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Zhong Y, Cao Y, Geng X, Yang S, Qian T, Liu C, Chen J. The role of microRNA-142a in Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced downregulation of Foxp3: implications for adverse pregnancy outcomes. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:490. [PMID: 38741041 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09375-0] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is capable of infecting nearly all warm-blooded animals and approximately 30% of the global population. Though most infections are subclinical in immunocompetent individuals, congenital contraction can lead to severe consequences such as spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and a range of cranio-cerebral and/or ocular abnormalities. Previous studies reported that T. gondii-infected pregnancy mice unveiled a deficit in both the amount and suppressive functions of regulatory T (Treg) cells, accompanied with reduced levels of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3). Recently, accumulative studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are, to some extent, relevant to T. gondii infection. However, the link between alterations in miRNAs and downregulation of Foxp3 triggered by T. gondii has been only sporadically studied. METHODS Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), protein blotting and immunofluorescence were employed to evaluate the impact of T. gondii infection and antigens on miRNA transcription and Foxp3 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to examine the fluorescence activity in EL4 cells, which were transfected with recombinant plasmids containing full-length/truncated/mutant microRNA-142a-3p (miR-142a) promoter sequence or wild type/mutant of Foxp3 3' untranslated region (3' UTR). RESULTS We found a pronounced increase in miR-142a transcription, concurrent with a decrease in Foxp3 expression in T. gondii-infected mouse placental tissue. Similarly, comparable findings have been experimentally confirmed through the treatment of EL4 cells with T. gondii antigens (TgAg) in vitro. Simultaneously, miR-142a mimics attenuated Foxp3 expression, whereas its inhibitors markedly augmented Foxp3 expression. miR-142a promoter activity was elevated upon the stimulation of T. gondii antigens, which mitigated co-transfection of mutant miR-142a promoter lacking P53 target sites. miR-142a mimics deceased the fluorescence activity of Foxp3 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), but it did not affect the fluorescence activity upon the co-transfection of mutant Foxp3 3' UTR lacking miR-142a target site. CONCLUSION In both in vivo and in vitro studies, a negative correlation was discovered between Foxp3 expression and miR-142a transcription. TgAg enhanced miR-142a promoter activity to facilitate miR-142a transcription through a P53-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, miR-142a directly targeted Foxp3 3' UTR, resulting in the downregulation of Foxp3 expression. Therefore, harnessing miR-142a may be a possible therapeutic approach for adverse pregnancy caused by immune imbalances, particularly those induced by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
- ZhenJiang Provincial Blood Center, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yining Cao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Geng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujin Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianmei Qian
- Engineering Research Center of Integration and Application of Digital Learning Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100034, People's Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Tissue Engineering Technology Products, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Liu
- Laboratory Animal Center, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinling Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, 19 Qixiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, People's Republic of China.
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Zou Y, Yang X, Chen C, Ma H, Cao HW, Jiang J, Wei XY, Zhang XX. Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:20. [PMID: 38229193 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06053-z] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The liver, being a crucial organ involved in immune response and metabolic regulation, plays a critical role in the host's defense against T. gondii infection. METHODS In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the liver of mice infected with T. gondii. By employing this method, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the alterations in gene expression occurring in the liver during infection. RESULTS By comparing the infected groups to the control groups, we identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs at two stages of infection. Specifically, at the acute infection stage, we found 628 DElncRNAs, and 6346 DEmRNAs. At the chronic infection stage, we identified 385 DElncRNAs and 2513 DEmRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 1959 commonly expressed DEmRNAs, including IL27, Nos2, and Cxcr2, across two infection stages. Enrichment and co-location analyses revealed pathways linked to immune and inflammatory responses during T. gondii infection. Notably, through co-location analysis, our analysis revealed several DElncRNAs, including Gm29156, Gm29157, and Gm28644, which are potentially implicated in the progression of liver inflammation induced by T. gondii. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis disclosed stage-specific characteristics of liver inflammation and immune response, alongside changes in metabolic regulation and immunosuppression pathways. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver at different stages of T. gondii infection. We identified potential regulatory factors and pathways implicated in liver inflammation, thereby enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and immune responses during T. gondii infection. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for liver inflammation in the context of T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, 224002, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Baicheng Normal University, Baicheng, Jilin Province, 137000, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, ChangchunJilin Province, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - He Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Wei Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, 224002, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Baicheng Normal University, Baicheng, Jilin Province, 137000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin-Yu Wei
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang Province163316, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, People's Republic of China
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Zouei N, Dalimi A, Pirestani M, Ghaffarifar F. Assessment of tissue levels of miR-146a and proinflammatory cytokines in experimental cerebral toxoplasmosis following atovaquone and clindamycin treatment: An in vivo study. Microb Pathog 2023; 184:106340. [PMID: 37683834 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advances for treating cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT), monitoring the parasite burden and treatment response is still challenging. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions that can be used in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We investigated the changes in miR-146a, BAG-1 gene, IL-6, and IL-10 tissue levels in the brain of BALB/c mice with chronic CT caused by the PRU strain of T. gondii following anti-parasitic and antibiotic treatment. METHOD Fifty-three 6-to 8-week-old BALB/c mice were infected using intraperitoneal inoculation of cerebral cysts of T. gondii PRU strain and then divided into five groups as follows: group 1 included mice treated with 100 mg/kg/d Atovaquone (AT), group 2 included mice treated with 400 mg/kg/d clindamycin (CL), group 3 included mice treated with combination therapy (AT + CL), group 4 included infected untreated mice as a positive control (PC), and; group 5 included uninfected untreated mice as negative control (NC). After the completion of the treatment course, tissue level of mir-146a, miR-155, BAG-1 gene, IL-6, and IL-10 was investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The IL-6/IL-10 ratio was calculated as an indicator of immune response. Moreover, brain cyst numbers were counted on autopsy samples. RESULTS miR-146a, IL-6, IL-10, and BAG-1 genes were expressed in PC, but not in the NC group; miR-146a, IL-6, IL-10, and BAG-1 gene expression were significantly lower in AT, CL, and AT + CL compared with PC. MiR-146a and BAG-1 levels in AT and CL were not different statistically, however, they both had lower levels compared to AT + CL (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the expression of IL-6 and IL-10 between treatment groups. BAG-1 expression was significantly lower in AT, than in CL and AT + CL (P < 0.0089 and < 0.002, respectively). The PC group showed a higher ratio of IL-6/IL-10, although this increase was not statistically significant. It is noteworthy that the treatment with AT reduced this ratio; in the inter-group comparison, this ratio showed a decrease in the AT and AT + CL compared to the PC. The number of brain tissue cysts was significantly lower in AT, CL, and AT + CL, than in PC (p < 0.0001). AT had significantly lower brain cysts than CL and AT + CL (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION It seems that the factors studied in the current research (microRNA and cytokines) are a suitable index for evaluating the response to antiparasitic and antibiotic treatment. However, more studies should be conducted in the future to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Zouei
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Dalimi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Yuan H, Jiang T, Zhang WD, Yang Z, Luo S, Wang X, Zhu X, Qi S, Mahmmod YS, Zhang XX, Yuan ZG. Multiomics and bioinformatics identify differentially expressed effectors in the brain of Toxoplasma gondii infected masked palm civet. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1267629. [PMID: 37818043 PMCID: PMC10561248 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1267629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) serves as a reservoir in transmitting pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii, to humans. However, the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in masked palm civets has not been explored. We studied the molecular changes in the brain tissue of masked palm civets chronically infected with T. gondii ME49. Methods The differentially expressed proteins in the brain tissue were investigated using iTRAQ and bioinformatics. Results A total of 268 differential proteins were identified, of which 111 were upregulated and 157 were downregulated. KEGG analysis identified pathways including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, carbon metabolism, T-cell receptor signaling pathway. Combing transcriptomic and proteomics data, we identified 24 genes that were differentially expressed on both mRNA and protein levels. The top four upregulated proteins were REEP3, REEP4, TEP1, and EEPD1, which was confirmed by western blot and immunohistochemistry. KEGG analysis of these 24 genes identified signaling cascades that were associated with small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathways among others. To understand the mechanism of the observed alteration, we conducted immune infiltration analysis using TIMER databases which identified immune cells that are associated with the upregulation of these proteins. Protein network analysis identified 44 proteins that were in close relation to all four proteins. These proteins were significantly enriched in immunoregulation and cancer pathways including PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, cell cycle, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Bioinformatics utilizing two cancer databases (TCGA and GEPIA) revealed that the four genes were upregulated in many cancer types including glioblastoma (GBM). In addition, higher expression of REEP3 and EEPD1 was associated with better prognosis, while higher expression of REEP4 and TEP1 was associated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. Discussion We identified the differentially expressed genes in the brain of T. gondii infected masked palm civets. These genes were associated with various cellular signaling pathways including those that are immune- and cancer-related.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tiantian Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Wei-Dong Zhang
- South China Agricultural University Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zipeng Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shengjun Luo
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojing Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuting Qi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yasser S. Mahmmod
- Infectious Diseases, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Xiu-Xiang Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Guo Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Prevention and Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Zhao L, He K, Jiang C, Wang G, Hu S, Wang T, Qian W, Wei Z, Xiong J, Miao W, Yan W. Comparative Genomic and Transcriptomic Profiling Revealed the Molecular Basis of Starch Promoting the Growth and Proliferation of Balantioides coli. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101608. [PMID: 37238038 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbohydrates are the main source of nutrition for B. coli, supplying energy for cell growth and development. The research aimed at investigating the mechanism of starch on the growth and replication of B. coli. Single-cell separation was used to isolate single trophozoites of B. coli under a stereomicroscope, transcriptomic profiling was conducted based on the SMART-seq2 single-cell RNA-seq method. Comparative genomic analysis was performed on B. coli and eight other ciliates to obtain specific and expanded gene families of B. coli. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to analyze the key genes of B. coli under the action of starch in the present study. The results of single-cell RNA-seq depicts starch affected the growth and replication of B. coli in two ways: (1) the cell cycle was positively promoted by the activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway via glycolysis; (2) the cell autophagy was suppressed through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Genes involved in endocytosis, carbohydrate utilization, and the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway were highly enriched in both specific and expanded gene families of B. coli. Starch can be ingested and hydrolyzed into glucose, in turn affecting various biological processes of B. coli. The molecular mechanism of the effect of starch on the growth and proliferation of B. coli by promoting cell cycle and inhibiting the autophagy of trophozoites has been elucidated in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhuo Zhao
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Kai He
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chuanqi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Suhui Hu
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Tianqi Wang
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Weifeng Qian
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Zhiguo Wei
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wei Miao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wenchao Yan
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
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Overview of Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Processes in Toxoplasma gondii Infected Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020253. [PMID: 36839525 PMCID: PMC9966443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite. During the parasitic invasion, T. gondii creates a parasitophorous vacuole, which enables the modulation of cell functions, allowing its replication and host infection. It has effective strategies to escape the immune response and reach privileged immune sites and remain inactive in a controlled environment in tissue cysts. This current review presents the factors that affect host cells and the parasite, as well as changes in the immune system during host cell infection. The secretory organelles of T. gondii (dense granules, micronemes, and rhoptries) are responsible for these processes. They are involved with proteins secreted by micronemes and rhoptries (MIC, AMA, and RONs) that mediate the recognition and entry into host cells. Effector proteins (ROP and GRA) that modify the STAT signal or GTPases in immune cells determine their toxicity. Interference byhost autonomous cells during parasitic infection, gene expression, and production of microbicidal molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), result in the regulation of cell death. The high level of complexity in host cell mechanisms prevents cell death in its various pathways. Many of these abilities play an important role in escaping host immune responses, particularly by manipulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and inflammation. Here we present recent works that define the mechanisms by which T. gondii interacts with these processes in infected host cells.
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Li Z, Fu R, Wen X, Zhang L. Network analysis reveals miRNA crosstalk between periodontitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Oral Health 2023; 23:19. [PMID: 36639776 PMCID: PMC9840318 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-022-02704-2] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. Periodontitis (PD is considered a high-risk factor for OSCC, but the genetic mechanism is rarely studied. This study aims to link OSCC and PD by identifying common differentially expressed miRNAs (Co-DEmiRNAs), their related genes (Hub genes), transcription factors (TFs), signaling pathways, enrichment functions, and compounds, and searching for genetic commonalities. METHODS The miRNAs expression datasets of OSCC and PD were searched from the GEO database. The miRNA and related crosstalk mechanism between OSCC and PD was obtained through a series of analyses. RESULTS hsa-mir-497, hsa-mir-224, hsa-mir-210, hsa-mir-29c, hsa-mir-486-5p, and hsa-mir-31are the top miRNA nodes in Co-DEmiRNA-Target networks. The most significant candidate miRNA dysregulation genes are ZNF460, FBN1, CDK6, BTG2, and CBX6, while the most important dysregulation TF includes HIF1A, TP53, E2F1, MYCN, and JUN. 5-fluorouracil, Ginsenoside, Rh2, and Formaldehyde are the most correlated compounds. Enrichment analysis revealed cancer-related pathways and so on. CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive analysis reveals the interacting genetic and molecular mechanism between OSCC and PD, linking both and providing a foundation for future basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrui Li
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412523.30000 0004 0386 9086National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Rao Fu
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412523.30000 0004 0386 9086National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xutao Wen
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412523.30000 0004 0386 9086National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Oral and Maxillofacial-Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China ,grid.412523.30000 0004 0386 9086National Center for Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai, China ,grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
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Rojas-Pirela M, Andrade-Alviárez D, Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Ortega Y, Maya JD, Rojas V, Quiñones W, Michels PA, Kemmerling U. MicroRNAs: master regulators in host-parasitic protist interactions. Open Biol 2022; 12:210395. [PMID: 35702995 PMCID: PMC9198802 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs present in a wide diversity of organisms. MiRNAs regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level through their interaction with the 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs, inducing translational inhibition or mRNA destabilization and degradation. Thus, miRNAs regulate key biological processes, such as cell death, signal transduction, development, cellular proliferation and differentiation. The dysregulation of miRNAs biogenesis and function is related to the pathogenesis of diseases, including parasite infection. Moreover, during host-parasite interactions, parasites and host miRNAs determine the probability of infection and progression of the disease. The present review is focused on the possible role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of diseases of clinical interest caused by parasitic protists. In addition, the potential role of miRNAs as targets for the design of drugs and diagnostic and prognostic markers of parasitic diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Diego Andrade-Alviárez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Yessica Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Paul A. Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
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Nian X, Li L, Ma X, Li X, Li W, Zhang N, Ohiolei JA, Li L, Dai G, Liu Y, Yan H, Fu B, Xiao S, Jia W. Understanding pathogen–host interplay by expression profiles of lncRNA and mRNA in the liver of Echinococcus multilocularis-infected mice. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010435. [PMID: 35639780 PMCID: PMC9187083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost all Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infections occur in the liver of the intermediate host, causing a lethal zoonotic helminthic disease, alveolar echinococcosis (AE). However, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression profiles of the host and the potential regulatory function of lncRNA during Em infection are poorly understood. In this study, the profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver of mice at different time points after Em infection were explored by microarray. Thirty-one differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs) and 68 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were found continuously dysregulated. These DEMs were notably enriched in “antigen processing and presentation”, “Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation” and “Th17 cell differentiation” pathways. The potential predicted function of DELs revealed that most DELs might influence Th17 cell differentiation and TGF-β/Smad pathway of host by trans-regulating SMAD3, STAT1, and early growth response (EGR) genes. At 30 days post-infection (dpi), up-regulated DEMs were enriched in Toll-like and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathways, which were validated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and downstream cytokines detection. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and serum levels of the corresponding cytokines confirmed the changes in cell-mediated immunity in host during Em infection that showed Th1 and Th17-type CD4+ T-cells were predominant at the early infection stage whereas Th2-type CD4+ T-cells were significantly higher at the middle/late stage. Collectively, our study revealed the potential regulatory functions of lncRNAs in modulating host Th cell subsets and provide novel clues in understanding the influence of Em infection on host innate and adaptive immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Nian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Xusheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Foot and Mouth Diseases Reference Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Xiurong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Wenhui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Nianzhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - John Asekhaen Ohiolei
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Le Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- The Instrument Centre of State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
| | - Hongbin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (HY); (SX); (WJ)
| | - Baoquan Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Sa Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (HY); (SX); (WJ)
| | - Wanzhong Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, National Professional Laboratory for Animal Echinococcosis, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (HY); (SX); (WJ)
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10
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Wang L, Wang N, Zhao Y, Lu G. Toxoplasma gondii causes changes in the host's expression of cancer‑associated miRNAs. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:149. [PMID: 35350589 PMCID: PMC8941548 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout the world, numerous individuals are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, which may improve immunity against cancer. Furthermore, microRNAs (miRs) may be differentially expressed in the host upon infection with T. gondii. In the present study, RNA-sequencing analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR revealed that miR-429-3p, miR-145a-5p, miR-211-5p, miR-31-3p and miR-135a-5p were determined to be downregulated, while miR-21a-3p, miR-135b-5p, miR-210-5p and miR-146-3p were upregulated in mice post-infection with T. gondii. Antitumor genes [TNF receptor superfamily member 11b, large tumor suppressor kinase (Lats)2 and Lats1] were identified as targets of miR-429-3p, miR-145a-5p, miR-211-5p, miR-31-3p and miR-135a-5p with a luciferase reporter assay. In addition, the protein levels of Lats2 and Lats1 were detected to be higher in T. gondii-infected mice than in the control group. Therefore, these results provide favorable evidence for the suppression of cancer upon T. gondii infection and may give novel ideas for the treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Department of Epilepsy Center, Ji Nan Children's Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250022, P.R. China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qingdao Third People's Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266041, P.R. China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
| | - Gang Lu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250062, P.R. China
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11
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Hou Z, Zhang H, Xu K, Zhu S, Wang L, Su D, Liu J, Su S, Liu D, Huang S, Xu J, Pan Z, Tao J. Cluster analysis of splenocyte microRNAs in the pig reveals key signal regulators of immunomodulation in the host during acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:58. [PMID: 35177094 PMCID: PMC8851844 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05164-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause a geographically widespread zoonosis. Our previous splenocyte microRNA profile analyses of pig infected with T. gondii revealed that the coordination of a large number of miRNAs regulates the host immune response during infection. However, the functions of other miRNAs involved in the immune regulation during T. gondii infection are not yet known. METHODS Clustering analysis was performed by K-means, self-organizing map (SOM), and hierarchical clustering to obtain miRNA groups with the similar expression patterns. Then, the target genes of the miRNA group in each subcluster were further analyzed for functional enrichment by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Reactome pathway to recognize the key signaling molecules and the regulatory signatures of the innate and adaptive immune responses of the host during T. gondii infection. RESULTS A total of 252 miRNAs were successfully divided into 22 subclusters by K-means clustering (designated as K1-K22), 29 subclusters by SOM clustering (designated as SOM1-SOM29), and six subclusters by hierarchical clustering (designated as H1-H6) based on their dynamic expression levels in the different infection stages. A total of 634, 660, and 477 GO terms, 15, 26, and 14 KEGG pathways, and 16, 15, and 7 Reactome pathways were significantly enriched by K-means, SOM, and hierarchical clustering, respectively. Of note, up to 22 miRNAs mainly showing downregulated expression at 50 days post-infection (dpi) were grouped into one subcluster (namely subcluster H3-K17-SOM1) through the three algorithms. Functional analysis revealed that a large group of immunomodulatory signaling molecules were controlled by the different miRNA groups to regulate multiple immune processes, for instance, IL-1-mediated cellular response and Th1/Th2 cell differentiation partly depending on Notch signaling transduction for subclusters K1 and K2, innate immune response involved in neutrophil degranulation and TLR4 cascade signaling for subcluster K15, B cell activation for subclusters SOM17, SOM1, and SOM25, leukocyte migration, and chemokine activity for subcluster SOM9, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction for subcluster H2, and interleukin production, chemotaxis of immune cells, chemokine signaling pathway, and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway for subcluster H3-K17-SOM1. CONCLUSIONS Cluster analysis of splenocyte microRNAs in the pig revealed key regulatory properties of subcluster miRNA molecules and important features in the immune regulation induced by acute and chronic T. gondii infection. These results contribute new insight into the identification of physiological immune responses and maintenance of tolerance in pig spleen tissues during T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaofeng Hou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangzhi Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shifan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingzeyang Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiantao Liu
- YEBIO Bioengineering Co., Ltd. of QINGDAO, Qingdao, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijie Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyang Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiming Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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12
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Sana M, Rashid M, Rashid I, Akbar H, Gomez-Marin JE, Dimier-Poisson I. Immune response against toxoplasmosis-some recent updates RH: Toxoplasma gondii immune response. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2022; 36:3946320221078436. [PMID: 35227108 PMCID: PMC8891885 DOI: 10.1177/03946320221078436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cytokines, soluble mediators of immunity, are key factors of the innate and adaptive immune system. They are secreted from and interact with various types of immune cells to manipulate host body's immune cell physiology for a counter-attack on the foreign body. A study was designed to explore the mechanism of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) resistance from host immune response. METHODS AND RESULTS The published data on aspect of host (murine and human) immune response against T. gondii was taken from Google scholar and PubMed. Most relevant literature was included in this study. The basic mechanism of immune response starts from the interactions of antigens with host immune cells to trigger the production of cytokines (pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory) which then act by forming a cytokinome (network of cytokine). Their secretory equilibrium is essential for endowing resistance to the host against infectious diseases, particularly toxoplasmosis. A narrow balance lying between Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines (as demonstrated until now) is essential for the development of resistance against T. gondii as well as for the survival of host. Excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines leads to tissue damage resulting in the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines which enhances the proliferation of Toxoplasma. Stress and other infectious diseases (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)) that weaken the host immunity particularly the cellular component, make the host susceptible to toxoplasmosis especially in pregnant women. CONCLUSION The current review findings state that in vitro harvesting of IL12 from DCs, Np and MΦ upon exposure with T. gondii might be a source for therapeutic use in toxoplasmosis. Current review also suggests that therapeutic interventions leading to up-regulation/supplementation of SOCS-3, IL12, and IFNγ to the infected host could be a solution to sterile immunity against T. gondii infection. This would be of interest particularly in patients passing through immunosuppression owing to any reason like the ones receiving anti-cancer therapy, the ones undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for graft/transplantation, the ones suffering from immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or having AIDS. Another imortant suggestion is to launch the efforts for a vaccine based on GRA6Nt or other similar antigens of T. gondii as a probable tool to destroy tissue cysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Sana
- Department of Parasitology, 66920University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 66920The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, 66920University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Haroon Akbar
- Department of Parasitology, 66920University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jorge E Gomez-Marin
- Grupo Gepamol, Centro de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad del Quindio, Armenia, CO, South America
| | - Isabelle Dimier-Poisson
- Université de Tours, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE), Unité mixte de recherche 1282 (UMR1282), Infectiologie et santé publique (ISP), Tours, France
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13
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Olajide JS, Olopade B, Cai J. Functional Intricacy and Symmetry of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Parasitic Infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:751523. [PMID: 34692567 PMCID: PMC8531492 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.751523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RNAs are a class of molecules and the majority in eukaryotes are arbitrarily termed non- coding transcripts which are broadly classified as short and long non-coding RNAs. Recently, knowledge of the identification and functions of long non-coding RNAs have continued to accumulate and they are being recognized as important molecules that regulate parasite-host interface, parasite differentiation, host responses, and disease progression. Herein, we present and integrate the functions of host and parasite long non-coding RNAs during infections within the context of epigenetic re-programming and molecular crosstalk in the course of host-parasite interactions. Also, the modular range of parasite and host long non-coding RNAs in coordinated parasite developmental changes and host immune dynamic landscapes are discussed. We equally canvass the prospects of long non-coding RNAs in disease diagnosis and prognosis. Hindsight and suggestions are offered with the aim that it will bolster our understanding for future works on host and parasite long non-coding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Seun Olajide
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Centre for Distance Learning, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
| | - Bolatito Olopade
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
| | - Jianping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
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14
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Rashidi S, Mansouri R, Ali-Hassanzadeh M, Ghani E, Barazesh A, Karimazar M, Nguewa P, Carrera Silva EA. Highlighting the interplay of microRNAs from Leishmania parasites and infected-host cells. Parasitology 2021; 148:1434-1446. [PMID: 34218829 PMCID: PMC11010138 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021001177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites, the causative agents of leishmaniasis, are protozoan parasites with the ability to modify the signalling pathway and cell responses of their infected host cells. These parasite strategies alter the host cell environment and conditions favouring their replication, survival and pathogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) are able to post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression processes, these biomolecules can exert critical roles in controlling Leishmania-host cell interplay. Therefore, the identification of relevant miRNAs differentially expressed in Leishmania parasites as well as in infected cells, which affect the host fitness, could be critical to understand the infection biology, pathogenicity and immune response against these parasites. Accordingly, the current review aims to address the differentially expressed miRNAs in both, the parasite and infected host cells and how these biomolecules change cell signalling and host immune responses during infection. A deep understanding of these processes could provide novel guidelines and therapeutic strategies for managing and treating leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajad Rashidi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Mansouri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali-Hassanzadeh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Ghani
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Afshin Barazesh
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Karimazar
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Paul Nguewa
- University of Navarra, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), c/Irunlarrea 1, 31008Pamplona, Spain
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15
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Gao Y, Suding Z, Wang L, Liu D, Su S, Xu J, Hu J, Tao J. Full-length transcriptome analysis and identification of transcript structures in Eimeria necatrix from different developmental stages by single-molecule real-time sequencing. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:502. [PMID: 34579769 PMCID: PMC8474931 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Eimeria necatrix is one of the most pathogenic parasites, causing high mortality in chickens. Although its genome sequence has been published, the sequences and complete structures of its mRNA transcripts remain unclear, limiting exploration of novel biomarkers, drug targets and genetic functions in E. necatrix. Methods Second-generation merozoites (MZ-2) of E. necatrix were collected using Percoll density gradients, and high-quality RNA was extracted from them. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and Illumina sequencing were combined to generate the transcripts of MZ-2. Combined with the SMRT sequencing data of sporozoites (SZ) collected in our previous study, the transcriptome and transcript structures of E. necatrix were studied. Results SMRT sequencing yielded 21,923 consensus isoforms in MZ-2. A total of 17,151 novel isoforms of known genes and 3918 isoforms of novel genes were successfully identified. We also identified 2752 (SZ) and 3255 (MZ-2) alternative splicing (AS) events, 1705 (SZ) and 1874 (MZ-2) genes with alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, 4019 (SZ) and 2588 (MZ-2) fusion transcripts, 159 (SZ) and 84 (MZ-2) putative transcription factors (TFs) and 3581 (SZ) and 2039 (MZ-2) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). To validate fusion transcripts, reverse transcription-PCR was performed on 16 candidates, with an accuracy reaching up to 87.5%. Sanger sequencing of the PCR products further confirmed the authenticity of chimeric transcripts. Comparative analysis of transcript structures revealed a total of 3710 consensus isoforms, 815 AS events, 1139 genes with APA sites, 20 putative TFs and 352 lncRNAs in both SZ and MZ-2. Conclusions We obtained many long-read isoforms in E. necatrix SZ and MZ-2, from which a series of lncRNAs, AS events, APA events and fusion transcripts were identified. Information on TFs will improve understanding of transcriptional regulation, and fusion event data will greatly improve draft versions of gene models in E. necatrix. This information offers insights into the mechanisms governing the development of E. necatrix and will aid in the development of novel strategies for coccidiosis control. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05015-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Zeyang Suding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Lele Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Shijie Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Junjie Hu
- Biology Department, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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16
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Chitneedi PK, Weikard R, Arranz JJ, Martínez-Valladares M, Kuehn C, Gutiérrez-Gil B. Identification of Regulatory Functions of LncRNAs Associated With T. circumcincta Infection in Adult Sheep. Front Genet 2021; 12:685341. [PMID: 34194481 PMCID: PMC8236958 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.685341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent studies have demonstrated the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating the defense mechanism against parasite infections, but no studies are available that investigated their relevance for immune response to nematode infection in sheep. Thus, the aim of the current study was to (i) detect putative lncRNAs that are expressed in the abomasal lymph node of adult sheep after an experimental infection with the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Teladorsagia circumcincta and (ii) to elucidate their potential functional role associated with the differential host immune response. We hypothesized that putative lncRNAs differentially expressed (DE) between samples from animals that differ in resistance to infection may play a significant regulatory role in response to nematode infection in adult sheep. To obtain further support for our hypothesis, we performed co-expression and functional gene enrichment analyses with the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs). In a conservative approach, we included for this predictive analysis only those lncRNAs that are confirmed and supported by documentation of expression in gastrointestinal tissues in the current sheep gene atlas. We identified 9,105 putative lncRNA transcripts corresponding to 7,124 gene loci. Of these, 457 were differentially expressed lncRNA loci (DELs) with 683 lncRNA transcripts. Based on a gene co-expression analysis via weighted gene co-expression network analysis, 12 gene network modules (GNMs) were found significantly correlated with at least one of 10 selected target DE lncRNAs. Based on the principle of “guilt-by-association,” the DE genes from each of the three most significantly correlated GNMs were subjected to a gene enrichment analysis. The significant pathways associated with DE lncRNAs included ERK5 Signaling, SAPK/JNK Signaling, RhoGDI Signaling, EIF2 Signaling, Regulation of eIF4 and p70S6K Signaling and Oxidative Phosphorylation pathways. They belong to signaling pathway categories like Cellular Growth, Proliferation and Development, Cellular Stress and Injury, Intracellular and Second Messenger Signaling and Apoptosis. Overall, this lncRNA study conducted in adult sheep after GIN infection provided first insights into the potential functional role of lncRNAs in the differential host response to nematode infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosemarie Weikard
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Juan J Arranz
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Valladares
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain.,Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Christa Kuehn
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany.,Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Beatriz Gutiérrez-Gil
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain
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17
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Wang C, Yang SH, Niu N, Tao J, Du XC, Yang JH, Zhu MX, Wang YN, Zhao W. lncRNA028466 regulates Th1/Th2 cytokine expression and associates with Echinococcus granulosus antigen P29 immunity. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:295. [PMID: 34082780 PMCID: PMC8173744 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04795-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). The recombinant Echinococcus granulosus antigen P29 (rEg.P29) was shown to confer effective immunity to sheep and mice during E. granulosus secondary infection in our previous study. In this study, we sought to investigate the ability of long noncoding RNA 028466 (lncRNA028466) as a regulator for the protective immunity mediated by rEg.P29 vaccination and to study the effects of lncRNA028466 on CD4+T cell differentiation in mice spleen. Methods Female BALB/c mice were divided into two groups and were vaccinated subcutaneously with rEg.P29 antigen and PBS as a control (12 mice each group). Following prime-boost vaccination, CD4+T, CD8+T, and B cells from the spleen were isolated by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to measure the expression of lncRNA028466 in these three kinds of cells. Then, lncRNA028466 was overexpressed and knocked down in naive CD4+T cells, and Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression was detected. qRT-PCR, western blot, and ELISA were performed to evaluate the production of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10, and flow cytometry was performed to detect the differentiation of Th1 and Th2 subgroups. Results lncRNA028466 was significantly decreased after the second week of immunization with rEg.P29 antigen. The proportion of CD4+ T cells was increased after rEg.P29 immunization. Overexpression of lncRNA028466 facilitated the production of IL-4, IL-10 and suppressed the production of IFN-γ, IL-2. Furthermore, after transfection with siRNA028466, IL-2 production was facilitated and IL-10 production was suppressed in naive CD4+ T cells. Conclusions Immunization with rEg.P29 downregulated the expression of lncRNA028466, which was related to a higher Th1 immune response and a lower Th2 immune response. Our results suggest that lncRNA028466 may be involved in rEg.P29-mediated immune response by regulating cytokine expression of Th1 and Th2. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04795-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Wang
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Song-Hao Yang
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Niu
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Tao
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Cai Du
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Hui Yang
- Center of Scientific Technology of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Xing Zhu
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Center of Scientific Technology of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Na Wang
- Department of Medical genetics and Cell biology, School of Basic Medical Science of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Center of Scientific Technology of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. .,Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Menard KL, Bu L, Denkers EY. Transcriptomics analysis of Toxoplasma gondii-infected mouse macrophages reveals coding and noncoding signatures in the presence and absence of MyD88. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:130. [PMID: 33622246 PMCID: PMC7903719 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07437-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed protozoan parasite that establishes life-long asymptomatic infection in humans, often emerging as a life-threatening opportunistic pathogen during immunodeficiency. As an intracellular microbe, Toxoplasma establishes an intimate relationship with its host cell from the outset of infection. Macrophages are targets of infection and they are important in early innate immunity and possibly parasite dissemination throughout the host. Here, we employ an RNA-sequencing approach to identify host and parasite transcriptional responses during infection of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). We incorporated into our analysis infection with the high virulence Type I RH strain and the low virulence Type II strain PTG. Because the well-known TLR-MyD88 signaling axis is likely of less importance in humans, we examined transcriptional responses in both MyD88+/+ and MyD88-/- BMDM. Long noncoding (lnc) RNA molecules are emerging as key regulators in infection and immunity, and were, therefore, included in our analysis. RESULTS We found significantly more host genes were differentially expressed in response to the highly virulent RH strain rather than with the less virulent PTG strain (335 versus 74 protein coding genes for RH and PTG, respectively). Enriched in these protein coding genes were subsets associated with the immune response as well as cell adhesion and migration. We identified 249 and 83 non-coding RNAs as differentially expressed during infection with RH and PTG strains, respectively. Although the majority of these are of unknown function, one conserved lncRNA termed mir17hg encodes the mir17 microRNA gene cluster that has been implicated in down-regulating host cell apoptosis during T. gondii infection. Only a minimal number of transcripts were differentially expressed between MyD88 knockout and wild type cells. However, several immune genes were among the differences. While transcripts for parasite secretory proteins were amongst the most highly expressed T. gondii genes during infection, no differentially expressed parasite genes were identified when comparing infection in MyD88 knockout and wild type host BMDM. CONCLUSIONS The large dataset presented here lays the groundwork for continued studies on both the MyD88-independent immune response and the function of lncRNAs during Toxoplasma gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Menard
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Lijing Bu
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Eric Y Denkers
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
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19
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Pirofski LA, Casadevall A. The state of latency in microbial pathogenesis. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:4525-4531. [PMID: 32804154 DOI: 10.1172/jci136221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The state of latency occurs when a microbe's persistence in a host produces host damage without perturbing homeostasis sufficiently to cause clinical symptoms or disease. The mechanisms contributing to latency are diverse and depend on the nature of both the microbe and the host. Latency has advantages for both host and microbe. The host avoids progressive damage caused by interaction with the microbe that may translate into disease, and the microbe secures a stable niche in which to survive. Latency is clinically important because some latent microbes can be transmitted to other hosts, and it is associated with a risk for recrudescent microbial growth and development of disease. In addition, it can predispose the host to other diseases, such as malignancies. Hence, latency is a temporally unstable state with an eventual outcome that mainly depends on host immunity. Latency is an integral part of the pathogenic strategies of microbes that require human (and/or mammalian) hosts, including herpesviruses, retroviruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Toxoplasma gondii. However, latency is also an outcome of infection with environmental organisms such as Cryptococcus neoformans, which require no host in their replicative cycles. For most microbes that achieve latency, there is a need for a better understanding and more investigation of host and microbial mechanisms that result in this state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liise-Anne Pirofski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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20
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Ahmad P, Bensaoud C, Mekki I, Rehman MU, Kotsyfakis M. Long Non-Coding RNAs and Their Potential Roles in the Vector-Host-Pathogen Triad. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11010056. [PMID: 33466803 PMCID: PMC7830631 DOI: 10.3390/life11010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding (lnc)RNAs have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression and are involved in almost every cellular process. They can bind to other molecules including DNA, proteins, or even other RNA types such messenger RNA or small RNAs. LncRNAs are typically expressed at much lower levels than mRNA, and their expression is often restricted to tissue- or time-specific developmental stages. They are also involved in several inter-species interactions, including vector–host–pathogen interactions, where they can be either vector/host-derived or encoded by pathogens. In these interactions, they function via multiple mechanisms including regulating pathogen growth and replication or via cell-autonomous antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Recent advances suggest that characterizing lncRNAs and their targets in different species may hold the key to understanding the role of this class of non-coding RNA in interspecies crosstalk. In this review, we present a general overview of recent studies related to lncRNA-related regulation of gene expression as well as their possible involvement in regulating vector–host–pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parwez Ahmad
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; (P.A.); (C.B.); (I.M.)
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; (P.A.); (C.B.); (I.M.)
| | - Imen Mekki
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; (P.A.); (C.B.); (I.M.)
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Mujeeb Ur Rehman
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China;
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic; (P.A.); (C.B.); (I.M.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNA molecules with significant capacity to regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in a sequence-specific manner either through translation repression or mRNA degradation triggering a fine-tuning biological impact. They have been implicated in several processes, including cell growth and development, signal transduction, cell proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response modulation. However, over the last few years, extensive studies have shown the relevance of miRNAs in human pathophysiology. Common human parasitic diseases, such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Amoebiasis, Chagas disease, Schistosomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Clonorchiasis, and Echinococcosis are the leading cause of death worldwide. Thus, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific miRNAs and their host targets, as well as host-related miRNAs, are important for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of parasite-specific diseases at the molecular level. In this review, we have demonstrated the impact of human microRNAs during host-parasite interaction as well as their potential to be used for diagnosis and prognosis purposes.
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22
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Tyebji S, Hannan AJ, Tonkin CJ. Pathogenic Infection in Male Mice Changes Sperm Small RNA Profiles and Transgenerationally Alters Offspring Behavior. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107573. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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23
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Villares M, Berthelet J, Weitzman JB. The clever strategies used by intracellular parasites to hijack host gene expression. Semin Immunopathol 2020; 42:215-226. [PMID: 32002610 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-020-00779-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens need to develop sophisticated mechanisms to survive and thrive in the hostile environment within host cells. Unicellular, eukaryotic parasites from the Apicomplexa phylum have become masters of manipulating their host cells, exploiting signaling, and metabolic pathways to hijack host gene expression to their own advantage. These intracellular parasites have developed a wide range of strategies that affect transcriptional machineries and epigenetic events in the host cell nucleus. In recent years, many laboratories have risen to the challenge of studying the epigenetics of host-pathogen interactions with the hope that unraveling the complexity of the mechanisms involved will provide important insights into parasitism and provide clues to fight infection. In this review, we survey some of these many strategies that Apicomplexan parasites employ to hijack their hosts, including inducing epigenetic enzymes, secreting epigenators into host cells, sequestering host signaling proteins, and co-opting non-coding RNAs to change gene and protein expression. We cite selected examples from the literature on Apicomplexa parasites (including Toxoplasma, Theileria, and Cryptosporidium) to highlight the success of these parasitic processes. We marvel at the effectiveness of the strategies that these pathogens have evolved and wonder what mysteries lie ahead in exploring the epigenetics of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Villares
- UMR 7216 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Université de Paris, Bâtiment Lamarck, Case 7042, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205, Paris cedex 13, France
| | - Jérémy Berthelet
- UMR 7216 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Université de Paris, Bâtiment Lamarck, Case 7042, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205, Paris cedex 13, France
| | - Jonathan B Weitzman
- UMR 7216 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS, Université de Paris, Bâtiment Lamarck, Case 7042, 35 rue Hélène Brion, 75205, Paris cedex 13, France.
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