL-8 and IL-6 induction in monocytes and macrophages is dependent on the presence of cystatin. In addition, the Mf-induced expression of the regulatory surface markers PD-L1 and PD-L2 in human monocytes, but not in macrophages, is dependent on cystatin. While Mf-treated monocytes result in decreased CD4+ T-cell proliferation in a co-culture assay, stimulation of T-cells with human monocytes treated with cystatin-depleted Mf lead to a restoration of CD4+ T-cell proliferation. Moreover, IL-10 induction by cystatin within Mf was dependent on p38 and ERK in macrophages, but independent of the ERK pathway in monocytes. These findings indicate that filarial nematodes differentially trigger and exploit various signaling pathways to induce immunomodulation in different myeloid cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath Venugopal
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marion Mueller
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne Hartmann
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Svenja Steinfelder
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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31
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Smallwood TB, Giacomin PR, Loukas A, Mulvenna JP, Clark RJ, Miles JJ. Helminth Immunomodulation in Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol 2017; 8:453. [PMID: 28484453 PMCID: PMC5401880 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths have evolved to become experts at subverting immune surveillance. Through potent and persistent immune tempering, helminths can remain undetected in human tissues for decades. Redirecting the immunomodulating "talents" of helminths to treat inflammatory human diseases is receiving intensive interest. Here, we review therapies using live parasitic worms, worm secretions, and worm-derived synthetic molecules to treat autoimmune disease. We review helminth therapy in both mouse models and clinical trials and discuss what is known on mechanisms of action. We also highlight current progress in characterizing promising new immunomodulatory molecules found in excretory/secretory products of helminths and their potential use as immunotherapies for acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor B Smallwood
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul R Giacomin
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Jason P Mulvenna
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J Clark
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - John J Miles
- Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.,School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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32
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Fasciola hepatica reinfection potentiates a mixed Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg response and correlates with the clinical phenotypes of anemia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173456. [PMID: 28362822 PMCID: PMC5376296 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fascioliasis is a severe zoonotic disease of worldwide extension caused by liver flukes. In human fascioliasis hyperendemic areas, reinfection and chronicity are the norm and anemia is the main sign. Herein, the profile of the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg expression levels is analyzed after reinfection, correlating them with their corresponding hematological biomarkers of morbidity. Methodology/Principal findings The experimental design reproduces the usual reinfection/chronicity conditions in human fascioliasis endemic areas and included Fasciola hepatica primo-infected Wistar rats (PI) and rats reinfected at 8 weeks (R8), and at 12 weeks (R12), and negative control rats. In a cross-sectional study, the expression of the genes associated with Th1 (Ifng, Il12a, Il12b, Nos2), Th2 (Il4, Arg1), Treg (Foxp3, Il10, Tgfb, Ebi3), and Th17 (Il17) in the spleen and thymus was analyzed. After 20 weeks of primary infection, PI did not present significant changes in the expression of those genes when compared to non-infected rats (NI), but an increase of Il4, Arg1 and Ifng mRNA in the spleen was observed in R12, suggesting the existence of an active mixed Th1/Th2 systemic immune response in reinfection. Foxp3, Il10, Tgfb and Ebi3 levels increased in the spleen in R12 when compared to NI and PI, indicating that the Treg gene expression levels are potentiated in chronic phase reinfection. Il17 gene expression levels in R12 in the spleen increased when compared to NI, PI and R8. Gene expression levels of Il10 in the thymus increased when compared to NI and PI in R12. Ifng expression levels in the thymus increased in all reinfected rats, but not in PI. The clinical phenotype was determined by the fluke burden, the rat body weight and the hemogram. Multivariate mathematical models were built to describe the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg expression levels and the clinical phenotype. In reinfection, two phenotypic patterns were detected: i) one which includes only increased splenic Ifng expression levels but no Treg expression, correlating with severe anemia; ii) another which includes increased splenic Ifng and Treg expression levels, correlating with a less severe anemia. Conclusions/Significance In animals with established F. hepatica infection a huge increase in the immune response occurs, being a mixed Th2/Treg associated gene expression together with an expression of Ifng. Interestingly, a Th17 associated gene expression is also observed. Reinfection in the chronic phase is able to activate a mixed immune response (Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg) against F. hepatica but T and B proliferation to mitogens is strongly suppressed in all infected rats vs control in the advanced chronic phase independently of reinfection The systemic immune response is different in each group, suggesting that suppression is mediated by different mechanisms in each case. Immune suppression could be due to the parasite in PI and R8 rats and the induction of suppressive cells such as Treg in R12. This is the first study to provide fundamental insight into the immune profile in fascioliasis reinfection and its relation with the clinical phenotypes of anemia.
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33
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Chen L, He B, Hou W, He L. Cysteine protease inhibitor of Schistosoma japonicum - A parasite-derived negative immunoregulatory factor. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:901-908. [PMID: 28066871 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5363-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Studies have shown that cysteine protease inhibitors from some parasites have immunosuppressive effects on the host. We previously have cloned a novel cysteine protease inhibitor from Schistosoma japonicum and purified its recombinant version (protein named rSj-C). Its possible inhibitory effect on the host immune response has not been described.This study shows that rSj-C inhibits lysosomal cysteine protease of murine dendritic cells (DCs). After DCs were incubated with rSj-C and then with soluble adult worm antigen (AWA) of S. japonicum, the mean fluorescence intensity of MHC class II antigens on the surface of DCs decreased significantly by flow cytometry. These results indirectly proved that rSj-C can suppress exogenous-antigen presentation by DCs. The flow cytometric assay revealed that in comparison with control groups, the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells among CD4+CD25+ T cells of Schistosom-infected mice increased significantly 8 weeks after the infected mice were injected with rSj-C (p ˂ 0.05). Additionally, the expression levels of cytokines IL-4 and TGF-β produced by T cells increased significantly as compared with these levels in the normal group (p ˂ 0.05). These results clearly show that the cysteine protease inhibitor from S. japonicum is a new parasite-derived immunosuppressive factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Baohua He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wei Hou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Li He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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34
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Lok JB. Signaling in Parasitic Nematodes: Physicochemical Communication Between Host and Parasite and Endogenous Molecular Transduction Pathways Governing Worm Development and Survival. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 3:186-197. [PMID: 28781934 PMCID: PMC5543980 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-016-0046-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Signaling or communication between host and parasite may occur over relatively long ranges to enable host finding and acquisition by infective parasitic nematode larvae. Innate behaviors in infective larvae transmitted from the soil that enhance the likelihood of host contact, such as negative geotaxis and hypermotility, are likely mediated by mechanoreception and neuromuscular signaling. Host cues such as vibration of the substratum, elevated temperature, exhaled CO2, and other volatile odorants are perceived by mechanosensory and chemosensory neurons of the amphidial complex. Beyond this, the molecular systems that transduce these external cues within the worm are unknown at this time. Overall, the signal transduction mechanisms that regulate switching between dauer and continuous reproductive development in Caenorhabditis elegans, and doubtless other free-living nematodes, have provided a useful framework for testing hypotheses about how the morphogenesis and development of infective parasitic nematode larvae and the lifespan of adult parasites are regulated. In C. elegans, four major signal transduction pathways, G protein-coupled receptor signaling, insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling, TGFβ-like signaling and steroid-nuclear hormone receptor signaling govern the switch between dauer and continuous development and regulate adult lifespan. Parasitic nematodes appear to have conserved the functions of G-protein-coupled signaling, insulin-like signaling and steroid-nuclear hormone receptor signaling to regulate larval development before and during the infective process. By contrast, TGFβ-like signaling appears to have been adapted for some other function, perhaps modulation of the host immune response. Of the three signal transduction pathways that appear to regulate development in parasitic nematodes, steroid-nuclear hormone signaling is the most straightforward to manipulate with administered small molecules and may form the basis of new chemotherapeutic strategies. Signaling between parasites and their hosts' immune systems also occurs and serves to modulate these responses to allow chronic infection and down regulate acute inflammatory responses. Knowledge of the precise nature of this signaling may form the basis of immunological interventions to protect against parasitism or related lesions and to alleviate inflammatory diseases of various etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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35
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Armstrong SD, Xia D, Bah GS, Krishna R, Ngangyung HF, LaCourse EJ, McSorley HJ, Kengne-Ouafo JA, Chounna-Ndongmo PW, Wanji S, Enyong PA, Taylor DW, Blaxter ML, Wastling JM, Tanya VN, Makepeace BL. Stage-specific Proteomes from Onchocerca ochengi, Sister Species of the Human River Blindness Parasite, Uncover Adaptations to a Nodular Lifestyle. Mol Cell Proteomics 2016; 15:2554-75. [PMID: 27226403 PMCID: PMC4974336 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.055640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite 40 years of control efforts, onchocerciasis (river blindness) remains one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, with 17 million people affected. The etiological agent, Onchocerca volvulus, is a filarial nematode with a complex lifecycle involving several distinct stages in the definitive host and blackfly vector. The challenges of obtaining sufficient material have prevented high-throughput studies and the development of novel strategies for disease control and diagnosis. Here, we utilize the closest relative of O. volvulus, the bovine parasite Onchocerca ochengi, to compare stage-specific proteomes and host-parasite interactions within the secretome. We identified a total of 4260 unique O. ochengi proteins from adult males and females, infective larvae, intrauterine microfilariae, and fluid from intradermal nodules. In addition, 135 proteins were detected from the obligate Wolbachia symbiont. Observed protein families that were enriched in all whole body extracts relative to the complete search database included immunoglobulin-domain proteins, whereas redox and detoxification enzymes and proteins involved in intracellular transport displayed stage-specific overrepresentation. Unexpectedly, the larval stages exhibited enrichment for several mitochondrial-related protein families, including members of peptidase family M16 and proteins which mediate mitochondrial fission and fusion. Quantification of proteins across the lifecycle using the Hi-3 approach supported these qualitative analyses. In nodule fluid, we identified 94 O. ochengi secreted proteins, including homologs of transforming growth factor-β and a second member of a novel 6-ShK toxin domain family, which was originally described from a model filarial nematode (Litomosoides sigmodontis). Strikingly, the 498 bovine proteins identified in nodule fluid were strongly dominated by antimicrobial proteins, especially cathelicidins. This first high-throughput analysis of an Onchocerca spp. proteome across the lifecycle highlights its profound complexity and emphasizes the extremely close relationship between O. ochengi and O. volvulus The insights presented here provide new candidates for vaccine development, drug targeting and diagnostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D Armstrong
- From the ‡Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Dong Xia
- From the ‡Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Germanus S Bah
- §Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Regional Centre of Wakwa, BP65 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Ritesh Krishna
- ¶Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Henrietta F Ngangyung
- §Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Regional Centre of Wakwa, BP65 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - E James LaCourse
- ‖Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Henry J McSorley
- **The Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4JT
| | - Jonas A Kengne-Ouafo
- ‡‡Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and Environment, PO Box 474 Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Samuel Wanji
- ‡‡Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and Environment, PO Box 474 Buea, Cameroon
| | - Peter A Enyong
- ‡‡Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and Environment, PO Box 474 Buea, Cameroon; §§Tropical Medicine Research Station, Kumba, Cameroon
| | - David W Taylor
- From the ‡Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; ¶¶Division of Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Mark L Blaxter
- ‖‖Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Jonathan M Wastling
- From the ‡Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; ‡‡‡The National Institute for Health Research, Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Vincent N Tanya
- §Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Regional Centre of Wakwa, BP65 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- From the ‡Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK;
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Gilabert A, Curran DM, Harvey SC, Wasmuth JD. Expanding the view on the evolution of the nematode dauer signalling pathways: refinement through gene gain and pathway co-option. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:476. [PMID: 27350342 PMCID: PMC4924289 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signalling pathways underlie development, behaviour and pathology. To understand patterns in the evolution of signalling pathways, we undertook a comprehensive investigation of the pathways that control the switch between growth and developmentally quiescent dauer in 24 species of nematodes spanning the phylum. RESULTS Our analysis of 47 genes across these species indicates that the pathways and their interactions are not conserved throughout the Nematoda. For example, the TGF-β pathway was co-opted into dauer control relatively late in a lineage that led to the model species Caenorhabditis elegans. We show molecular adaptations described in C. elegans that are restricted to its genus or even just to the species. Similarly, our analyses both identify species where particular genes have been lost and situations where apparently incorrect orthologues have been identified. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis also highlights the difficulties of working with genome sequences from non-model species as reliance on the published gene models would have significantly restricted our understanding of how signalling pathways evolve. Our approach therefore offers a robust standard operating procedure for genomic comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Gilabert
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Current address: MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS/IRD/UM 5290), Montpellier, France
| | - David M Curran
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Simon C Harvey
- Biomolecular Research Group, School of Human and Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
| | - James D Wasmuth
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
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Abstract
Strongyloides spp. are common parasites of vertebrates and two species, S. ratti and S. venezuelensis, parasitize rats; there are no known species that naturally infect mice. Strongyloides ratti and S. venezuelensis overlap in their geographical range and in these regions co-infections appear to be common. These species have been widely used as tractable laboratory systems in rats as well as mice. The core biology of these two species is similar, but there are clear differences in aspects of their within-host biology as well as in their free-living generation. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that S. ratti and S. venezuelensis are the result of two independent evolutionary transitions to parasitism of rats, which therefore presents an ideal opportunity to begin to investigate the basis of host specificity in Strongyloides spp.
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Obieglo K, Feng X, Bollampalli VP, Dellacasa-Lindberg I, Classon C, Österblad M, Helmby H, Hewitson JP, Maizels RM, Gigliotti Rothfuchs A, Nylén S. Chronic Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection Mutes Immune Responses to Mycobacterial Infection Distal to the Gut. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:2262-71. [PMID: 26819205 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Helminth infections have been suggested to impair the development and outcome of Th1 responses to vaccines and intracellular microorganisms. However, there are limited data regarding the ability of intestinal nematodes to modulate Th1 responses at sites distal to the gut. In this study, we have investigated the effect of the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri on Th1 responses to Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). We found that H. polygyrus infection localized to the gut can mute BCG-specific CD4(+) T cell priming in both the spleen and skin-draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, H. polygyrus infection reduced the magnitude of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to PPD in the skin. Consequently, H. polygyrus-infected mice challenged with BCG had a higher mycobacterial load in the liver compared with worm-free mice. The excretory-secretory product from H. polygyrus (HES) was found to dampen IFN-γ production by mycobacteria-specific CD4(+) T cells. This inhibition was dependent on the TGF-βR signaling activity of HES, suggesting that TGF-β signaling plays a role in the impaired Th1 responses observed coinfection with worms. Similar to results with mycobacteria, H. polygyrus-infected mice displayed an increase in skin parasite load upon secondary infection with Leishmania major as well as a reduction in DTH responses to Leishmania Ag. We show that a nematode confined to the gut can mute T cell responses to mycobacteria and impair control of secondary infections distal to the gut. The ability of intestinal helminths to reduce DTH responses may have clinical implications for the use of skin test-based diagnosis of microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Obieglo
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiaogang Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vishnu Priya Bollampalli
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Cajsa Classon
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Markus Österblad
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helena Helmby
- Department of Immunology and Infection, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; and
| | - James P Hewitson
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Susanne Nylén
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
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Johnston CJC, Smyth DJ, Dresser DW, Maizels RM. TGF-β in tolerance, development and regulation of immunity. Cell Immunol 2015; 299:14-22. [PMID: 26617281 PMCID: PMC4711336 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The broader superfamily of TGF-β-like proteins is reviewed, and signaling pathways summarised. The role of TGF-β in the immune tolerance and control of infectious disease is discussed. The superfamily member AMH is involved in embryonic sexual differentiation. Helminth parasites appear to exploit the TGF-β pathway to suppress host immunity. TGF-β homologues and mimics from parasites offer a new route for therapeutic tolerance induction.
The TGF-β superfamily is an ancient metazoan protein class which cuts across cell and tissue differentiation, developmental biology and immunology. Its many members are regulated at multiple levels from intricate control of gene transcription, post-translational processing and activation, and signaling through overlapping receptor structures and downstream intracellular messengers. We have been interested in TGF-β homologues firstly as key players in the induction of immunological tolerance, the topic so closely associated with Ray Owen. Secondly, our interests in how parasites may manipulate the immune system of their host has also brought us to study the TGF-β pathway in infections with longlived, essentially tolerogenic, helminth parasites. Finally, within the spectrum of mammalian TGF-β proteins is an exquisitely tightly-regulated gene, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), whose role in sex determination underpins the phenotype of freemartin calves that formed the focus of Ray’s seminal work on immunological tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J C Johnston
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Danielle J Smyth
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - David W Dresser
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rick M Maizels
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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40
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Japa O, Hodgkinson JE, Emes RD, Flynn RJ. TGF-β superfamily members from the helminth Fasciola hepatica show intrinsic effects on viability and development. Vet Res 2015; 46:29. [PMID: 25879787 PMCID: PMC4354977 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0167-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The helminth Fasciola hepatica causes fasciolosis throughout the world, a major disease of livestock and an emerging zoonotic disease in humans. Sustainable control mechanisms such as vaccination are urgently required. To discover potential vaccine targets we undertook a genome screen to identify members of the transforming growth factor (TGF) family of proteins. Herein we describe the discovery of three ligands belonging to this superfamily and the cloning and characterisation of an activin/TGF like molecule we term FhTLM. FhTLM has a limited expression pattern both temporally across the parasite stages but also spatially within the worm. Furthermore, a recombinant form of this protein is able to enhance the rate (or magnitude) of multiple developmental processes of the parasite indicating a conserved role for this protein superfamily in the developmental biology of a major trematode parasite. Our study demonstrates for the first time the existence of this protein superfamily within F. hepatica and assigns a function to one of the three identified ligands. Moreover further exploration of this superfamily may yield future targets for diagnostic or vaccination purposes due to its stage restricted expression and functional role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornampai Japa
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Jane E Hodgkinson
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK.
| | - Richard D Emes
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
- Advanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
| | - Robin J Flynn
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
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41
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Pan W, Shen Y, Han X, Wang Y, Liu H, Jiang Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xu Y, Cao J. Transcriptome profiles of the protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus reveal that excretory-secretory products are essential to metabolic adaptation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3392. [PMID: 25500817 PMCID: PMC4263413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cystic hydatid disease (CHD) is caused by the larval stages of the cestode and affects humans and domestic animals worldwide. Protoscoleces (PSCs) are one component of the larval stages that can interact with both definitive and intermediate hosts. Previous genomic and transcriptomic data have provided an overall snapshot of the genomics of the growth and development of this parasite. However, our understanding of how PSCs subvert the immune response of hosts and maintains metabolic adaptation remains unclear. In this study, we used Roche 454 sequencing technology and in silico secretome analysis to explore the transcriptome profiles of the PSCs from E. granulosus and elucidate the potential functions of the excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs) released by the parasite. Methodology/Principal Findings A large number of nonredundant sequences as unigenes were generated (26,514), of which 22,910 (86.4%) were mapped to the newly published E. granulosus genome and 17,705 (66.8%) were distributed within the coding sequence (CDS) regions. Of the 2,280 ESPs predicted from the transcriptome, 138 ESPs were inferred to be involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, while 124 ESPs were inferred to be involved in the metabolism of protein. Eleven ESPs were identified as intracellular enzymes that regulate glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (GL/GN) pathways, while a further 44 antigenic proteins, 25 molecular chaperones and four proteases were highly represented. Many proteins were also found to be significantly enriched in development-related signaling pathways, such as the TGF-β receptor pathways and insulin pathways. Conclusions/Significance This study provides valuable information on the metabolic adaptation of parasites to their hosts that can be used to aid the development of novel intervention targets for hydatid treatment and control. The successful infection establishment of parasites depends on their ability to combat their host's immune system while maintaining metabolic adaptation to their hosts. The mechanisms of these processes are not well understood. We used the protoscoleces (PSCs) of E. granulosus as a model system to study this complex host-parasite interaction by investigating the role of excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs) in the physiological adaptation of the parasite. Using Roche 454 sequencing technology and in silico secretome analysis, we predicted 2280 ESPs and analyzed their biological functions. Our analysis of the bioinformatic data suggested that ESPs are integral to the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins within the parasite and/or hosts. We also found that ESPs are involved in mediating the immune responses of hosts and function within key development-related signaling pathways. We found 11 intracellular enzymes, 25 molecular chaperones and four proteases that were highly represented in the ESPs, in addition to 44 antigenic proteins that showed promise as candidates for vaccine or serodiagnostic development purposes. These findings provide valuable information on the mechanisms of metabolic adaptation in parasites that will aid the development of novel hydatid treatment and control targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Pan
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujuan Shen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (YS); (JC)
| | - Xiuming Han
- Department of Parasitic Diseases, Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control, Zong Zhai, Xining, Qinghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Jiang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumei Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjuan Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Cao
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- WHO Collaborating Center for Malaria, Schistosomiasis and Filariasis, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (YS); (JC)
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42
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Grainger JR, Askenase MH, Guimont-Desrochers F, da Fonseca DM, Belkaid Y. Contextual functions of antigen-presenting cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Immunol Rev 2014; 259:75-87. [PMID: 24712460 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The immune system of the gastrointestinal tract must be tightly regulated to limit pathologic responses toward innocuous antigens while simultaneously allowing for rapid development of effector responses against invading pathogens. Highly specialized antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets present in the gut play a dominant role in balancing these seemingly disparate functions. In this review, we discuss new findings associated with the function of gut APCs and particularly the contextual role of these cells in both establishing tolerance to orally acquired antigens in the steady state and regulating acute inflammation during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Grainger
- Program in Barrier Immunity and Repair, Mucosal Immunology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
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43
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Finlay CM, Walsh KP, Mills KHG. Induction of regulatory cells by helminth parasites: exploitation for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Immunol Rev 2014; 259:206-30. [PMID: 24712468 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Helminth parasites are highly successful pathogens, chronically infecting a quarter of the world's population, causing significant morbidity but rarely causing death. Protective immunity and expulsion of helminths is mediated by T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, type 2 (M2) macrophages, type 2 innate lymphoid cells, and eosinophils. Failure to mount these type 2 immune responses can result in immunopathology mediated by Th1 or Th17 cells. Helminths have evolved a wide variety of approaches for immune suppression, especially the generation of regulatory T cells and anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β. This is a very effective strategy for subverting protective immune responses to prolong their survival in the host but has the bystander effect of modulating immune responses to unrelated antigens. Epidemiological studies in humans have shown that infection with helminth parasites is associated with a low incidence of allergy/asthma and autoimmunity in developing countries. Experimental studies in mice have demonstrated that regulatory immune responses induced by helminth can suppress Th2 and Th1/Th17 responses that mediate allergy and autoimmunity, respectively. This has provided a rational explanation of the 'hygiene hypothesis' and has also led to the exploitation of helminths or their immunomodulatory products in the development of new immunosuppressive therapies for inflammatory diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor M Finlay
- Immune Regulation Research Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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44
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McNeilly TN, Nisbet AJ. Immune modulation by helminth parasites of ruminants: implications for vaccine development and host immune competence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:51. [PMID: 25292481 PMCID: PMC4189095 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2014051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic helminths reside in immunologically-exposed extracellular locations within their hosts, yet they are capable of surviving for extended periods. To enable this survival, these parasites have developed complex and multifaceted mechanisms to subvert or suppress host immunity. This review summarises current knowledge of immune modulation by helminth parasites of ruminants and the parasite-derived molecules involved in driving this modulation. Such immunomodulatory molecules have considerable promise as vaccine targets, as neutralisation of their function is predicted to enhance anti-parasite immunity and, as such, current knowledge in this area is presented herein. Furthermore, we summarise current evidence that, as well as affecting parasite-specific immunity, immune modulation by these parasites may also affect the ability of ruminant hosts to control concurrent diseases or mount effective responses to vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom N McNeilly
- Disease Control, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - Alasdair J Nisbet
- Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, EH26 OPZ, UK
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45
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Stoltzfus JD, Bart SM, Lok JB. cGMP and NHR signaling co-regulate expression of insulin-like peptides and developmental activation of infective larvae in Strongyloides stercoralis. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004235. [PMID: 25010340 PMCID: PMC4092141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The infectious form of the parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis is a developmentally arrested third-stage larva (L3i), which is morphologically similar to the developmentally arrested dauer larva in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We hypothesize that the molecular pathways regulating C. elegans dauer development also control L3i arrest and activation in S. stercoralis. This study aimed to determine the factors that regulate L3i activation, with a focus on G protein-coupled receptor-mediated regulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway signaling, including its modulation of the insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS) pathway. We found that application of the membrane-permeable cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP potently activated development of S. stercoralis L3i, as measured by resumption of feeding, with 85.1 ± 2.2% of L3i feeding in 200 µM 8-bromo-cGMP in comparison to 0.6 ± 0.3% in the buffer diluent. Utilizing RNAseq, we examined L3i stimulated with DMEM, 8-bromo-cGMP, or the DAF-12 nuclear hormone receptor (NHR) ligand Δ7-dafachronic acid (DA)--a signaling pathway downstream of IIS in C. elegans. L3i stimulated with 8-bromo-cGMP up-regulated transcripts of the putative agonistic insulin-like peptide (ILP) -encoding genes Ss-ilp-1 (20-fold) and Ss-ilp-6 (11-fold) in comparison to controls without stimulation. Surprisingly, we found that Δ7-DA similarly modulated transcript levels of ILP-encoding genes. Using the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002, we demonstrated that 400 nM Δ7-DA-mediated activation (93.3 ± 1.1% L3i feeding) can be blocked using this IIS inhibitor at 100 µM (7.6 ± 1.6% L3i feeding). To determine the tissues where promoters of ILP-encoding genes are active, we expressed promoter::egfp reporter constructs in transgenic S. stercoralis post-free-living larvae. Ss-ilp-1 and Ss-ilp-6 promoters are active in the hypodermis and neurons and the Ss-ilp-7 promoter is active in the intestine and a pair of head neurons. Together, these data provide evidence that cGMP and DAF-12 NHR signaling converge on IIS to regulate S. stercoralis L3i activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Stoltzfus
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Stephen M. Bart
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - James B. Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Metenou S, Coulibaly YI, Sturdevant D, Dolo H, Diallo AA, Soumaoro L, Coulibaly ME, Kanakabandi K, Porcella SF, Klion AD, Nutman TB. Highly heterogeneous, activated, and short-lived regulatory T cells during chronic filarial infection. Eur J Immunol 2014; 44:2036-47. [PMID: 24737144 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201444452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the increase in the numbers of regulatory T (Treg) cells in chronic infection settings remain unclear. Here we have delineated the phenotype and transcriptional profiles of Treg cells from 18 filarial-infected (Fil(+) ) and 19 filarial-uninfected (Fil(-) ) subjects. We found that the frequencies of Foxp3(+) Treg cells expressing CTLA-4, GITR, LAG-3, and IL-10 were significantly higher in Fil(+) subjects compared with that in Fil(-) subjects. Foxp3-expressing Treg-cell populations in Fil(+) subjects were also more heterogeneous and had higher expression of IL-10, CCL-4, IL-29, CTLA-4, and TGF-β than Fil(-) subjects, each of these cytokines having been implicated in immune suppression. Moreover, Foxp3-expressing Treg cells from Fil(+) subjects had markedly upregulated expression of activation-induced apoptotic genes with concomitant downregulation of those involved in cell survival. To determine whether the expression of apoptotic genes was due to Treg-cell activation, we found that the expression of CTLA-4, CDk8, RAD50, TNFRSF1A, FOXO3, and RHOA were significantly upregulated in stimulated cells compared with unstimulated cells. Taken together, our results suggest that in patent filarial infection, the expanded Treg-cell populations are heterogeneous, short-lived, activated, and express higher levels of molecules known to modulate immune responsiveness, suggesting that filarial infection is associated with high Treg-cell turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Metenou
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Chakraborty S, Gurusamy M, Zawieja DC, Muthuchamy M. Lymphatic filariasis: perspectives on lymphatic remodeling and contractile dysfunction in filarial disease pathogenesis. Microcirculation 2014; 20:349-64. [PMID: 23237232 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis, one of the most debilitating diseases associated with the lymphatic system, affects over a hundred million people worldwide and manifests itself in a variety of severe clinical pathologies. The filarial parasites specifically target the lymphatics and impair lymph flow, which is critical for the normal functions of the lymphatic system in maintenance of body fluid balance and physiological interstitial fluid transport. The resultant contractile dysfunction of the lymphatics causes fluid accumulation and lymphedema, one of the major pathologies associated with filarial infection. In this review, we take a closer look at the contractile mechanisms of the lymphatics, its altered functions, and remodeling during an inflammatory state and how it relates to the severe pathogenesis underlying a filarial infection. We further elaborate on the complex host-parasite interactions, and molecular mechanisms contributing to the disease pathogenesis. The overall emphasis is on elucidating some of the emerging concepts and new directions that aim to harness the process of lymphangiogenesis or enhance contractility in a dysfunctional lymphatics, thereby restoring the fluid imbalance and mitigating the pathological conditions of lymphatic filariasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjukta Chakraborty
- Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, College Station/Temple, TX 77843, USA
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The dauer hypothesis and the evolution of parasitism: 20 years on and still going strong. Int J Parasitol 2013; 44:1-8. [PMID: 24095839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Revised: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
How any complex trait has evolved is a fascinating question, yet the evolution of parasitism among the nematodes is arguably one of the most arresting. How did free-living nematodes cross that seemingly insurmountable evolutionary chasm between soil dwelling and survival inside another organism? Which of the many finely honed responses to the varied and harsh environments of free-living nematodes provided the material upon which natural selection could act? Although several complementary theories explain this phenomenon, I will focus on the dauer hypothesis. The dauer hypothesis posits that the arrested third-stage dauer larvae of free-living nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans are, due to their many physiological similarities with infective third-stage larvae of parasitic nematodes, a pre-adaptation to parasitism. If so, then a logical extension of this hypothesis is that the molecular pathways which control entry into and recovery from dauer formation by free-living nematodes in response to environmental cues have been co-opted to control the processes of infective larval arrest and activation in parasitic nematodes. The molecular machinery that controls dauer entry and exit is present in a wide range of parasitic nematodes. However, the developmental outputs of the different pathways are both conserved and divergent, not only between populations of C. elegans or between C. elegans and parasitic nematodes but also between different species of parasitic nematodes. Thus the picture that emerges is more nuanced than originally predicted and may provide insights into the evolution of such an interesting and complex trait.
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Metenou S, Nutman TB. Regulatory T cell subsets in filarial infection and their function. Front Immunol 2013; 4:305. [PMID: 24137161 PMCID: PMC3786323 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Filarial infections in humans are chronic infections that cause significant morbidity. The chronic nature of these infections with continuous antigen release is associated with a parasite-specific T cell hypo-responsiveness that may over time also affect the immune responses to bystander antigens. Previous studies have shown the filarial parasite antigen-specific T cells hypo-responsiveness is mediated by regulatory cytokines – IL-10 and TGF-β in particular. Recent studies have suggested that the modulated/regulated T cell responses associated with patent filarial infection may reflect an expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) that include both Tregs induced in peripheral circulation or pTregs and the thymus-derived Tregs or tTregs. Although much is known about the phenotype of these regulatory populations, the mechanisms underlying their expansion and their mode of action in filarial and other infections remain unclear. Nevertheless there are data to suggest that while many of these regulatory cells are activated in an antigen-specific manner the ensuing effectors of this activation are relatively non-specific and may affect a broad range of immune cells. This review will focus on the subsets and function of regulatory T cells in filarial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Metenou
- Helminth Immunology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD , USA
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50
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Hübner MP, Layland LE, Hoerauf A. Helminths and their implication in sepsis - a new branch of their immunomodulatory behaviour? Pathog Dis 2013; 69:127-41. [PMID: 23929557 PMCID: PMC4285315 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of autoimmune and allergic disorders has dramatically increased in developed countries, and it is believed that our ‘cleaner living’ reduces exposure to certain microorganisms and leads to deviated and/or reduced regulation of the immune system. In substantiation of this health hygiene hypothesis, multiple epidemiological studies and animal models have characterized the protective immune responses induced by helminths during auto-inflammatory disorders. The beneficial effects of such helminths, like schistosomes and filariae, are thought to lie in their immunomodulatory capacity, which can be induced by different life-cycle stages or components thereof. In addition to suppressing autoimmunity recent evidence indicates that concurrent helminth infections also counterbalance exacerbated pro-inflammatory immune responses that occur during sepsis, improving survival. As with allergy, epidemiological studies have observed a steady rise in severe sepsis cases and although this may have resulted from several factors (immunosuppressive drugs, chemotherapy, transplantation, increased awareness and increased surgical procedures), it is tempting to hypothesize that the lack of helminth infections in Western countries may have contributed to this phenomenon. This review summarizes how helminths modulate host immunity during sepsis, such as manipulating macrophage activation and provides an overview about the possible implications that may arise during overwhelming bacterial co-infections. This well written review gives a comprehensive overview on the immunopathology of sepsis and the modulation of immune responses by helminths. It provides evidence that helminths or components thereof may improve the outcome of severe infections. This will allow the development of therapeutic strategies to fight infections and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Hübner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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