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Graur A, Haymond A, Lee KH, Viscarra F, Russo P, Luchini A, Paige M, Bermudez-Diaz I, Kabbani N. Protein Painting Mass Spectrometry in the Discovery of Interaction Sites within the Acetylcholine Binding Protein. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2322-2333. [PMID: 38804618 PMCID: PMC11157483 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00149] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ligand-gated ion channel receptors that contribute to cognition, memory, and motor control in many organisms. The pharmacological targeting of these receptors, using small molecules or peptides, presents an important strategy for the development of drugs that can treat important human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. The Aplysia californica acetylcholine binding protein (Ac-AChBP) is a structural surrogate of the nAChR with high homology to the extracellular ligand binding domain of homopentameric nAChRs. In this study, we optimized protein-painting-based mass spectrometry to identify regions of interaction between the Ac-AChBP and several nAChR ligands. Using molecular dyes that adhere to the surface of a solubilized Ac-AChBP complex, we identified amino acid residues that constitute a contact site within the Ac-AChBP for α-bungarotoxin, choline, nicotine, and amyloid-β 1-42. By integrating innovation in protein painting mass spectrometry with computational structural modeling, we present a new experimental tool for analyzing protein interactions of the nAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Graur
- School
of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States
| | - Amanda Haymond
- Center
for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Kyung Hyeon Lee
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason
University, Fairfax, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Franco Viscarra
- Department
of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
- Structural
Bioinformatics and Computational Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Russo
- Center
for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Alessandra Luchini
- Center
for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Mikell Paige
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason
University, Fairfax, Virginia 20110, United States
| | - Isabel Bermudez-Diaz
- Department
of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom
| | - Nadine Kabbani
- School
of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States
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2
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O’Brien BCV, Thao S, Weber L, Danielson HL, Boldt AD, Hueffer K, Weltzin MM. The human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a host target for the rabies virus glycoprotein. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1394713. [PMID: 38836054 PMCID: PMC11148329 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1394713] [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: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The rabies virus enters the nervous system by interacting with several molecular targets on host cells to modify behavior and trigger receptor-mediated endocytosis of the virion by poorly understood mechanisms. The rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG) interacts with the muscle acetylcholine receptor and the neuronal α4β2 subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) family by the putative neurotoxin-like motif. Given that the neurotoxin-like motif is highly homologous to the α7 nAChR subtype selective snake toxin α-bungarotoxin (αBTX), other nAChR subtypes are likely involved. The purpose of this study is to determine the activity of the RVG neurotoxin-like motif on nAChR subtypes that are expressed in brain regions involved in rabid animal behavior. nAChRs were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology was used to collect concentration-response data to measure the functional effects. The RVG peptide preferentially and completely inhibits α7 nAChR ACh-induced currents by a competitive antagonist mechanism. Tested heteromeric nAChRs are also inhibited, but to a lesser extent than the α7 subtype. Residues of the RVG peptide with high sequence homology to αBTX and other neurotoxins were substituted with alanine. Altered RVG neurotoxin-like peptides showed that residues phenylalanine 192, arginine 196, and arginine 199 are important determinants of RVG peptide apparent potency on α7 nAChRs, while serine 195 is not. The evaluation of the rabies ectodomain reaffirmed the observations made with the RVG peptide, illustrating a significant inhibitory impact on α7 nAChR with potency in the nanomolar range. In a mammalian cell culture model of neurons, we confirm that the RVG peptide binds preferentially to cells expressing the α7 nAChR. Defining the activity of the RVG peptide on nAChRs expands our understanding of basic mechanisms in host-pathogen interactions that result in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany C. V. O’Brien
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Shelly Thao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Lahra Weber
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Helen L. Danielson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Agatha D. Boldt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Karsten Hueffer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Maegan M. Weltzin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
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3
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Wang Z, Lin X, Shi W, Cao C. Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Alpha6 Contributes to Antiviral Immunity via IMD Pathway in Drosophila melanogaster. Viruses 2024; 16:562. [PMID: 38675904 PMCID: PMC11054842 DOI: 10.3390/v16040562] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, insecticides that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are widely used. Studies on the sublethal effects of insecticides have found that they can affect the amount of virus in insects. The mechanism by which insecticides affect insect virus load remain unclear. Here, we show that nAChR targeting insecticide can affect viral replication through the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway. We demonstrate that a low dose of spinosad (6.8 ng/mL), acting as an antagonist to Drosophila melanogaster nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α6 (Dα6), significantly elevates Drosophila melanogaster sigmavirus (DMelSV) virus titers in adults of Drosophila melanogaster. Conversely, a high dose of spinosad (50 ng/mL), acting as an agonist to Dα6, substantially decreases viral load. This bidirectional regulation of virus levels is absent in Dα6-knockout flies, signifying the specificity of spinosad's action through Dα6. Furthermore, the knockdown of Dα6 results in decreased expression of genes in the IMD pathway, including dredd, imd, relish, and downstream antimicrobial peptide genes AttA and AttB, indicating a reduced innate immune response. Subsequent investigations reveal no significant difference in viral titers between relish mutant flies and Dα6-relish double mutants, suggesting that the IMD pathway's role in antiviral defense is dependent on Dα6. Collectively, our findings shed light on the intricate interplay between nAChR signaling and the IMD pathway in mediating antiviral immunity, highlighting the potential for nAChR-targeting compounds to inadvertently influence viral dynamics in insect hosts. This knowledge may inform the development of integrated pest management strategies that consider the broader ecological impact of insecticide use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wangpeng Shi
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Z.W.); (X.L.)
| | - Chuan Cao
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (Z.W.); (X.L.)
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4
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Hou Q, Wang C, Xiong J, Wang H, Wang Z, Zhao J, Wu Q, Fu ZF, Zhao L, Zhou M. Cholesterol depletion inhibits rabies virus infection by restricting viral adsorption and fusion. Vet Microbiol 2024; 289:109952. [PMID: 38141399 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109952] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Rabies is an ancient zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus (RABV), and a sharp increase in rabies cases and deaths were observed following the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that it still poses a severe public health threat in most countries in the world. Cholesterol is one of the major lipid components in cells, and the exact role of cholesterol in RABV infection remains unclear. In this study, we initially observed that cellular cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in RABV infected cells, while cholesterol depletion by using methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) could restrict RABV entry. We further found that decreasing the cholesterol level of the viral envelope could change the bullet-shaped morphology of RABV and dislodge the glycoproteins on its surface to affect RABV entry. Moreover, the depletion of cholesterol could decrease lysosomal cholesterol accumulation to inhibit RABV fusion. Finally, it was found that the depletion of cholesterol by MβCD was due to the increase of oxygen sterol production in RABV-infected cells and the enhancement of cholesterol efflux by activating liver X receptor alpha (LXRα). Together, our study reveals a novel role of cholesterol in RABV infection, providing new insight into explore of effective therapeutics for rabies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxiu Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Caiqian Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jingyi Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Haoran Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhihui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Juanjuan Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhen F Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Ming Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Hubei Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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5
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Roa-Vidal N, Rodríguez-Aponte AS, Lasalde-Dominicci JA, Capó-Vélez CM, Delgado-Vélez M. Cholinergic Polarization of Human Macrophages. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15732. [PMID: 37958716 PMCID: PMC10650439 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115732] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages serve as vital defenders, protecting the body by exhibiting remarkable cellular adaptability in response to invading pathogens and various stimuli. These cells express nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, with the α7-nAChR being extensively studied due to its involvement in activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Activation of this pathway plays a crucial role in suppressing macrophages' production of proinflammatory cytokines, thus mitigating excessive inflammation and maintaining host homeostasis. Macrophage polarization, which occurs in response to specific pathogens or insults, is a process that has received limited attention concerning the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and the contributions of the α7-nAChR in this context. This review aims to present evidence highlighting how the cholinergic constituents in macrophages, led by the α7-nAChR, facilitate the polarization of macrophages towards anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Additionally, we explore the influence of viral infections on macrophage inflammatory phenotypes, taking into account cholinergic mechanisms. We also review the current understanding of macrophage polarization in response to these infections. Finally, we provide insights into the relatively unexplored partial duplication of the α7-nAChR, known as dup α7, which is emerging as a significant factor in macrophage polarization and inflammation scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Roa-Vidal
- Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00936, USA;
| | - Adriana S. Rodríguez-Aponte
- Department of Biology, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA; (A.S.R.-A.); (C.M.C.-V.)
| | - José A. Lasalde-Dominicci
- Department of Biology, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA; (A.S.R.-A.); (C.M.C.-V.)
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, Clinical Bioreagent Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA
- Institute of Neurobiology, Medical Science Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00901, USA
| | - Coral M. Capó-Vélez
- Department of Biology, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA; (A.S.R.-A.); (C.M.C.-V.)
| | - Manuel Delgado-Vélez
- Department of Biology, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA; (A.S.R.-A.); (C.M.C.-V.)
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, Clinical Bioreagent Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00936, USA
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6
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Bastos V, Pacheco V, Rodrigues ÉDL, Moraes CNS, Nóbile AL, Fonseca DLM, Souza KBS, do Vale FYN, Filgueiras IS, Schimke LF, Giil LM, Moll G, Cabral-Miranda G, Ochs HD, Vasconcelos PFDC, de Melo GD, Bourhy H, Casseb LMN, Cabral-Marques O. Neuroimmunology of rabies: New insights into an ancient disease. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29042. [PMID: 37885152 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Rabies is an ancient neuroinvasive viral (genus Lyssavirus, family Rhabdoviridae) disease affecting approximately 59,000 people worldwide. The central nervous system (CNS) is targeted, and rabies has a case fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals. Rabies is entirely preventable through proper vaccination, and thus, the highest incidence is typically observed in developing countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. However, there are still cases in European countries and the United States. Recently, demographic, increasing income levels, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have caused a massive raising in the animal population, enhancing the need for preventive measures (e.g., vaccination, surveillance, and animal control programs), postexposure prophylaxis, and a better understanding of rabies pathophysiology to identify therapeutic targets, since there is no effective treatment after the onset of clinical manifestations. Here, we review the neuroimmune biology and mechanisms of rabies. Its pathogenesis involves a complex and poorly understood modulation of immune and brain functions associated with metabolic, synaptic, and neuronal impairments, resulting in fatal outcomes without significant histopathological lesions in the CNS. In this context, the neuroimmunological and neurochemical aspects of excitatory/inhibitory signaling (e.g., GABA/glutamate crosstalk) are likely related to the clinical manifestations of rabies infection. Uncovering new links between immunopathological mechanisms and neurochemical imbalance will be essential to identify novel potential therapeutic targets to reduce rabies morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Bastos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Postgraduate Program of Physiopathology and Toxicology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Pacheco
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Érika D L Rodrigues
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Cássia N S Moraes
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Adriel L Nóbile
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Postgraduate Program of Physiopathology and Toxicology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dennyson Leandro M Fonseca
- Interunit Postgraduate Program on Bioinformatics, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics (IME), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kamilla B S Souza
- Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Y N do Vale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Postgraduate Program of Physiopathology and Toxicology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor S Filgueiras
- Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lena F Schimke
- Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lasse M Giil
- Department of Internal Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Guido Moll
- Department of Nephrology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Hans D Ochs
- School of Medicine and Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Pedro F da Costa Vasconcelos
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, University of the State of Pará, Belem, Brazil
| | - Guilherme D de Melo
- Lyssavirus Epidemiology and Neuropathology Unit, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Bourhy
- Lyssavirus Epidemiology and Neuropathology Unit, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Livia M N Casseb
- Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, PAHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Arboviruses and other Zoonotic Viruses, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua, Brazil
| | - Otavio Cabral-Marques
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Postgraduate Program of Physiopathology and Toxicology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Immunology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy, Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation 29, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Shelukhina I, Siniavin A, Kasheverov I, Ojomoko L, Tsetlin V, Utkin Y. α7- and α9-Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in the Functioning of Immune System and in Pain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076524. [PMID: 37047495 PMCID: PMC10095066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) present as many different subtypes in the nervous and immune systems, muscles and on the cells of other organs. In the immune system, inflammation is regulated via the vagus nerve through the activation of the non-neuronal α7 nAChR subtype, affecting the production of cytokines. The analgesic properties of α7 nAChR-selective compounds are mostly based on the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. The molecular mechanism of neuropathic pain relief mediated by the inhibition of α9-containing nAChRs is not fully understood yet, but the role of immune factors in this process is becoming evident. To obtain appropriate drugs, a search of selective agonists, antagonists and modulators of α7- and α9-containing nAChRs is underway. The naturally occurring three-finger snake α-neurotoxins and mammalian Ly6/uPAR proteins, as well as neurotoxic peptides α-conotoxins, are not only sophisticated tools in research on nAChRs but are also considered as potential medicines. In particular, the inhibition of the α9-containing nAChRs by α-conotoxins may be a pathway to alleviate neuropathic pain. nAChRs are involved in the inflammation processes during AIDS and other viral infections; thus they can also be means used in drug design. In this review, we discuss the role of α7- and α9-containing nAChRs in the immune processes and in pain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yuri Utkin
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +7-495-3366522
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8
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Embregts CW, Wentzel AS, den Dekker AT, van IJcken WF, Stadhouders R, GeurtsvanKessel CH. Rabies virus uniquely reprograms the transcriptome of human monocyte-derived macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1013842. [PMID: 36798087 PMCID: PMC9927221 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1013842] [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: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are amongst the first immune cells that encounter rabies virus (RABV) at virus entry sites. Activation of macrophages is essential for the onset of a potent immune response, but insights into the effects of RABV on macrophage activation are scarce. In this study we performed high-throughput sequencing on RNA extracted from macrophages that were exposed to RABV for 48 hours, and compared their transcriptional profiles to that of non-polarized macrophages (M0), and macrophages polarized towards the canonical M1, M2a and M2c phenotypes. Our analysis revealed that RABV-stimulated macrophages show high expression of several M1, M2a and M2c signature genes. Apart from their partial resemblance to these phenotypes, unbiased clustering analysis revealed that RABV induces a unique and distinct polarization program. Closer examination revealed that RABV induced multiple pathways related to the interferon- and antiviral response, which were not induced under other classical polarization strategies. Surprisingly, our data show that RABV induces an activated rather than a fully suppressed macrophage phenotype, triggering virus-induced activation and polarization. This includes multiple genes with known antiviral (e.g. APOBEC3A, IFIT/OAS/TRIM genes), which may play a role in anti-RABV immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen W.E. Embregts
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Carmen W.E. Embregts,
| | - Annelieke S. Wentzel
- Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Ralph Stadhouders
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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9
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Dhulipala S, Uversky VN. Looking at the Pathogenesis of the Rabies Lyssavirus Strain Pasteur Vaccins through a Prism of the Disorder-Based Bioinformatics. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1436. [PMID: 36291645 PMCID: PMC9599798 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabies is a neurological disease that causes between 40,000 and 70,000 deaths every year. Once a rabies patient has become symptomatic, there is no effective treatment for the illness, and in unvaccinated individuals, the case-fatality rate of rabies is close to 100%. French scientists Louis Pasteur and Émile Roux developed the first vaccine for rabies in 1885. If administered before the virus reaches the brain, the modern rabies vaccine imparts long-lasting immunity to the virus and saves more than 250,000 people every year. However, the rabies virus can suppress the host's immune response once it has entered the cells of the brain, making death likely. This study aimed to make use of disorder-based proteomics and bioinformatics to determine the potential impact that intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs) in the proteome of the rabies virus might have on the infectivity and lethality of the disease. This study used the proteome of the Rabies lyssavirus (RABV) strain Pasteur Vaccins (PV), one of the best-understood strains due to its use in the first rabies vaccine, as a model. The data reported in this study are in line with the hypothesis that high levels of intrinsic disorder in the phosphoprotein (P-protein) and nucleoprotein (N-protein) allow them to participate in the creation of Negri bodies and might help this virus to suppress the antiviral immune response in the host cells. Additionally, the study suggests that there could be a link between disorder in the matrix (M) protein and the modulation of viral transcription. The disordered regions in the M-protein might have a possible role in initiating viral budding within the cell. Furthermore, we checked the prevalence of functional disorder in a set of 37 host proteins directly involved in the interaction with the RABV proteins. The hope is that these new insights will aid in the development of treatments for rabies that are effective after infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Dhulipala
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Protein Research Group, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
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Lab-Attenuated Rabies Virus Facilitates Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Inducing Matrix Metallopeptidase 8. J Virol 2022; 96:e0105022. [PMID: 36005758 PMCID: PMC9472762 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01050-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with laboratory-attenuated rabies virus (RABV), but not wild-type (wt) RABV, can enhance the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is considered a key determinant for RABV pathogenicity. A previous study showed that the enhancement of BBB permeability is directly due not to RABV infection but to virus-induced inflammatory molecules. In this study, the effect of the matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) family on the permeability of the BBB during RABV infection was evaluated. We found that the expression level of MMP8 was upregulated in mice infected with lab-attenuated RABV but not with wt RABV. Lab-attenuated RABV rather than wt RABV activates inflammatory signaling pathways mediated by the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Activated NF-κB (p65) and AP-1 (c-Fos) bind to the MMP8 promoter, resulting in upregulation of its transcription. Analysis of mouse brains infected with the recombinant RABV expressing MMP8 indicated that MMP8 enhanced BBB permeability, leading to infiltration of inflammatory cells into the central nervous system (CNS). In brain-derived endothelial cells, treatment with MMP8 recombinant protein caused the degradation of tight junction (TJ) proteins, and the application of an MMP8 inhibitor inhibited the degradation of TJ proteins after RABV infection. Furthermore, an in vivo experiment using an MMP8 inhibitor during RABV infection demonstrated that BBB opening was diminished. In summary, our data suggest that the infection of lab-attenuated RABV enhances the BBB opening by upregulating MMP8. IMPORTANCE The ability to change BBB permeability was associated with the pathogenicity of RABV. BBB permeability was enhanced by infection with lab-attenuated RABV instead of wt RABV, allowing immune cells to infiltrate into the CNS. We found that MMP8 plays an important role in enhancing BBB permeability by degradation of TJ proteins during RABV infection. Using an MMP8 selective inhibitor restores the reduction of TJ proteins. We reveal that MMP8 is upregulated via the MAPK and NF-κB inflammatory pathways, activated by lab-attenuated RABV infection but not wt RABV. Our findings suggest that MMP8 has a critical role in modulating the opening of the BBB during RABV infection, which provides fresh insight into developing effective therapeutics for rabies and infection with other neurotropic viruses.
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Lian M, Hueffer K, Weltzin MM. Interactions between the rabies virus and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: A potential role in rabies virus induced behavior modifications. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10434. [PMID: 36091963 PMCID: PMC9450143 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Lian
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Veterinary Medicine, 2141 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
- Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Koppang, NO-2480, Norway
| | - Karsten Hueffer
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Veterinary Medicine, 2141 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
| | - Maegan M. Weltzin
- University of Alaska Fairbanks, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1930 Yukon Dr. Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA
- Corresponding author.
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Knobel DL, Jackson AC, Bingham J, Ertl HCJ, Gibson AD, Hughes D, Joubert K, Mani RS, Mohr BJ, Moore SM, Rivett-Carnac H, Tordo N, Yeates JW, Zambelli AB, Rupprecht CE. A One Medicine Mission for an Effective Rabies Therapy. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:867382. [PMID: 35372555 PMCID: PMC8967983 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.867382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the disease's long history, little progress has been made toward a treatment for rabies. The prognosis for patient recovery remains dire. For any prospect of survival, patients require aggressive critical care, which physicians in rabies endemic areas may be reluctant or unable to provide given the cost, clinical expertise required, and uncertain outcome. Systematic clinical research into combination therapies is further hampered by sporadic occurrence of cases. In this Perspective, we examine the case for a One Medicine approach to accelerate development of an effective therapy for rabies through the veterinary care and investigational treatment of naturally infected dogs in appropriate circumstances. We review the pathogenesis of rabies virus in humans and dogs, including recent advances in our understanding of the molecular basis for the severe neurological dysfunction. We propose that four categories of disease process need to be managed in patients: viral propagation, neuronal degeneration, inflammation and systemic compromise. Compassionate critical care and investigational treatment of naturally infected dogs receiving supportive therapy that mimics the human clinical scenario could increase opportunities to study combination therapies that address these processes, and to identify biomarkers for prognosis and therapeutic response. We discuss the safety and ethics of this approach, and introduce the Canine Rabies Treatment Initiative, a non-profit organization with the mission to apply a One Medicine approach to the investigation of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options for rabies in naturally infected dogs, to accelerate transformation of rabies into a treatable disease for all patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryn L. Knobel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Canine Rabies Treatment Initiative, Salt Rock, South Africa
| | - Alan C. Jackson
- Department of Medicine, Northern Consultation Centre, Thompson General Hospital, Thompson, MB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Lake of the Woods District Hospital, Kenora, ON, Canada
| | - John Bingham
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Australian Animal Health Laboratory at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Andrew D. Gibson
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, The Roslin Institute and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Hughes
- Canine Rabies Treatment Initiative, Salt Rock, South Africa
| | - Kenneth Joubert
- Veterinary Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care Services, Lonehill, South Africa
| | - Reeta S. Mani
- Department of Neurovirology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research in Rabies, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Bert J. Mohr
- Canine Rabies Treatment Initiative, Salt Rock, South Africa
- Centre for Animal Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa
| | - Susan M. Moore
- Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - Noël Tordo
- Institut Pasteur de Guinée, Conakry, Guinea
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Gautam S, Joshi C, Sharma AK, Singh KP, Gurav A, Sankar M, Ramakrishnan MA, Chaudhary D, Chauhan RS, Dhama K, Dhanavelu M. Virus distribution and early pathogenesis of highly pathogenic peste-des-petits-ruminants virus in experimentally infected goats. Microb Pathog 2021; 161:105232. [PMID: 34627939 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite causing one of the most dreaded diseases of small ruminants, relatively little is known about the pathogenic events, antigen distribution and the cells responsible for the uptake and transmission of peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) during primitive stages of infection. OBJECTIVES We aimed at deciphering the sequential tissue tropism, pathological events and putative role of M2c macrophages during incubatory, prodromal and invasive stages of PPRV infection. METHODOLOGY A total of 10 goats were sequentially sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days post-infection (dpi, n = 2 per time-point) following intranasal inoculation with a highly virulent strain of PPRV (lineage IV PPRV/Izatnagar/94). Histological evaluation to assess PPRV mediated pathologies, RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to decipher sequential virus distribution, and dual immunolabelling to determine the role of M2c macrophage in early PPRV uptake and transmission was performed. RESULTS PPRV/Izatnagar/94 caused major pathologies in the lung tissues. Unprecedentedly, PPRV nucleic acid and antigens were detected in various tissues as early as one dpi. RT-qPCR revealed PPRV in the nasal cavity, trachea, bronchi, tongue and lymph nodes draining these tissues from 1 dpi. IHC affirms cells residing in the lamina propria and submucosa of the respiratory tract and tongue and peribronchiolar areas of lungs as the primary target of PPRV. Following initial replication in the respiratory tract, PPRV is transmitted to the regional lymph nodes where primary viral amplification occurs. After viraemia and secondary replication in generalized lymphoid tissues, PPRV infects and replicates in the epithelial cells. Further, we localized CD163+ M2c macrophages in the goat tissues, but dual IHC elucidated that M2c macrophages do not facilitate uptake and transmission of PPRV during the early stages of infection. CONCLUSION Our study substantiates the disease establishment process and pathogenesis of PPRV/Izatnagar/94 during the incubatory and prodromal stages of infection. Further, we have also observed M2c macrophage distribution in the goat tissues and demonstrated that they do not pick and transmit PPRV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Gautam
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteshwar, Nainital, U.K., 263138, India.
| | - Chitra Joshi
- Department of Animal Husbandry, Almora, U.K., 263601, India
| | - Anil K Sharma
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U.P., 243122, India
| | - Karam P Singh
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U.P., 243122, India
| | - Amol Gurav
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteshwar, Nainital, U.K., 263138, India
| | - Muthu Sankar
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteshwar, Nainital, U.K., 263138, India
| | | | - Dheeraj Chaudhary
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteshwar, Nainital, U.K., 263138, India
| | - Ramswaroop S Chauhan
- College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, GBPUAT, U.S. Nagar, U.K., 263145, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- ICAR - Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, U.P., 243122, India
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