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Silva TA, Thomas D, Siqueira-Neto JL, Calvet CM. Pirfenidone Prevents Heart Fibrosis during Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7302. [PMID: 39000409 PMCID: PMC11242150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137302] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a severe outcome of Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Clinical evidence revealed a correlation between fibrosis levels with impaired cardiac performance in CD patients. Therefore, we sought to analyze the effect of inhibitors of TGF-β (pirfenidone), p38-MAPK (losmapimod) and c-Jun (SP600125) on the modulation of collagen deposition in cardiac fibroblasts (CF) and in vivo models of T. cruzi chronic infection. Sirius Red/Fast Green dye was used to quantify both collagen expression and total protein amount, assessing cytotoxicity. The compounds were also used to treat C57/Bl6 mice chronically infected with T. cruzi, Brazil strain. We identified an anti-fibrotic effect in vitro for pirfenidone (TGF-β inhibitor, IC50 114.3 μM), losmapimod (p38 inhibitor, IC50 17.6 μM) and SP600125 (c-Jun inhibitor, IC50 3.9 μM). This effect was independent of CF proliferation since these compounds do not affect T. cruzi-induced host cell multiplication as measured by BrdU incorporation. Assays of chronic infection of mice with T. cruzi have shown a reduction in heart collagen by pirfenidone. These results propose a novel approach to fibrosis therapy in CD, with the prospect of repurposing pirfenidone to prevent the onset of ECM accumulation in the hearts of the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Araújo Silva
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Diane Thomas
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.T.); (J.L.S.-N.)
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.T.); (J.L.S.-N.)
| | - Claudia Magalhaes Calvet
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil;
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Seydel CM, Gonzaga BMDS, Coelho LL, Garzoni LR. Exploring the Dimensions of Pre-Clinical Research: 3D Cultures as an Investigative Model of Cardiac Fibrosis in Chagas Disease. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1410. [PMID: 39061986 PMCID: PMC11274318 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071410] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A three-dimensional (3D) cell culture can more precisely mimic tissues architecture and functionality, being a promising alternative model to study disease pathophysiology and drug screening. Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected parasitosis that affects 7 million people worldwide. Trypanosoma cruzi's (T. cruzi) mechanisms of invasion/persistence continue to be elucidated. Benznidazole (BZ) and Nifurtimox (NF) are trypanocidal drugs with few effects on the clinical manifestations of the chronic disease. Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the main manifestation of CD due to its frequency and severity. The development of fibrosis and hypertrophy in cardiac tissue can lead to heart failure and sudden death. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic options. Our group has more than fifteen years of expertise using 3D primary cardiac cell cultures, being the first to reproduce fibrosis and hypertrophy induced by T. cruzi infection in vitro. These primary cardiac spheroids exhibit morphological and functional characteristics that are similar to heart tissue, making them an interesting model for studying CD cardiac fibrosis. Here, we aim to demonstrate that our primary cardiac spheroids are great preclinical models which can be used to develop new insights into CD cardiac fibrosis, presenting advances already achieved in the field, including disease modeling and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- Laboratório de Inovações em Terapias, Ensino e Bioprodutos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (C.M.S.); (B.M.d.S.G.); (L.L.C.)
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3
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Ewald S, Nasuhidehnavi A, Feng TY, Lesani M, McCall LI. The intersection of host in vivo metabolism and immune responses to infection with kinetoplastid and apicomplexan parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0016422. [PMID: 38299836 PMCID: PMC10966954 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00164-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYProtozoan parasite infection dramatically alters host metabolism, driven by immunological demand and parasite manipulation strategies. Immunometabolic checkpoints are often exploited by kinetoplastid and protozoan parasites to establish chronic infection, which can significantly impair host metabolic homeostasis. The recent growth of tools to analyze metabolism is expanding our understanding of these questions. Here, we review and contrast host metabolic alterations that occur in vivo during infection with Leishmania, trypanosomes, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium. Although genetically divergent, there are commonalities among these pathogens in terms of metabolic needs, induction of the type I immune responses required for clearance, and the potential for sustained host metabolic dysbiosis. Comparing these pathogens provides an opportunity to explore how transmission strategy, nutritional demand, and host cell and tissue tropism drive similarities and unique aspects in host response and infection outcome and to design new strategies to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Lesani
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Deng Z, Fan T, Xiao C, Tian H, Zheng Y, Li C, He J. TGF-β signaling in health, disease, and therapeutics. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:61. [PMID: 38514615 PMCID: PMC10958066 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a multifunctional cytokine expressed by almost every tissue and cell type. The signal transduction of TGF-β can stimulate diverse cellular responses and is particularly critical to embryonic development, wound healing, tissue homeostasis, and immune homeostasis in health. The dysfunction of TGF-β can play key roles in many diseases, and numerous targeted therapies have been developed to rectify its pathogenic activity. In the past decades, a large number of studies on TGF-β signaling have been carried out, covering a broad spectrum of topics in health, disease, and therapeutics. Thus, a comprehensive overview of TGF-β signaling is required for a general picture of the studies in this field. In this review, we retrace the research history of TGF-β and introduce the molecular mechanisms regarding its biosynthesis, activation, and signal transduction. We also provide deep insights into the functions of TGF-β signaling in physiological conditions as well as in pathological processes. TGF-β-targeting therapies which have brought fresh hope to the treatment of relevant diseases are highlighted. Through the summary of previous knowledge and recent updates, this review aims to provide a systematic understanding of TGF-β signaling and to attract more attention and interest to this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Tao Fan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Chu Xiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - He Tian
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yujia Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Chunxiang Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Jie He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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5
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Villar SR, Herreros-Cabello A, Callejas-Hernández F, Maza MC, Del Moral-Salmoral J, Gómez-Montes M, Rodríguez-Angulo HO, Carrillo I, Górgolas M, Bosch-Nicolau P, Molina I, Pérez-Molina JA, Monge-Maillo B, Bottasso OA, Beloscar J, Pérez AR, Fresno M, Gironès N. Discovery of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of chronic Chagas heart disease via a small RNA-Seq approach. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1187. [PMID: 38216639 PMCID: PMC10786931 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51487-9] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease affects approximately 7 million people worldwide in Latin America and is a neglected tropical disease. Twenty to thirty percent of chronically infected patients develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy decades after acute infection. Identifying biomarkers of Chagas disease progression is necessary to develop better therapeutic and preventive strategies. Circulating microRNAs are increasingly reliable biomarkers of disease and therapeutic targets. To identify new circulating microRNAs for Chagas disease, we performed exploratory small RNA sequencing from the plasma of patients and performed de novo miRNA prediction, identifying potential new microRNAs. The levels of the new microRNAs temporarily named miR-Contig-1519 and miR-Contig-3244 and microRNAs that are biomarkers for nonchagasic cardiomyopathies, such as miR-148a-3p and miR-224-5p, were validated by quantitative reverse transcription. We found a specific circulating microRNA signature defined by low miR-Contig-3244, miR-Contig-1519, and miR-148a-3 levels but high miR-224-5p levels for patients with chronic Chagas disease. Finally, we predicted in silico that these altered circulating microRNAs could affect the expression of target genes involved in different cellular pathways and biological processes, which we will explore in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvina R Villar
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Alfonso Herreros-Cabello
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Callejas-Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - María C Maza
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Del Moral-Salmoral
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Gómez-Montes
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Irene Carrillo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Górgolas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pau Bosch-Nicolau
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A Pérez-Molina
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRICYS, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Monge-Maillo
- National Referral Unit for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRICYS, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar A Bottasso
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juan Beloscar
- Cátedra y Servicio de Cardiología, Sección Chagas, Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Ana R Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IUBM-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Gironès
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IUBM-UAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
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6
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Rodríguez-Morales O, Mendoza-Téllez EJ, Morales-Salinas E, Arce-Fonseca M. Effectiveness of Nitazoxanide and Electrolyzed Oxiding Water in Treating Chagas Disease in a Canine Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051479. [PMID: 37242721 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and affects seven million people in Latin America. Side effects and the limited efficacy of current treatment have led to new drug research. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) in a canine model of experimental CD. Náhuatl dogs were infected with the T. cruzi H8 strain and NTZ- or EOW-treated orally for 10 days. Seronegativity was shown at 12 months post-infection (mpi) in the NTZ-, EOW-, and benznidazole (BNZ)-treated groups. The NTZ and BNZ groups had high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12B, and IL-1β at 1.5 mpi and low levels of IL-10. Electrocardiographic studies showed alterations from 3 mpi and worsening at 12 mpi; NTZ treatment produced fewer cardiac pathomorphological changes compared to EOW, similar to BNZ treatment. There was no cardiomegaly in any group. In conclusion, although NTZ and EOW did not prevent changes in cardiac conductivity, they were able to avoid the severity of heart damage in the chronic phase of CD. NTZ induced a favorable proinflammatory immune response after infection, being a better option than EOW as a possible treatment for CD after BNZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Erika Jocelin Mendoza-Téllez
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Morales-Salinas
- Department of Pathology of Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Col. Copilco Universidad, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
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