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Aguilar-Díaz H, Nava-Castro KE, Escobedo G, Domínguez-Ramírez L, García-Varela M, Del Río-Araiza VH, Palacios-Arreola MI, Morales-Montor J. A novel progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC) in the human and swine parasite Taenia solium: implications to the host-parasite relationship. Parasit Vectors 2018. [PMID: 29523160 PMCID: PMC5845172 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2703-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We have previously reported that progesterone (P4) has a direct in vitro effect on the scolex evagination and growth of Taenia solium cysticerci. Here, we explored the hypothesis that the P4 direct effect on T. solium might be mediated by a novel steroid-binding parasite protein. Methods By way of using immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, flow cytometry analysis, double-dimension electrophoresis analysis, and sequencing the corresponding protein spot, we detected a novel PGRMC in T. solium. Molecular modeling studies accompanied by computer docking using the sequenced protein, together with phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment clearly demonstrated that T. solium PGRMC is from parasite origin. Results Our results show that P4 in vitro increases parasite evagination and scolex size. Using immunofluorescent confocal microscopy, we detected that parasite cells showed expression of a P4-binding like protein exclusively located at the cysticercus subtegumental tissue. Presence of the P4-binding protein in cyst cells was also confirmed by flow cytometry. Double-dimension electrophoresis analysis, followed by sequencing the corresponding protein spot, revealed a protein that was previously reported in the T. solium genome belonging to a membrane-associated progesterone receptor component (PGRMC). Molecular modeling studies accompanied by computer docking using the sequenced protein showed that PGRMC is potentially able to bind steroid hormones such as progesterone, estradiol, testosterone and dihydrodrotestosterone with different affinities. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence alignment clearly demonstrated that T. solium PGRMC is related to a steroid-binding protein of Echinoccocus granulosus, both of them being nested within a cluster including similar proteins present in platyhelminths such as Schistocephalus solidus and Schistosoma haematobium. Conclusion Progesterone may directly act upon T. solium cysticerci probably by binding to PGRMC. This research has implications in the field of host-parasite co-evolution as well as the sex-associated susceptibility to this infection. In a more practical matter, present results may contribute to the molecular design of new drugs with anti-parasite actions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2703-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Aguilar-Díaz
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Parasitología Veterinaria, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias INIFAP, CP 62550, Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Karen E Nava-Castro
- Laboratorio de Genotoxicología y Medicina Ambientales. Departamento de.Ciencias Ambientales. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Galileo Escobedo
- Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", 06726, México DF, Mexico
| | - Lenin Domínguez-Ramírez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Sta. Catarina Mártir, Cholula, C.P 72810, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Martín García-Varela
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CP 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Víctor H Del Río-Araiza
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Margarita I Palacios-Arreola
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Jorge Morales-Montor
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, 04510, Ciudad de Mexico, DF, Mexico.
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Androgens Exert a Cysticidal Effect upon Taenia crassiceps by Disrupting Flame Cell Morphology and Function. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127928. [PMID: 26076446 PMCID: PMC4468188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of testosterone (T4) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the survival of the helminth cestode parasite Taenia crassiceps, as well as their effects on actin, tubulin and myosin expression and their assembly into the excretory system of flame cells are described in this paper. In vitro evaluations on parasite viability, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, video-microscopy of live flame cells, and docking experiments of androgens interacting with actin, tubulin, and myosin were conducted. Our results show that T4 and DHT reduce T. crassiceps viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, reaching 90% of mortality at the highest dose used (40 ng/ml) and time exposed (10 days) in culture. Androgen treatment does not induce differences in the specific expression pattern of actin, tubulin, and myosin isoforms as compared with control parasites. Confocal microscopy demonstrated a strong disruption of the parasite tegument, with reduced assembly, shape, and motion of flame cells. Docking experiments show that androgens are capable of affecting parasite survival and flame cell morphology by directly interacting with actin, tubulin and myosin without altering their protein expression pattern. We show that both T4 and DHT are able to bind actin, tubulin, and myosin affecting their assembly and causing parasite intoxication due to impairment of flame cell function. Live flame cell video microscopy showing a reduced motion as well changes in the shape of flame cells are also shown. In summary, T4 and DHT directly act on T. crassiceps cysticerci through altering parasite survival as well as the assembly and function of flame cells.
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Ambrosio JR, Ostoa-Saloma P, Palacios-Arreola MI, Ruíz-Rosado A, Sánchez-Orellana PL, Reynoso-Ducoing O, Nava-Castro KE, Martínez-Velázquez N, Escobedo G, Ibarra-Coronado EG, Valverde-Islas L, Morales-Montor J. Oestradiol and progesterone differentially alter cytoskeletal protein expression and flame cell morphology in Taenia crassiceps. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:687-96. [PMID: 24879953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
We examined the effects of oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on cytoskeletal protein expression in the helminth Taenia crassiceps - specifically actin, tubulin and myosin. These proteins assemble into flame cells, which constitute the parasite excretory system. Total protein extracts were obtained from E2- and P4-treated T. crassiceps cysticerci and untreated controls, and analysed by one- and two-dimensional protein electrophoresis, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and videomicroscopy. Exposure of T. crassiceps cysticerci to E2 and P4 induced differential protein expression patterns compared with untreated controls. Changes in actin, tubulin and myosin expression were confirmed by flow cytometry of parasite cells and immunofluorescence. In addition, parasite morphology was altered in response to E2 and P4 versus controls. Flame cells were primarily affected at the level of the ciliary tuft, in association with the changes in actin, tubulin and myosin. We conclude that oestradiol and progesterone act directly on T. crassiceps cysticerci, altering actin, tubulin and myosin expression and thus affecting the assembly and function of flame cells. Our results increase our understanding of several aspects of the molecular crosstalk between host and parasite, which might be useful in designing anthelmintic drugs that exclusively impair parasitic proteins which mediate cell signaling and pathogenic reproduction and establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier R Ambrosio
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio A, 2do piso, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Pedro Ostoa-Saloma
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - M Isabel Palacios-Arreola
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Azucena Ruíz-Rosado
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Pedro L Sánchez-Orellana
- Departamento de Fisiología Biofísica y Neurociencias, CINVESTAV-IPN, Av. Instituto Politecnico Nacional 2508, San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, México DF 07360, Mexico
| | - Olivia Reynoso-Ducoing
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio A, 2do piso, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Karen E Nava-Castro
- Centro de investigación sobre enfermedades infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Nancy Martínez-Velázquez
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Galileo Escobedo
- Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Hospital General de México, AP 06726, México DF, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth G Ibarra-Coronado
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Laura Valverde-Islas
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio A, 2do piso, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, Mexico
| | - Jorge Morales-Montor
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, México DF 04510, Mexico.
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