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Zhong H, Dong B, Zhu D, Fu Z, Liu J, Jin Y. Sja-let-7 suppresses the development of liver fibrosis via Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicles. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012153. [PMID: 38598555 PMCID: PMC11034668 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a fatal zoonotic parasitic disease that also threatens human health. The main pathological features of schistosomiasis are granulomatous inflammation and subsequent liver fibrosis, which is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from schistosome eggs are broadly involved in host-parasite communication and act as important contributors to schistosome-induced liver fibrosis. However, it remains unclear whether substances secreted by the EVs of Schistosoma japonicum, a long-term parasitic "partner" in the hepatic portal vein of the host, also participate in liver fibrosis. Here, we report that EVs derived from S. japonicum worms attenuated liver fibrosis by delivering sja-let-7 into hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, activation of HSCs was reduced by targeting collagen type I alpha 2 chain (Col1α2) and downregulation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Overall, these results contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions and identified the sja-let-7/Col1α2/TGF-β/Smad axis as a potential target for treatment of schistosomiasis-related liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Bowen Dong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Danlin Zhu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jinming Liu
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
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Ghezellou P, von Bülow V, Luh D, Badin E, Albuquerque W, Roderfeld M, Roeb E, Grevelding CG, Spengler B. Schistosoma mansoni infection induces hepatic metallothionein and S100 protein expression alongside metabolic dysfunction in hamsters. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae104. [PMID: 38562583 PMCID: PMC10983833 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a widespread neglected tropical disease, presents a complex and multifaceted clinical-pathological profile. Using hamsters as final hosts, we dissected molecular events following Schistosoma mansoni infection in the liver-the organ most severely affected in schistosomiasis patients. Employing tandem mass tag-based proteomics, we studied alterations in the liver proteins in response to various infection modes and genders. We examined livers from female and male hamsters that were: noninfected (control), infected with either unisexual S. mansoni cercariae (single-sex) or both sexes (bisex). The infection induced up-regulation of proteins associated with immune response, cytoskeletal reorganization, and apoptotic signaling. Notably, S. mansoni egg deposition led to the down-regulation of liver factors linked to energy supply and metabolic processes. Gender-specific responses were observed, with male hamsters showing higher susceptibility, supported by more differentially expressed proteins than found in females. Of note, metallothionein-2 and S100a6 proteins exhibited substantial up-regulation in livers of both genders, suggesting their pivotal roles in the liver's injury response. Immunohistochemistry and real-time-qPCR confirmed strong up-regulation of metallothionein-2 expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus upon the infection. Similar findings were seen for S100a6, which localized around granulomas and portal tracts. We also observed perturbations in metabolic pathways, including down-regulation of enzymes involved in xenobiotic biotransformation, cellular energy metabolism, and lipid modulation. Furthermore, lipidomic analyses through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging identified extensive alterations, notably in cardiolipin and triacylglycerols, suggesting specific roles of lipids during pathogenesis. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the hepatic response to S. mansoni infection, shedding light on the complexity of liver pathology in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parviz Ghezellou
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Verena von Bülow
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - David Luh
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Elisa Badin
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Wendell Albuquerque
- Institute of Food Chemistry and Food Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Roderfeld
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Elke Roeb
- Department of Gastroenterology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Spengler
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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Oliveira NF, Monteiro MMLV, Mainieri NS, Tamura AS, Pereira LM, Crepaldi LD, Coutinho-Silva R, Savio LEB, Silva CLM. P2Y 2-P2X7 receptors cross-talk in primed mesenteric endothelial cells upregulates NF-κB signaling favoring mononuclear cell adhesion in schistosomiasis. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1328897. [PMID: 38239348 PMCID: PMC10794548 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1328897] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an intravascular infectious disease that impacts over 200 million people globally. In its chronic stage, it leads to mesenteric inflammation with significant involvement of monocytes/macrophages. Endothelial cells lining the vessel lumens play a crucial role, and mount of evidence links this disease to a downregulation of endoprotective cell signaling favoring a primed and proinflammatory endothelial cell phenotype and therefore the loss of immunovascular homeostasis. One hallmark of infectious and inflammatory conditions is the release of nucleotides into the extracellular milieu, which, in turn, act as innate messengers, activating purinergic receptors and triggering cell-to-cell communication. ATP influences the progression of various diseases through P2X and P2Y purinergic receptor subtypes. Among these receptors, P2Y2 (P2Y2R) and P2X7 (P2X7R) receptors stand out, known for their roles in inflammation. However, their specific role in schistosomiasis has remained largely unexplored. Therefore, we hypothesized that endothelial P2Y2R and P2X7R could contribute to monocyte adhesion to mesenteric endothelial cells in schistosomiasis. Using a preclinical murine model of schistosomiasis associated with endothelial dysfunction and age-matched control mice, we showed that endothelial P2Y2R and P2X7R activation increased monocyte adhesion to cultured primary endothelial cells in both groups. However, a distinct upregulation of endothelial P2Y2R-driven canonical Ca2+ signaling was observed in the infected group, amplifying adhesion. In the control group, the coactivation of endothelial P2Y2R and P2X7R did not alter the maximal monocyte adhesion induced by each receptor individually. However, in the infected group, this coactivation induced a distinct upregulation of P2Y2R-P2X7R-driven canonical signaling, IL-1β release, and VCAM-1 expression, with underlying mechanisms involving inflammasome and NF-κB signaling. Therefore, current data suggest that schistosomiasis alters endothelial cell P2Y2R/P2X7R signaling during inflammation. These discoveries advance our understanding of schistosomiasis. This intricate interplay, driven by PAMP-triggered endothelial P2Y2R/P2X7R cross-talk, emerges as a potential key player in the mesenteric inflammation during schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathália Ferreira Oliveira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Bioquímica e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Nathália Santos Mainieri
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Bioquímica e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Augusto Shuiti Tamura
- Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Letícia Massimo Pereira
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Bioquímica e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leticia Diniz Crepaldi
- Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Robson Coutinho-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunofisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Lucia Martins Silva
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Bioquímica e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Bischofsberger M, Reinholdt C, Dannenhaus TA, Aleith J, Bergmann-Ewert W, Müller-Hilke B, Löbermann M, Reisinger EC, Sombetzki M. Individually or as a Team-The Immunological Milieu in the Lung Caused by Migrating Single-Sex or Mixed-Sex Larvae of Schistosoma mansoni. Pathogens 2023; 12:1432. [PMID: 38133315 PMCID: PMC10746046 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121432] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While the lung is considered an efficient site for stopping the larvae of the acute Schistosoma spp. infection phase from migrating through extensive inflammatory responses in the surrounding tissues, little is known about these processes. To date, the highest resistance to infection has been achieved in experimental studies with radiation-attenuated cercariae immunization, which elicits a strong Th1/Th2 response in the lung and results in up to 80% protection. Based on our own studies demonstrating a systemic, unpolarized Th1/Th2 response resulting from infection with male or female Schistosoma mansoni, we hypothesize that this atypical immune response is already detectable during the pulmonary passage of parasite larvae. Therefore, we examined the immune milieu in the lungs of mice caused by migrating schistosome larvae, either male or female (single-sex groups) or male + female (bisexual control), 4 and 16 days after infection in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue by flow cytometry, qPCR, and multiplex analyzes. Our results show only minor differences in the inflammatory profile between the single-sex groups but significant differences compared with the bisexual control group. Both single-sex infected groups have increased expression of inflammatory markers in lung tissue, higher numbers of cytotoxic T cells (day 4 post-infection) and more T helper cells (day 16 post-infection), compared with the bisexual control group. A single-sex infection, regardless of whether it is an infection with male or female cercariae, causes an immune milieu in the lung that is clearly different from an infection with both sexes. In terms of identifying therapeutic targets to achieve resistance to re-infection, it is of great scientific interest to identify the differences in the inflammatory potential of male or female and male + female parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Bischofsberger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Cindy Reinholdt
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Tim Alexander Dannenhaus
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Johann Aleith
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Wendy Bergmann-Ewert
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Brigitte Müller-Hilke
- Core Facility for Cell Sorting and Cell Analysis, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (J.A.); (B.M.-H.)
| | - Micha Löbermann
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Emil C. Reisinger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
| | - Martina Sombetzki
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, Rostock University Medical Center, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (M.B.); (C.R.); (T.A.D.); (M.L.); (E.C.R.)
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Zhong H, Jin Y. Single-sex schistosomiasis: a mini review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1158805. [PMID: 37153566 PMCID: PMC10154636 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by dioecious blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma and second to malaria as a parasitic disease with significant socio-economic impacts. Mating is essential for maturation of male and female schistosomes and for females to lay of eggs, which are responsible for the pathogenesis and propagation of the life cycle beyond the mammalian host. Single-sex schistosomes, which do not produce viable eggs without mating, have been overlooked given the symptomatic paucity of the single-sex schistosomiasis and limited diagnostic toolkit. Besides, single-sex schistosomes are less sensitive to praziquantel. Therefore, these issues should be considered to achieve the elimination of this infection disease. The aim of this review is to summarize current progress in research of single-sex schistosomes and host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yamei Jin,
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