1
|
Liu WQ, Chen SQ, Bai HQ, Wei QM, Zhang SN, Chen C, Zhu YH, Yi TW, Guo XP, Chen SY, Yin MJ, Sun CF, Liang SH. The Ras/ERK signaling pathway couples antimicrobial peptides to mediate resistance to dengue virus in Aedes mosquitoes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008660. [PMID: 32866199 PMCID: PMC7485967 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes mosquitoes can transmit dengue and several other severe vector-borne viral diseases, thereby influencing millions of people worldwide. Insects primarily control and clear the viral infections via their innate immune systems. Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are both evolutionarily conserved components of the innate immune systems. In this study, we investigated the role of MAPKs in Aedes mosquitoes following DENV infection by using genetic and pharmacological approaches. We demonstrated that knockdown of ERK, but not of JNK or p38, significantly enhances the viral replication in Aedes mosquito cells. The Ras/ERK signaling is activated in both the cells and midguts of Aedes mosquitoes following DENV infection, and thus plays a role in restricting the viral infection, as both genetic and pharmacological activation of the Ras/ERK pathway significantly decreases the viral titers. In contrast, inhibition of the Ras/ERK pathway enhances DENV infection. In addition, we identified a signaling crosstalk between the Ras/ERK pathway and DENV-induced AMPs in which defensin C participates in restricting DENV infection in Aedes mosquitoes. Our results reveal that the Ras/ERK signaling pathway couples AMPs to mediate the resistance of Aedes mosquitoes to DENV infection, which provides a new insight into understanding the crosstalk between MAPKs and AMPs in the innate immunity of mosquito vectors during the viral infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Quan Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Si-Qi Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hao-Qiang Bai
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Qi-Mei Wei
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Sheng-Nan Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yi-Han Zhu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Tang-Wei Yi
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Pu Guo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Si-Yuan Chen
- School of the 1 Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Meng-Jie Yin
- School of the 1 Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chen-Feng Sun
- School of the 1 Clinical Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shao-Hui Liang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li XP, Lin D, Zhang Y, Chen SQ, Bai HQ, Zhang SN, Liu WQ, Liang SH. Expression and characterization of anticoagulant activity of salivary protein alALP from Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. Trop Biomed 2020; 37:116-126. [PMID: 33612723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Several bioactive molecules isolated from the saliva of blood-sucking arthropods, such as mosquitoes, have been shown to exhibit potential anticoagulant function. We have previously identified a 30kDa allergen named Aegyptin-like protein (alALP), which is highly homologous to Aegyptin, from the salivary glands of female Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito). In this study, we identified the conserved functional domain of alALP by using bioinformatic tools, and expressed the His-tagged alALP recombinant protein in sf9 insect cells by generation and transfection of a baculoviral expression plasmid carrying the fulllength cDNA of alALP. We purified this recombinant protein and examined its function on the inhibition of blood coagulation. The results showed that the purified His-alALP prolonged the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Prothrombin Time (PT) and Thrombin Time (TT) in vitro as well as the Bleeding Time (BT) in vivo, which suggest that alALP could be a novel anticoagulant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X P Li
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - D Lin
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Y Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - S Q Chen
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - H Q Bai
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - S N Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - W Q Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - S H Liang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu WR, Zheng JW, Li N, Bai HQ, Zhang KR, Li Y. Immunosuppressive effects of dihydroetorphine, a potent narcotic analgesic, in dihydroetorphine-dependent mice. Eur J Pharmacol 1999; 366:261-9. [PMID: 10082208 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(98)00915-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The immunomodulatory effects of dihydroetorphine were systematically investigated in subchronically treated mice. In a dose-dependent fashion, dihydroetorphine (total doses at 444.5, 889 and 1778 microg/kg) lowered the increase of body weight, decreased the weight of the spleen and thymus, weakened the delayed-type hypersensitivity, reduced the generation of antibody-forming cells, inhibited splenic lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, suppressed the production of interleukin-2 in the supernatant of splenocytes induced by concanavalin A, and depleted the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations. Moreover, the physical dependence on dihydroetorphine was also evaluated to confirm that the immunosuppression was concomitant with the addiction to the drug. These results demonstrate that subchronic treatment with dihydroetorphine dose dependently suppresses both humoral and cell-mediated immune function, and that the immunosuppressive effects of dihydroetorphine are much more potent than those of morphine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W R Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wu WR, Zheng JW, Li FY, Li Y, Zhang KR, Bai HQ. Involvement of mu-opioid receptors and alpha-adrenoceptors in the immunomodulatory effects of dihydroetorphine. Eur J Pharmacol 1998; 353:79-85. [PMID: 9721043 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(98)00369-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of acutely administered dihydroetorphine on mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine production in mice. These immune functions were significantly suppressed by dihydroetorphine at 24 microg/kg and 128 microg/kg in a dose-dependent fashion. This study further examined the involvement of micro-opioid receptors and alpha-adrenoceptors in the immunomodulatory effects of dihydroetorphine. The micro-opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone (4 mg/kg), and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, phentolamine (10 mg/kg), but not the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol (10 mg/kg), effectively blocked dihydroetorphine-induced suppression of splenic lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine production. These results demonstrate that dihydroetorphine has significant immunosuppressive effects in mice and the mechanisms of these effects may lie in its interactions with opioid receptors and adrenergic pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W R Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chang YF, Ma DP, Bai HQ, Young R, Struck DK, Shin SJ, Lein DH. Characterization of plasmids with antimicrobial resistant genes in Pasteurella haemolytica A1. DNA Seq 1992; 3:89-97. [PMID: 1333838 DOI: 10.3109/10425179209034001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Two R plasmids, pYFC1 and pYFC2, from Pasteurella haemolytica A1 encoding sulfonamide, streptomycin (pYFC1), and ampicillin (pYFC2) resistances have been characterized by restriction endonuclease digestions, subcloning or DNA sequencing. pYFC1 consists of 4225 bp and is 51.9% in AT content. Physical mapping indicated a highly conserved region of restriction sites among pYFC1, RSF1010, pGS05, pFM739, pHD148 and pGS03B. pYFC1 encoded a dihydropteroate synthase (29.8 kDa), and streptomycin kinase (29.6 kDa) which is homologous in nucleotide sequences or deduced amino acid sequence to that encoded by a broad-host range IncQ plasmid RSF1010. Based on the primary structure of pYFC1, the sulfonamide and streptomycin genes are derived from the same ancestor of RSF1010. pYFC2 is similar to the plasmid from P. haemolytica LNPB51 isolated in France by partial restriction enzyme mapping. pYFC1 and pYFC2 have the same size of 4.2 kbp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y F Chang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14851
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|