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Sousa GF, Carpes RM, Silva CAO, Pereira MEP, Silva ACVF, Coelho VAGS, Costa EP, Mury FB, Gestinari RS, Souza-Menezes J, Leal-da-Silva M, Nepomuceno-Silva JL, Tanuri A, Ferreira-Júnior OC, Monteiro-de-Barros C. Immunoglobulin A as a Key Immunological Molecular Signature of Post-COVID-19 Conditions. Viruses 2023; 15:1545. [PMID: 37515231 PMCID: PMC10385093 DOI: 10.3390/v15071545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has infected humans worldwide, causing millions of deaths or prolonged symptoms in survivors. The transient or persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection have been defined as post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC). We conducted a study of 151 Brazilian PCC patients to analyze symptoms and immunoglobulin profiles, taking into account sex, vaccination, hospitalization, and age. Fatigue and myalgia were the most common symptoms, and lack of vaccination, hospitalization, and neuropsychiatric and metabolic comorbidities were relevant to the development of PCC. Analysis of serological immunoglobulins showed that IgA was higher in PCC patients, especially in the adult and elderly groups. Also, non-hospitalized and hospitalized PCC patients produced high and similar levels of IgA. Our results indicated that the detection of IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 during the course of the disease could be associated with the development of PCC and may be an immunological signature to predict prolonged symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziele F. Sousa
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raphael M. Carpes
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carina A. O. Silva
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcela E. P. Pereira
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Amanda C. V. F. Silva
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Viktoria A. G. S. Coelho
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Evenilton P. Costa
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flávia B. Mury
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raquel S. Gestinari
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jackson Souza-Menezes
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Manuela Leal-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - José L. Nepomuceno-Silva
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
| | - Amilcar Tanuri
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Orlando C. Ferreira-Júnior
- Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Cintia Monteiro-de-Barros
- Laboratório de Campanha para Testagem e Pesquisa do COVID-19 (LCC), Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
- Cintia Monteiro de Barros, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade (NUPEM), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. São José do Barreto 764, Macaé 27965-045, RJ, Brazil
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Santos D, Gomes HF, Ribeiro L, Farias AB, Romeiro NC, da Fonseca RN, Nepomuceno-Silva JL, Moraes J. Inhibition of Aedes aegypti DNA topoisomerase II by etoposide: Impact on survival and morphology of larvae and pupae. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 247:109066. [PMID: 33930525 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/01/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II enzymes maintain DNA stability during vital processes, such as genome replication, transcription and chromosomal segregation during mitosis and meiosis. In the present work, we analyzed functional aspects of the DNA topoisomerase II (AeTopII) enzyme of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Here, we show that AeTopII mRNA is expressed at all stages of mosquito development. By in situ hybridization, we found that the AeTopII mRNA is concentrated along the ovarian follicular cells as well as in the region of the follicles. The observed expression profiles likely reflect increased topoisomerase II cellular requirements due to the intense ovarian growth and egg production following blood feeding in Ae. aegypti females. The drug etoposide, a classic inhibitor of topoisomerase II, was used for in vivo testing with 2nd stage larvae, in order to investigate the functional importance of this enzyme in Ae. aegypti survival and development. Inhibition of topoisomerase II activity with etoposide concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 μM did not leads to the immediate death of larvae. However, after 10 days of observation, etoposide treatments resulted in 30-40% decrease in survival, in a dose dependent manner, with persisting larvae and pupae presenting incomplete development, as well as morphological abnormalities. Also, approximately 50% of the treated larvae did not reach the pupal stage. Thus, we conclude that AeTopII is a vital enzyme in the development of Ae. aegypti and its sensitivity to inhibitors should be explored for potential chemical agents to be used in vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Santos
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil
| | - Helga F Gomes
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil
| | - Lupis Ribeiro
- Laboratório Integrado Ciências Morfofuncionais, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil
| | - André B Farias
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 21941-909, Brazil; Laboratório Integrado de Computação Científica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé Professor Aloísio Teixeira, Avenida Aluízio da Silva Gomes, 50, CEP 27930-560, Granja dos Cavaleiros, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Nelilma C Romeiro
- Laboratório Integrado de Computação Científica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé Professor Aloísio Teixeira, Avenida Aluízio da Silva Gomes, 50, CEP 27930-560, Granja dos Cavaleiros, Macaé, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Nunes da Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado Ciências Morfofuncionais, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil
| | - José L Nepomuceno-Silva
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil
| | - Jorge Moraes
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica Hatisaburo Masuda, NUPEM, Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida São José Barreto, N° 764, Bairro, São José do Barreto, Macaé, RJ CEP: 27.965-045, Brazil.
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de Melo LDB, Nepomuceno-Silva JL, Sant'Anna C, Eisele N, Ferraro RB, Meyer-Fernandes JR, de Souza W, Cunha-e-Silva NL, Lopes UG. TcRho1 of Trypanosoma cruzi: role in metacyclogenesis and cellular localization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 323:1009-16. [PMID: 15381100 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.08.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Here we have investigated the function of TcRho1, a Rho family orthologue from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We have selected parasites overexpressing wild-type TcRho1 and a truncated form of TcRho1 (TcRho1-DeltaCaaX) which is unable to undergo farnesylation and supposed to interfere with recruitment of Rho effectors to membranes. TcRho1 protein was localized at the anterior region of wild-type and TcRho1 overexpressing epimastigotes, suggesting association with the Golgi apparatus. Accordingly, parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX presented cytoplasmic fluorescence. To address the function of TcRho1 during differentiation, from epimastigotes to trypomastigotes, we submitted parasites overexpressing the above-cited lineages to metacyclogenesis assays. Parasites overexpressing TcRho1-DeltaCaaX generated a discrete number of metacyclic trypomastigotes when compared with other lineages. Strikingly, TcRho1-DeltaCaaX cells died synchronously during the process of metacyclogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Dione B de Melo
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, CCS, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Nepomuceno-Silva JL, De Melo LDB, Mendonça SM, Paixão JC, Lopes UG. Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi TcRjl locus and analysis of its transcript. Parasitology 2004; 129:325-33. [PMID: 15471007 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182004005621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
RJLs represent a recently described family of the Ras-related GTP-binding proteins. The Trypanosoma cruzi orthologue, TcRjl, was isolated and its locus was characterized in a region of almost 5 kb. Its 660 bp orf, predicting a protein of 24·13 kDa, is present as a single copy gene in T. cruzi I lineage, and from 1–2 copies in T. cruzi II lineage. TcRjl shares 73% aa sequence similarity with its closest identified orthologue, T. brucei TbRjl. RT–PCR experiments revealed that TcRjl is transcribed in mRNA in the 3 main life forms of the parasite, while Northern hybridization demonstrated that TcRjl is transcribed in T. cruzi epimastigotes as at least 2 transcripts, one of around 950 nt and the other of 1500 nt. Splice-leader addition was mapped to a single site at −69 bp upstream of TcRjl orf indicating that the two mRNA types may derive in differences at the 3′ of TcRjl mRNA. TcRjl locus presents considerable synteny with Rjl loci from Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major as available from their respective genome projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Nepomuceno-Silva
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21949-900, Brazil.
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Nepomuceno-Silva JL, de Melo LDB, Mendonçã SM, Paixão JC, Lopes UG. RJLs: a new family of Ras-related GTP-binding proteins. Gene 2004; 327:221-32. [PMID: 14980719 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2003.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2003] [Revised: 10/30/2003] [Accepted: 11/14/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The Ras superfamily of GTP binding proteins encompasses several gene families that regulate a plethora of events in the eukaryotic cell. Here we describe a novel branch of this superfamily which we have named RJLs. These are present in many unicellular organisms and also in deuterostomes but apparently missing in some intermediary phyla, suggesting an intriguing possibility of lateral gene transference between lower and higher eukaryotes. RJLs lack classical membrane targeting signals and the conserved glutamine residue that coordinates GTP hydrolysis in other proteins from the Ras superfamily. Interestingly, chordate orthologues are chimeras fused to "J" domains in their C-terminal, suggesting that these proteins recruit Hsc70 to specific sites in the cell. Expression analysis of RJLs from chordates suggests predominant expression in nervous tissues, possibly reflecting a role for RJLs in the development or maintenance of the sophisticated chordate nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Nepomuceno-Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidades Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21949-900, Brazil
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Buckner FS, Eastman RT, Nepomuceno-Silva JL, Speelmon EC, Myler PJ, Van Voorhis WC, Yokoyama K. Cloning, heterologous expression, and substrate specificities of protein farnesyltransferases from Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2002; 122:181-8. [PMID: 12106872 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(02)00099-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are tropical diseases caused by the protozoan parasites, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania species, respectively. Protein farnesyltransferase (PFT) is being investigated as a target for anti-trypanosomatid agents because inhibitors of this enzyme are highly toxic to these parasites compared to mammalian cells. Here, we report the cloning of the alpha- and beta-subunit genes of PFT from T. cruzi and Leishmania major. The proteins encoded by these genes are considerably larger than those of mammalian PFTs due to the presence of a number of inserts of >25 amino acids that map to junctions between helical structural elements. These inserts are not part of the active site or the interface between the two subunits. Northern blots demonstrate expression of messenger RNA for the PFT subunits in both mammalian and insect life-cycle stages of these parasites. The T. cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and L. major PFTs were overexpressed in the Sf9 cell/baculovirus system as active enzyme forms. Kinetic studies with a panel of CALX-containing peptides with all 20 amino acids in the X-position show that trypanosomatid PFTs have similar substrate specificities and these are different from the mammalian PFT substrate specificity patterns.
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Nepomuceno-Silva JL, Yokoyama K, de Mello LD, Mendonca SM, Paixão JC, Baron R, Faye JC, Buckner FS, Van Voorhis WC, Gelb MH, Lopes UG. TcRho1, a farnesylated Rho family homologue from Trypanosoma cruzi: cloning, trans-splicing, and prenylation studies. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:29711-8. [PMID: 11359782 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m102920200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho GTPases are members of the Ras superfamily and are involved in signal transduction pathways, including maintenance of cell morphology and motility, cell cycle progression, and transcription activation. We report the molecular identification in trypanosomatids (Trypanosoma cruzi) of the first member of the Rho family. The cloned Rho protein, TcRho1, shares approximately 40% homology with other members of the Rho family. Southern blot analysis revealed that TcRHO1 is a single copy gene per haploid genome, and Northern blot assays showed a transcript of 1200 nucleotides in length. Mapping the 5'-untranslated region of TcRHO1 transcripts revealed at least five different transcripts derived from differential trans-splicing. Three of the five transcripts contain the trans-splicing site within the coding region of the TcRHO1 gene. TcRho1 also contains the C-terminal sequence CQLF (CAAX motif), which is predicted to direct post-translation prenylation of the cysteine residue. A synthetic peptide containing this C-terminal motif, when tested against Q-Sepharose chromatography fractions from T. cruzi cytosol, was shown to be efficiently farnesylated, but not geranylgeranylated, despite the fact that the CAAX motif with X = Phe specifies geranylgeranylation by mammalian protein geranylgeranyltransferase I. Furthermore, immunoblot analyses of epimastigote protein with anti-S-farnesylcysteine methyl ester and anti-TcRho1 antisera strongly suggested that TcRho1 is farnesylated in vivo. The farnesylation of proteins such as Rho GTPases could be the basis for the selective cytotoxic action of protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors on trypanosomatids versus mammalian cells.
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MESH Headings
- 5' Untranslated Regions
- Amino Acid Motifs
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Blotting, Western
- Chromatography, Agarose
- Chromosome Mapping
- Cloning, Molecular
- Cysteine/chemistry
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Gene Library
- Immunoblotting
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Peptides/chemistry
- Phylogeny
- Protein Prenylation
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Protozoan Proteins
- RNA Splicing
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Transfection
- Trypanosoma cruzi/chemistry
- rho GTP-Binding Proteins/chemistry
- rho GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Nepomuceno-Silva
- Instituto de Biofisica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21949, Brazil
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