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Liu Z, Ulrich vonBargen R, Kendricks AL, Wheeler K, Leão AC, Sankaranarayanan K, Dean DA, Kane SS, Hossain E, Pollet J, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Jones KM, McCall LI. Localized cardiac small molecule trajectories and persistent chemical sequelae in experimental Chagas disease. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6769. [PMID: 37880260 PMCID: PMC10600178 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42247-w] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-infectious conditions present major health burdens but remain poorly understood. In Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, antiparasitic agents that successfully clear T. cruzi do not always improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we reveal differential small molecule trajectories between cardiac regions during chronic T. cruzi infection, matching with characteristic CD apical aneurysm sites. Incomplete, region-specific, cardiac small molecule restoration is observed in animals treated with the antiparasitic benznidazole. In contrast, superior restoration of the cardiac small molecule profile is observed for a combination treatment of reduced-dose benznidazole plus an immunotherapy, even with less parasite burden reduction. Overall, these results reveal molecular mechanisms of CD treatment based on simultaneous effects on the pathogen and on host small molecule responses, and expand our understanding of clinical treatment failure in CD. This link between infection and subsequent persistent small molecule perturbation broadens our understanding of infectious disease sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongyuan Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Rebecca Ulrich vonBargen
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | - Kate Wheeler
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Ana Carolina Leão
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Danya A Dean
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Shelley S Kane
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Ekram Hossain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Jones KM, Zhan B, Ernste KJ, Villar MJ, Bisht N, Nguyen D, Chang LY, Poveda C, Robinson GJ, Trivedi AJ, Hofferek CJ, Decker WK, Konduri V. Immunomodulatory proteins from hookworms reduce cardiac inflammation and modulate regulatory responses in a mouse model of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. FRONTIERS IN PARASITOLOGY 2023; 2:1244604. [PMID: 38239430 PMCID: PMC10795693 DOI: 10.3389/fpara.2023.1244604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Hookworms are parasitic helminths that secrete a variety of proteins that induce anti-inflammatory immune responses, stimulating increased CD4 + Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and IL-10 production. Hookworm-derived recombinant proteins AIP-1 and AIP-2 have been shown to reduce inflammation in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and inflammatory airway disease by inducing CD4+Foxp3+ cells and IL-10 production. In contrast, chronic infection with the protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, leads to chronic inflammation in tissues. Persistence of the parasites in tissues drives chronic low-grade inflammation, with increased infiltration of inflammatory cells into the heart, accompanied by increased production of inflammatory cytokines. There are no current antiparasitic drugs that effectively reduce or prevent chronic myocarditis caused by the onset of Chagas disease, thus new therapies are urgently needed. Therefore, the impact of AIP-1 and AIP-2 on myocarditis was investigated in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection. Methods Female BALB/c mice infected with bioluminescent T. cruzi H1 strain trypomastigotes for 70 days were treated once daily for 7 days with 1mg/kg AIP-1 or AIP-2 protein by intraperitoneal injection. Control mice were left untreated or treated once daily for 14 days with 25mg/kg aspirin in drinking water. At 84 days of infection, splenocytes, cardiac tissue and serum were collected for evaluation. Results Treatment with both AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins significantly reduced cardiac cellular infiltration, and reduced cardiac levels of IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-2. AIP-2 treatment reduced cardiac expression of COX-2. Further, while incubation with AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins did not induce a significant upregulation of an immunoregulatory phenotype in dendritic cells (DC), there was a modest upregulation of CD11c +CD11b+MHCII+SIRPα+ expression, suggesting a regulatory phenotype. Ex-vivo stimulation of splenocytes from the treatment groups with AIP-1 loaded DC induced reduced levels of cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory T cells, stimulation with AIP-2 loaded DC specifically induced enhanced levels of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells among treatment groups. Discussion All in vivo and in vitro results demonstrate that hookworm-derived AIP-1 and AIP-2 proteins reduce T. cruzi induced cardiac inflammation, possibly through multiple anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Jones
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bin Zhan
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Keenan J. Ernste
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maria Jose Villar
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nalini Bisht
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Duc Nguyen
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Li-Yen Chang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Cristina Poveda
- National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Gonteria J. Robinson
- Molecular & Human Genetics Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Akshar J. Trivedi
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Colby J. Hofferek
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - William K. Decker
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vanaja Konduri
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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3
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Jones KM, Mangin EN, Reynolds CL, Villanueva LE, Cruz JV, Versteeg L, Keegan B, Kendricks A, Pollet J, Gusovsky F, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improves cardiac structure and function in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1106315. [PMID: 36844399 PMCID: PMC9947347 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1106315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chagas disease, caused by chronic infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-7 million people worldwide. The major clinical manifestation of Chagas disease is chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), which encompasses a spectrum of symptoms including arrhythmias, hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and sudden death. Current treatment is limited to two antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox, but both have limited efficacy to halt the progression of CCC. We developed a vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy using our vaccine consisting of recombinant Tc24-C4 protein and a TLR-4 agonist adjuvant in a stable squalene emulsion, in combination with low dose benznidazole treatment. We previously demonstrated in acute infection models that this strategy parasite specific immune responses, and reduced parasite burdens and cardiac pathology. Here, we tested our vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection to evaluate the effect on cardiac function. Methods Female BALB/c mice infected with 500 blood form T. cruzi H1 strain trypomastigotes were treated beginning 70 days after infection with a low dose of BNZ and either low or high dose of vaccine, in both sequential and concurrent treatments streams. Control mice were untreated, or administered only one treatment. Cardiac health was monitored throughout the course of treatment by echocardiography and electrocardiograms. Approximately 8 months after infection, endpoint histopathology was performed to measure cardiac fibrosis and cellular infiltration. Results Vaccine-linked chemotherapy improved cardiac function as evidenced by amelioration of altered left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular diameter, as well as ejection fraction and fractional shortening by approximately 4 months of infection, corresponding to two months after treatment was initiated. At study endpoint, vaccine-linked chemotherapy reduced cardiac cellular infiltration, and induced significantly increased antigen specific IFN-γ and IL-10 release from splenocytes, as well as a trend toward increased IL-17A. Discussion These data suggest that vaccine-linked chemotherapy ameliorates changes in cardiac structure and function induced by infection with T. cruzi. Importantly, similar to our acute model, the vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy induced durable antigen specific immune responses, suggesting the potential for a long lasting protective effect. Future studies will evaluate additional treatments that can further improve cardiac function during chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Jones
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Kathryn M. Jones,
| | - Elise N. Mangin
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Corey L. Reynolds
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Liliana E. Villanueva
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Julio Vladimir Cruz
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - April Kendricks
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Fabian Gusovsky
- Global Health Research, Eisai, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Ferreira RR, de Souza EM, Vilar-Pereira G, Degrave WMS, Abreu RDS, Meuser-Batista M, Ferreira NVC, Ledbeter S, Barker RH, Bailly S, Feige JJ, Lannes-Vieira J, de Araújo-Jorge TC, Waghabi MC. In Chagas disease, transforming growth factor beta neutralization reduces Trypanosoma cruzi infection and improves cardiac performance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1017040. [PMID: 36530434 PMCID: PMC9748701 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1017040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC), a progressive inflammatory and fibrosing disease, is the most prominent clinical form of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. During CCC, the parasite remains inside the cardiac cells, leading to tissue damage, involving extensive inflammatory response and irregular fibrosis. Among the fibrogenic factors is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a key cytokine controlling extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation. TGF-β is involved in CCC onset and progression, with increased serum levels and activation of its signaling pathways in the cardiac tissue, which crucially contributes to fibrosis. Inhibition of the TGF-β signaling pathway attenuates T. cruzi infection and prevents cardiac damage in an experimental model of acute Chagas disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TGF-β neutralization on T. cruzi infection in both in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models, using the 1D11 monoclonal antibody. To this end, primary cultures of cardiac cells were infected with T. cruzi trypomastigote forms and treated with 1D11. For in vivo studies, 1D11 was administered in different schemes for acute and chronic phase models (Swiss mice infected with 104 parasites from the Y strain and C57BL/6 mice infected with 102 parasites from the Colombian strain, respectively). Here we show that the addition of 1D11 to cardiac cells greatly reduces cardiomyocyte invasion by T. cruzi and the number of parasites per infected cell. In both acute and chronic experimental models, T. cruzi infection altered the electrical conduction, decreasing the heart rate, increasing the PR interval and the P wave duration. The treatment with 1D11 reduced cardiac fibrosis and reversed electrical abnormalities improving cardiac performance. Taken together, these data further support the major role of the TGF-β signaling pathways in T. cruzi-infection and their biological consequences on parasite/host interactions. The therapeutic effects of the 1D11 antibody are promising and suggest a new possibility to treat cardiac fibrosis in the chronic phase of Chagas' heart disease by TGF-β neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,*Correspondence: Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, ; Mariana Caldas Waghabi,
| | - Elen Mello de Souza
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wim M. S. Degrave
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rayane da Silva Abreu
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Meuser-Batista
- Departamento de Anatomia Patológica e Citopatologia, Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nilma Valéria Caldeira Ferreira
- Departamento de Anatomia Patológica e Citopatologia, Instituto Nacional de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Steve Ledbeter
- Tissue Protection and Repair, Sanofi-Genzyme R&D Center, Framingham, MA, United States
| | - Robert H. Barker
- Tissue Protection and Repair, Sanofi-Genzyme R&D Center, Framingham, MA, United States
| | - Sabine Bailly
- Laboratory BioSanté, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Jacques Feige
- Laboratory BioSanté, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tania C. de Araújo-Jorge
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Caldas Waghabi
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Bioinformática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,*Correspondence: Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, ; Mariana Caldas Waghabi,
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Jones KM, Poveda C, Versteeg L, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Preclinical advances and the immunophysiology of a new therapeutic chagas disease vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:1185-1203. [PMID: 35735065 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2093721] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic infection with the protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi leads to a progressive cardiac disease, known as chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). A new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine is in development to augment existing antiparasitic chemotherapy drugs. AREAS COVERED We report on our current understanding of the underlying immunologic and physiologic mechanisms that lead to CCC, including parasite immune escape mechanisms that allow persistence and the subsequent inflammatory and fibrotic processes that lead to clinical disease. We report on vaccine design and the observed immunotherapeutic effects including induction of a balanced TH1/TH2/TH17 immune response that leads to reduced parasite burdens and tissue pathology. Further, we report vaccine-linked chemotherapy, a dose sparing strategy to further reduce parasite burdens and tissue pathology. EXPERT OPINION Our vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach is a multimodal treatment strategy, addressing both the parasite persistence and the underlying deleterious host inflammatory and fibrotic responses that lead to cardiac dysfunction. In targeting treatment towards patients with chronic indeterminate or early determinate Chagas disease, this vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach will be highly economical and will reduce the global disease burden and deaths due to CCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Jones
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America.,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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Hernández-Torres M, Silva do Nascimento R, Rebouças MC, Cassado A, Matteucci KC, D'Império-Lima MR, Vasconcelos JRC, Bortoluci KR, Alvarez JM, Amarante-Mendes GP. Absence of Bim sensitizes mice to experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:692. [PMID: 34247195 PMCID: PMC8272718 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03964-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a life-threatening disorder caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasite-specific antibodies, CD8+ T cells, as well as IFN-γ and nitric oxide (NO) are key elements of the adaptive and innate immunity against the extracellular and intracellular forms of the parasite. Bim is a potent pro-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family implicated in different aspects of the immune regulation, such as negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes and elimination of antigen-specific T cells at the end of an immune response. Interestingly, the role of Bim during infections remains largely unidentified. To explore the role of Bim in Chagas disease, we infected WT, Bim+/-, Bim-/- mice with trypomastigotes forms of the Y strain of T. cruzi. Strikingly, our data revealed that Bim-/- mice exhibit a delay in the development of parasitemia followed by a deficiency in the control of parasite load in the bloodstream and a decreased survival compared to WT and Bim+/- mice. At the peak of parasitemia, peritoneal macrophages of Bim-/- mice exhibit decreased NO production, which correlated with a decrease in the pro-inflammatory Small Peritoneal Macrophage (SPM) subset. A similar reduction in NO secretion, as well as in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6, was also observed in Bim-/- splenocytes. Moreover, an impaired anti-T. cruzi CD8+ T-cell response was found in Bim-/- mice at this time point. Taken together, our results suggest that these alterations may contribute to the establishment of a delayed yet enlarged parasitic load observed at day 9 after infection of Bim-/- mice and place Bim as an important protein in the control of T. cruzi infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Hernández-Torres
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Monica Cardozo Rebouças
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Cassado
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Kely Catarine Matteucci
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - José Ronnie C Vasconcelos
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Karina R Bortoluci
- Centro de Terapia Celular e Molecular - CTCMol - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Maria Alvarez
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo P Amarante-Mendes
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT-iii), São Paulo, Brazil.
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7
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A Trypsin Inhibitor from Moringa oleifera Flowers Modulates the Immune Response In Vitro of Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Human Cells. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9080515. [PMID: 32823803 PMCID: PMC7460158 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi causes the lethal Chagas disease, which is endemic in Latin America. Flowers of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) express a trypsin inhibitor (MoFTI) whose toxicity to T. cruzi trypomastigotes was previously reported. Here, we studied the effects of MoFTI on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as on the production of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) by T. cruzi-infected PBMCs. Incubation with MoFTI (trypsin inhibitory activity: 62 U/mg) led to lysis of trypomastigotes (LC50 of 43.5 µg/mL) but did not affect the viability of PBMCs when tested at concentrations up to 500 µg/mL. A selectivity index > 11.48 was determined. When T. cruzi-infected PBMCs were treated with MoFTI (43.5 or 87.0 µg/mL), the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and INF-γ, as well as of NO, was stimulated. The release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 also increased. In conclusion, the toxicity to T. cruzi and the production of IL-10 by infected PBMCs treated with MoFTI suggest that this molecule may be able to control parasitemia while regulating the inflammation, preventing the progress of Chagas disease. The data reported here stimulate future investigations concerning the in vivo effects of MoFTI on immune response in Chagas disease.
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Gómez-Olarte S, Bolaños NI, Echeverry M, Rodríguez AN, Cuéllar A, Puerta CJ, Mariño A, González JM. Intermediate Monocytes and Cytokine Production Associated With Severe Forms of Chagas Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1671. [PMID: 31379862 PMCID: PMC6658923 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monocytes are classified according to their CD14 and CD16 expression into classical (reparative), intermediate (inflammatory), and non-classical. This study assessed the frequency of monocyte and the relationship between monocyte subset percentages and the levels of blood cytokines in Colombian chagasic patients with different clinical forms. This study included chagasic patients in different clinical stages: indeterminate (IND) n = 14, chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) n = 14, and heart transplant chagasic (HTCC) n = 9; controls with non-chagasic cardiopathy (NCC) n = 15, and healthy individuals (HI) n = 15. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, labeled for CD14, CD16, and HLA-DR, and analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokines were measured with a bead-based immunoassay. Percentages of total CD14+ CD16+ and CD14+ HLA-DR+ monocytes were higher in patients with heart involvement (CCC, HTCC, and NCC) than controls. Percentages of intermediate monocytes increased in symptomatic chagasic patients (CCC and HTCC) compared to asymptomatic chagasic patients (IND) and controls (HI). Asymptomatic chagasic patients (IND) had higher percentages of classical monocytes, an increased production of CCL17 chemokine compared to chagasic symptomatic patients (CCC), and their levels of CCL17 was positively correlated with the percentage of classical monocyte subset. In CCC, the percentages of intermediate and classical monocytes were positively correlated with IL-6 levels, which were higher in this group compared to HI, and negatively with IL-12p40 concentration, respectively. Remarkably, there also was an important increased of classical monocytes frequency in three chronic chagasic patients who underwent cardiac transplant, of which one received anti-parasitic treatment. Our findings suggest that cardiac chagasic patients have an increased percentage of inflammatory monocytes and produce more IL-6, a biomarker of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, whereas asymptomatic chagasic individuals present a higher percentage of reparative monocytes and CCL17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Gómez-Olarte
- Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Department of Biological Sciences, School of Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Natalia I Bolaños
- Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mariana Echeverry
- Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Adriana Cuéllar
- Grupo de Ciencias del Laboratorio Clínico, School of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Concepción J Puerta
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, School of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Mariño
- Failure and Heart Transplantation Clinic, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - John M González
- Grupo de Ciencias Básicas Médicas, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
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9
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The Role of Co-Stimulatory Molecules in Chagas Disease. Cells 2018; 7:cells7110200. [PMID: 30405039 PMCID: PMC6262639 DOI: 10.3390/cells7110200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a potentially life-threatening tropical disease endemic to Latin American countries that affects approximately 8 million people. In the chronic phase of the disease, individuals are classified as belonging to the indeterminate clinical form or to the cardiac and/or digestive forms when clinical symptoms are apparent. The relationship between monocytes and lymphocytes may be an important point to help clarify the complexity that surrounds the clinical symptoms of the chronic phase of Chagas disease. The co-stimulatory signals are essential to determining the magnitude of T cell response to the antigen. The signals are known to determine the regulation of subsequent adaptive immune response. However, little is known about the expression and function of these molecules in Chagas disease. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the possible role of main pathways of co-stimulatory molecule-receptor interactions in this pathology that could be crucial to understand the disease dynamics.
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Bonney KM, Luthringer DJ, Kim SA, Garg NJ, Engman DM. Pathology and Pathogenesis of Chagas Heart Disease. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2018; 14:421-447. [PMID: 30355152 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-020117-043711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Chagas heart disease is an inflammatory cardiomyopathy that develops in approximately one-third of people infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. One way T. cruzi is transmitted to people is through contact with infected kissing bugs, which are found in much of the Western Hemisphere, including in vast areas of the United States. The epidemiology of T. cruzi and Chagas heart disease and the varied mechanisms leading to myocyte destruction, mononuclear cell infiltration, fibrosis, and edema in the heart have been extensively studied by hundreds of scientists for more than 100 years. Despite this wealth of knowledge, it is still impossible to predict what will happen in an individual infected with T. cruzi because of the tremendous variability in clonal parasite virulence and human susceptibility to infection and the lack of definitive molecular predictors of outcome from either side of the host-parasite equation. Further, while several distinct mechanisms of pathogenesis have been studied in isolation, it is certain that multiple coincident mechanisms combine to determine the ultimate outcome. For these reasons, Chagas disease is best considered a collection of related but distinct illnesses. This review highlights the pathology and pathogenesis of the most common adverse sequela of T. cruzi infection-Chagas heart disease-and concludes with a discussion of key unanswered questions and a view to the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Bonney
- Liberal Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA;
| | - Daniel J Luthringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA; , ,
| | - Stacey A Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA; , ,
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1070, USA;
| | - David M Engman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA; , ,
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11
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Santana DY, Salgado RM, Fevereiro M, Silva do Nascimento R, Fonseca R, Saraiva Câmara NO, Epiphanio S, Marinho CRF, Barreto-Chaves ML, D’ Império-Lima MR, Álvarez JM. MyD88 activation in cardiomyocytes contributes to the heart immune response to acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection with no effect on local parasite control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006617. [PMID: 30067739 PMCID: PMC6089445 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathy is the most serious consequence of Chagas disease, a neglected human disorder caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Because T. cruzi parasites invade cardiomyocytes, we sought to investigate whether these cells recognize the parasite in vivo by receptors signaling through the MyD88 adaptor, which mediates the activation pathway of most Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and IL-1/IL-18 receptors, and influence the development of acute cardiac pathology. First, we showed that HL-1 cardiac muscle cell line expresses MyD88 gene and protein at resting state and after T. cruzi infection. To evaluate the role in vivo of MyD88 expression in cardiomyocytes, we generated Mer+MyD88flox+/+ mice in which tamoxifen treatment is expected to eliminate the MyD88 gene exclusively in cardiomyocytes. This Cre-loxP model was validated by both PCR and western blot analysis; tamoxifen treatment of Mer+MyD88flox+/+ mice resulted in decreased MyD88 gene and protein expression in the heart, but not in the spleen, while had no effect on littermates. The elimination of MyD88 in cardiomyocytes determined a lower increase in CCL5, IFNγ and TNFα gene transcription during acute infection by T. cruzi parasites of the Y strain, but it did not significantly modify heart leukocyte infiltration and parasitism. Together, our results show that cardiomyocytes can sense T. cruzi infection through MyD88-mediated molecular pathways and contribute to the local immune response to the parasite. The strong pro-inflammatory response of heart-recruited leukocytes may overshadow the effects of MyD88 deficiency in cardiomyocytes on the local leukocyte recruitment and T. cruzi control during acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Yohani Santana
- Department of Immunology of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael Moysés Salgado
- Department of Immunology of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marina Fevereiro
- Department of Anatomy of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Raissa Fonseca
- Department of Immunology of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Niels Olsen Saraiva Câmara
- Department of Immunology of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Epiphanio
- Department of Clinical and Toxicologic Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - José M. Álvarez
- Department of Immunology of Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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12
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Carvalho de Freitas R, Lonien SCH, Malvezi AD, Silveira GF, Wowk PF, da Silva RV, Yamauchi LM, Yamada-Ogatta SF, Rizzo LV, Bordignon J, Pinge-Filho P. Trypanosoma cruzi: Inhibition of infection of human monocytes by aspirin. Exp Parasitol 2017; 182:26-33. [PMID: 28939444 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi and its intracellular replication are essential for progression of the parasite life cycle and development of Chagas disease. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and other eicosanoids potently modulate host response and contribute to Chagas disease progression. In this study, we evaluated the effect of aspirin (ASA), a non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor on the T. cruzi invasion and its influence on nitric oxide and cytokine production in human monocytes. The pretreatment of monocytes with ASA or SQ 22536 (adenylate-cyclase inhibitor) induced a marked inhibition of T. cruzi infection. On the other hand, the treatment of monocytes with SQ 22536 after ASA restored the invasiveness of T. cruzi. This reestablishment was associated with a decrease in nitric oxide and PGE2 production, and also an increase of interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 by cells pre-treated with ASA. Altogether, these results reinforce the idea that the cyclooxygenase pathway plays a fundamental role in the process of parasite invasion in an in vitro model of T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Carvalho de Freitas
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sandra Cristina Heim Lonien
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Aparecida Donizette Malvezi
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Ferreira Silveira
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas - ICC/Fiocruz, Curitiba, 81350-010, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Pryscilla Fanini Wowk
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas - ICC/Fiocruz, Curitiba, 81350-010, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Rosiane Valeriano da Silva
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Lucy Megumi Yamauchi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Luiz Vicente Rizzo
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Avenida Albert Einstein 627-701, Subsolo Bloco A., 05651-901, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliano Bordignon
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Carlos Chagas - ICC/Fiocruz, Curitiba, 81350-010, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Phileno Pinge-Filho
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
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13
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Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by infection with the insect-transmitted protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and is the most important parasitic infection in Latin America. The current drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are characterized by limited efficacy and toxic side-effects, and treatment failures are frequently observed. The urgent need for new therapeutic approaches is being met by a combined effort from the academic and commercial sectors, together with major input from not-for-profit drug development consortia. With the disappointing outcomes of recent clinical trials against chronic Chagas disease, it has become clear that an incomplete understanding of parasite biology and disease pathogenesis is impacting negatively on the development of more effective drugs. In addition, technical issues, including difficulties in establishing parasitological cure in both human patients and animal models, have greatly complicated the assessment of drug efficacy. Here, we outline the major questions that need to be addressed and discuss technical innovations that can be exploited to accelerate the drug development pipeline.
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14
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Lovo-Martins MI, Malvezi AD, da Silva RV, Zanluqui NG, Tatakihara VLH, Câmara NOS, de Oliveira APL, Peron JPS, Martins-Pinge MC, Fritsche KL, Pinge-Filho P. Fish oil supplementation benefits the murine host during the acute phase of a parasitic infection from Trypanosoma cruzi. Nutr Res 2017; 41:73-85. [PMID: 28506517 DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) are known to modulate a variety of immune cell functions. On occasion, this has led to diminished host resistance to certain viral and bacterial infections. Little is known about the impact of n-3 PUFA on host resistance to parasitic infection, however, based on results from a small study conducted more than two decades ago, we hypothesized that providing mice LC n-3 PUFA will diminish host resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasitic pathogen responsible for Chagas disease. To investigate this, C57BL/6 mice were supplemented by gavage (0.6% v/w) with phosphate-buffered saline, corn oil (CO), or menhaden fish oil (FO, a fat source rich in LC n-3 PUFA) for 15 days prior to T cruzi (Y strain) challenge and throughout the acute phase of infection. FO supplementation was associated with a transient 2-fold greater peak of blood parasitemia at 7 days postinfection (dpi), whereas subsequent cardiac parasitemia was ~60% lower at 12 dpi. FO treatment also ameliorated the leukopenia and thrombocytopenia observed in the early stages of a T cruzi infection. FO supplementation reduced circulating and cardiac nitric oxide at 7 and 12 dpi, respectively. FO supplementation altered ex vivo prostaglandin E2 and cytokine and chemokine production by splenocytes isolated from uninfected and infected mice. Overall, our results suggest that oral administration of LC n-3 PUFA from FO can have beneficial effects on the host in the early course of a T cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Lovo-Martins
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Aparecida D Malvezi
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Rosiane V da Silva
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Nágela G Zanluqui
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Vera L H Tatakihara
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Niels O S Câmara
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula L de Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jean P S Peron
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marli C Martins-Pinge
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Kevin L Fritsche
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65211, MO, USA
| | - Phileno Pinge-Filho
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Immunopathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, 86051-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
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15
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Nitrotriazole-Based Compounds as Antichagasic Agents in a Long-Treatment In Vivo Assay. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.02717-16. [PMID: 28242662 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02717-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
3-Nitrotriazole-based compounds belonging to various chemical subclasses were found to be very effective against Chagas disease both in vitro and in vivo after a short administration schedule. In this study, five compounds with specific characteristics were selected to be administered for longer periods of time to mice infected with the virulent Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain to further evaluate their effectiveness as antichagasic agents and whether or not potential adverse effects occur. Benznidazole was included for comparison purposes. Complete parasitemia depletion, weight gain, 100% survival, and a lack of myocardial inflammation were observed with four of the compounds and benznidazole administered intraperitoneally at 15 or 20 mg/kg of body weight/day for 40 days. There was a significant reduction in the number of treatment days (number of doses) necessary to induce parasitemia suppression with all four compounds compared to that required with benznidazole. Partial cures were obtained with only one compound tested at 15 mg/kg/day and on the schedule mentioned above but not with benznidazole. Taken together, our data suggest that these compounds demonstrate potent trypanocidal activity comparable to or better than that of the reference drug, benznidazole, when they are administered at the same dose and on the same schedule.
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16
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Rassi A, Marin JA, Rassi A. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: a review of the main pathogenic mechanisms and the efficacy of aetiological treatment following the BENznidazole Evaluation for Interrupting Trypanosomiasis (BENEFIT) trial. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 112:224-235. [PMID: 28225900 PMCID: PMC5319366 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas cardiomyopathy is the most frequent and most severe manifestation of chronic Chagas disease, and is one of the leading causes of morbidity and death in Latin America. Although the pathogenesis of Chagas cardiomyopathy is incompletely understood, it may involve several mechanisms, including parasite-dependent myocardial damage, immune-mediated myocardial injury (induced by the parasite itself and by self-antigens), and microvascular and neurogenic disturbances. In the past three decades, a consensus has emerged that parasite persistence is crucial to the development and progression of Chagas cardiomyopathy. In this context, antiparasitic treatment in the chronic phase of Chagas disease could prevent complications related to the disease. However, according to the results of the BENEFIT trial, benznidazole seems to have no benefit for arresting disease progression in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. In this review, we give an update on the main pathogenic mechanisms of Chagas disease, and re-examine and discuss the results of the BENEFIT trial, together with its limitations and implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anis Rassi
- Hospital do Coração Anis Rassi, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | - José Antonio Marin
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Divisão de Cardiologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Anis Rassi
- Hospital do Coração Anis Rassi, Goiânia, GO, Brasil
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17
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Trypanosoma cruzi High Mobility Group B (TcHMGB) can act as an inflammatory mediator on mammalian cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005350. [PMID: 28178282 PMCID: PMC5319819 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High Mobility Group B (HMGB) proteins are nuclear architectural factors involved in chromatin remodeling and important nuclear events. HMGBs also play key roles outside the cell acting as alarmins or Damage-associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs). In response to a danger signal these proteins act as immune mediators in the extracellular milieu. Moreover, these molecules play a central role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune and both infectious and sterile inflammatory chronic diseases. Principal findings We have previously identified a High mobility group B protein from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcHMGB) and showed that it has architectural properties interacting with DNA like HMGBs from other eukaryotes. Here we show that TcHMGB can be translocated to the cytoplasm and secreted out of the parasite, a process that seems to be stimulated by acetylation. We report that recombinant TcHMGB is able to induce an inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo, evidenced by the production of Nitric Oxide and induction of inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ gene expression. Also, TGF-β and IL-10, which are not inflammatory cytokines but do play key roles in Chagas disease, were induced by rTcHMGB. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that TcHMGB can act as an exogenous immune mediator that may be important for both the control of parasite replication as the pathogenesis of Chagas disease and can be envisioned as a pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) partially overlapping in function with the host DAMPs. When an infection occurs, the innate immune cells recognize Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) through their Pattern Recognition Receptors. This triggers an inflammatory response intended to kill the foreign microbe. But inflammation can also be triggered by the recognition of endogenous molecules called “Danger (or Damage) Associated Molecular Patterns” (DAMPs) that are released by damaged or necrotic cells to “ring the alarm” of the immune system that repair is needed, so some of them are also known as “alarmins”. High Mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a prototypical alarmin molecule released by injured cells and it is also actively secreted by cells of the innate immune system in response to invasion as well as to sterile damage. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas Disease, has its own HMGB protein that we called TcHMGB. Using in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, we demonstrated for the first time that TcHMGB is able to mediate inflammation on mammalian cells, inducing the expression of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Our results suggest that the parasite´s protein could have a role in the immune response and the pathogenesis of Chagas disease, probably overlapping to some extent with the host cell DAMP molecules´ functions.
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18
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Chatelain E. Chagas disease research and development: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2016; 15:98-103. [PMID: 28066534 PMCID: PMC5196238 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2016.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is the result of infection by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is endemic in Latin America, and spreading around the globe due to human migration. Although it was first identified more than a century ago, only two old drugs are available for treatment and a lot of questions related to the disease progression, its pathologies, and not to mention the assessment of treatment efficacy, are subject to debate and remain to be answered. Indeed, the current status of evidence and data available does not allow any absolute statement related to treatment needs and outcome for Chagas patients to be made. Although there has been some new impetus in Research and Development for Chagas disease following recent new clinical trials, there is a scientific requirement to review and challenge the current status of evidence and define basic and clinical research priorities and next steps in the field. This should ensure that the best drugs for Chagas disease are developed, but will require a focused and collaborative effort of the entire Chagas disease research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DND i ), 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
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19
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Borges BC, Uehara IA, Dias LOS, Brígido PC, da Silva CV, Silva MJB. Mechanisms of Infectivity and Evasion Derived from Microvesicles Cargo Produced by Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:161. [PMID: 27921011 PMCID: PMC5118865 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell invasion by the intracellular protozoans requires interaction of proteins from both the host and the parasite. Many parasites establish chronic infections, showing they have the potential to escape the immune system; for example, Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular parasite that causes Chagas disease. Parasite internalization into host cell requires secreted and surface molecules, such as microvesicles. The release of microvesicles and other vesicles, such as exosomes, by different eukaryotic organisms was first observed in the late twentieth century. The characterization and function of these vesicles have recently been the focus of several investigations. In this review, we discuss the release of microvesicles by T. cruzi. The molecular content of these vesicles is composed of several molecules that take place during parasite-host cell interaction and contribute to the parasite-driven mechanism of evasion from the host immune system. These new findings appear to have a profound impact on the comprehension of T. cruzi biology and highlight novel potential strategies for developing more efficient therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna C Borges
- Laboratório de Osteoimunologia e Imunologia dos Tumores, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil; Laboratório de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
| | - Isadora A Uehara
- Laboratório de Osteoimunologia e Imunologia dos Tumores, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Laysa O S Dias
- Laboratório de Osteoimunologia e Imunologia dos Tumores, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Paula C Brígido
- Laboratório de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Claudio V da Silva
- Laboratório de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo J B Silva
- Laboratório de Osteoimunologia e Imunologia dos Tumores, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia Uberlândia, Brazil
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Pays JF. Le troisième et nouveau visage de la maladie de Chagas. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 109:139-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s13149-016-0507-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Machado-Silva A, Cerqueira PG, Grazielle-Silva V, Gadelha FR, Peloso EDF, Teixeira SMR, Machado CR. How Trypanosoma cruzi deals with oxidative stress: Antioxidant defence and DNA repair pathways. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2016; 767:8-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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4-Nitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone: a new compound derived from S-(-)-limonene that induces mitochondrial alterations in epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitology 2015; 142:978-88. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015000141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYTrypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas’ disease, a parasitic disease that remains a serious health concern with unsatisfactory treatment. Drugs that are currently used to treat Chagas’ disease are partially effective in the acute phase but ineffective in the chronic phase of the disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antitrypanosomal activity and morphological, ultrastructural and biochemical alterations induced by a new molecule, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (BZTS), derived from S-(-)-limonene against epimastigote, trypomastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi. BZTS inhibited the growth of epimastigotes (IC50 = 9·2 μm), intracellular amastigotes (IC50 = 3·23 μm) and inhibited the viability of trypomastigotes (EC50 = 1·43 μm). BZTS had a CC50 of 37·45 μm in LLCMK2 cells. BZTS induced rounding and distortion of the cell body and severely damaged parasite mitochondria, reflected by extensive swelling and disorganization in the inner mitochondrial membrane and the presence of concentric membrane structures inside the organelle. Cytoplasmic vacuolization, endoplasmic reticulum that surrounded organelles, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased mitochondrial O2•ˉ production were also observed. Our results suggest that BZTS alters the ultrastructure and physiology of mitochondria, which could be closely related to parasite death.
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Marcilla A, Martin-Jaular L, Trelis M, de Menezes-Neto A, Osuna A, Bernal D, Fernandez-Becerra C, Almeida IC, Del Portillo HA. Extracellular vesicles in parasitic diseases. J Extracell Vesicles 2014; 3:25040. [PMID: 25536932 PMCID: PMC4275648 DOI: 10.3402/jev.v3.25040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases affect billions of people and are considered a major public health issue. Close to 400 species are estimated to parasitize humans, of which around 90 are responsible for great clinical burden and mortality rates. Unfortunately, they are largely neglected as they are mainly endemic to poor regions. Of relevance to this review, there is accumulating evidence of the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in parasitic diseases, acting both in parasite–parasite inter-communication as well as in parasite–host interactions. EVs participate in the dissemination of the pathogen and play a role in the regulation of the host immune systems. Production of EVs from parasites or parasitized cells has been described for a number of parasitic infections. In this review, we provide the most relevant findings of the involvement of EVs in intercellular communication, modulation of immune responses, involvement in pathology, and their potential as new diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents in some of the major human parasitic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Marcilla
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular i Parasitologia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain;
| | - Lorena Martin-Jaular
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Trelis
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular i Parasitologia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Armando de Menezes-Neto
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Institute of Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Dolores Bernal
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Fernandez-Becerra
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Igor C Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Hernando A Del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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