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Guerrero-Muñoz J, Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Fernández-Moya A, Araneda S, Ortega Y, Rojas-Pirela M, Maya JD, Kemmerling U. MicroRNA-512-3p mediates Trypanosoma cruzi-induced apoptosis during ex vivo infection of human placental explants. Placenta 2023; 143:117-123. [PMID: 37898020 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.10.009] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Upon infection, Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite, crosses the placental barrier and causes congenital Chagas disease. Ex vivo infection of human placental explants (HPEs) with the parasite induces apoptotic cell death. This cellular process involves changes in gene expression, which are partially regulated by miRNAs. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-512-3p, a highly expressed miRNA in the placenta, in parasite-induced apoptosis. METHODS HPE cells were transfected with antagomirs or mimics of miR-512-3p and subsequently challenged with the parasite. The expression levels of miR-512-3p, caspase 3, caspase 8, and Livin were measured using RT-qPCR, and apoptotic cell death was analyzed based on caspase activity and DNA fragmentation assays. RESULTS Targeted inhibition of miR-512-3p effectively prevented parasite-induced expression and enzymatic activity of caspase 3 and caspase 8. However, it did not completely prevent DNA fragmentation, indicating the involvement of other factors in this process. Furthermore, the findings suggest that Livin may be regulated by miR-512-3p. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that miR-512-3p modulates parasite-induced apoptosis in the trophoblast. By understanding the mechanisms involved in this process, we can gain insights into the pathogenesis of congenital Chagas disease and develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Fernández-Moya
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Araneda
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Patología y Medicina oral, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yessica Ortega
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Biología Integrativa, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Fernández-Regueras M, Carbonell C, Salete-Granado D, García JL, Gragera M, Pérez-Nieto MÁ, Morán-Plata FJ, Mayado A, Torres JL, Corchete LA, Usategui-Martín R, Bueno-Martínez E, Rojas-Pirela M, Sabio G, González-Sarmiento R, Orfao A, Laso FJ, Almeida J, Marcos M. Predominantly Pro-Inflammatory Phenotype with Mixed M1/M2 Polarization of Peripheral Blood Classical Monocytes and Monocyte-Derived Macrophages among Patients with Excessive Ethanol Intake. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1708. [PMID: 37760011 PMCID: PMC10525853 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12091708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive alcohol consumption impairs the immune system, induces oxidative stress, and triggers the activation of peripheral blood (PB) monocytes, thereby contributing to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We analyzed the M1/M2 phenotypes of circulating classical monocytes and macrophage-derived monocytes (MDMs) in excessive alcohol drinkers (EADs). PB samples from 20 EADs and 22 healthy controls were collected for isolation of CD14+ monocytes and short-term culture with LPS/IFNγ, IL4/IL13, or without stimulation. These conditions were also used to polarize MDMs into M1, M2, or M0 phenotypes. Cytokine production was assessed in the blood and culture supernatants. M1/M2-related markers were analyzed using mRNA expression and surface marker detection. Additionally, the miRNA profile of CD14+ monocytes was analyzed. PB samples from EADs exhibited increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Following short-term culture, unstimulated blood samples from EADs showed higher levels of soluble TNF-α and IL-8, whereas monocytes expressed increased levels of surface TNF-α and elevated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase. MDMs from EADs showed higher levels of TNF-α and CD206 surface markers and increased IL-10 production. LPS/IFNγ induced higher mRNA expression of Nrf2 only in the controls. miRNA analysis revealed a distinctive miRNA profile that is potentially associated with liver carcinogenesis and ALD through inflammation and oxidative stress. This study confirms the predominantly pro-inflammatory profile of PB monocytes among EADs and suggests immune exhaustion features in MDMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Fernández-Regueras
- Hospital Universitario de Burgos, 09006 Burgos, Spain
- Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Cristina Carbonell
- Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Daniel Salete-Granado
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Juan-Luis García
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marcos Gragera
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Ángeles Pérez-Nieto
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Fundación Instituto de Estudios de Ciencias de la Salud de Castilla y León, 42002 Soria, Spain
| | - Francisco-Javier Morán-Plata
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Andrea Mayado
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium of Oncology (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge-Luis Torres
- Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Complejo Asistencial de Zamora, 49022 Zamora, Spain
| | - Luis-Antonio Corchete
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ricardo Usategui-Martín
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Elena Bueno-Martínez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Sabio
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rogelio González-Sarmiento
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alberto Orfao
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium of Oncology (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco-Javier Laso
- Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Julia Almeida
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Translational and Clinical Research Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer e Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium of Oncology (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Marcos
- Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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Rojas-Pirela M, Delgado A, Rondón-Guerrero YDC, Cáceres AJ, Michels PAM, Concepción JL, Quiñones W. A Trypanosoma cruzi phosphoglycerate kinase isoform with a Per-Arnt-Sim domain acts as a possible sensor for intracellular conditions. Exp Parasitol 2023:108574. [PMID: 37353138 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108574] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domains constitute a family of domains present in a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. They form part of the structure of various proteins involved in diverse cellular processes. Regulation of enzymatic activity and adaptation to environmental conditions, by binding small ligands, are the main functions attributed to PAS-containing proteins. Recently, genes for a diverse set of proteins with a PAS domain were identified in the genomes of several protists belonging to the group of kinetoplastids, however, until now few of these proteins have been characterized. In this work, we characterize a phosphoglycerate kinase containing a PAS domain present in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPAS-PGK). This PGK isoform is an active enzyme of 58 kDa with a PAS domain located at its N-terminal end. We identified the protein's localization within glycosomes of the epimastigote form of the parasite by differential centrifugation and selective permeabilization of its membranes with digitonin, as well as in an enriched mitochondrial fraction. Heterologous expression systems were developed for the protein with the N-terminal PAS domain (PAS-PGKc) and without it (PAS-PGKt), and the substrate affinities of both forms of the protein were determined. The enzyme does not exhibit standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics. When evaluating the dependence of the specific activity of the recombinant PAS-PGK on the concentration of its substrates 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA) and ATP, two peaks of maximal activity were found for the complete enzyme with the PAS domain and a single peak for the enzyme without the domain. Km values measured for 3PGA were 219 ± 26 and 8.8 ± 1.3 μM, and for ATP 291 ± 15 and 38 ± 2.2 μM, for the first peak of PAS-PGKc and for PAS-PGKt, respectively, whereas for the second PAS-PGKc peak values of approximately 1.1-1.2 mM were estimated for both substrates. Both recombinant proteins show inhibition by high concentrations of their substrates, ATP and 3PGA. The presence of hemin and FAD exerts a stimulatory effect on PAS-PGKc, increasing the specific activity by up to 55%. This stimulation is not observed in the absence of the PAS domain. It strongly suggests that the PAS domain has an important function in vivo in T. cruzi in the modulation of the catalytic activity of this PGK isoform. In addition, the PAS-PGK through its PAS and PGK domains could act as a sensor for intracellular conditions in the parasite to adjust its intermediary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Andrea Delgado
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Yossmayer D C Rondón-Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Paul A M Michels
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela.
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4
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Rojas-Pirela M, Kemmerling U, Quiñones W, Michels PAM, Rojas V. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs): Potential Therapeutic Strategy against Trypanosomiases? Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040599. [PMID: 37189347 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomiases are a group of tropical diseases that have devastating health and socio-economic effects worldwide. In humans, these diseases are caused by the pathogenic kinetoplastids Trypanosoma brucei, causing African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, and Trypanosoma cruzi, causing American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. Currently, these diseases lack effective treatment. This is attributed to the high toxicity and limited trypanocidal activity of registered drugs, as well as resistance development and difficulties in their administration. All this has prompted the search for new compounds that can serve as the basis for the development of treatment of these diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides synthesized by both prokaryotes and (unicellular and multicellular) eukaryotes, where they fulfill functions related to competition strategy with other organisms and immune defense. These AMPs can bind and induce perturbation in cell membranes, leading to permeation of molecules, alteration of morphology, disruption of cellular homeostasis, and activation of cell death. These peptides have activity against various pathogenic microorganisms, including parasitic protists. Therefore, they are being considered for new therapeutic strategies to treat some parasitic diseases. In this review, we analyze AMPs as therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of trypanosomiases, emphasizing their possible application as possible candidates for the development of future natural anti-trypanosome drugs.
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Rojas-Pirela M, Andrade-Alviárez D, Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Ortega Y, Maya JD, Rojas V, Quiñones W, Michels PA, Kemmerling U. MicroRNAs: master regulators in host-parasitic protist interactions. Open Biol 2022; 12:210395. [PMID: 35702995 PMCID: PMC9198802 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs present in a wide diversity of organisms. MiRNAs regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level through their interaction with the 3' untranslated regions of target mRNAs, inducing translational inhibition or mRNA destabilization and degradation. Thus, miRNAs regulate key biological processes, such as cell death, signal transduction, development, cellular proliferation and differentiation. The dysregulation of miRNAs biogenesis and function is related to the pathogenesis of diseases, including parasite infection. Moreover, during host-parasite interactions, parasites and host miRNAs determine the probability of infection and progression of the disease. The present review is focused on the possible role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of diseases of clinical interest caused by parasitic protists. In addition, the potential role of miRNAs as targets for the design of drugs and diagnostic and prognostic markers of parasitic diseases is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Diego Andrade-Alviárez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Yessica Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Paul A. Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
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Rojas-Pirela M, Medina L, Rojas MV, Liempi AI, Castillo C, Pérez-Pérez E, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Araneda S, Kemmerling U. Congenital Transmission of Apicomplexan Parasites: A Review. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:751648. [PMID: 34659187 PMCID: PMC8519608 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.751648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are a group of pathogenic protists that cause various diseases in humans and animals that cause economic losses worldwide. These unicellular eukaryotes are characterized by having a complex life cycle and the ability to evade the immune system of their host organism. Infections caused by some of these parasites affect millions of pregnant women worldwide, leading to various adverse maternal and fetal/placental effects. Unfortunately, the exact pathogenesis of congenital apicomplexan diseases is far from being understood, including the mechanisms of how they cross the placental barrier. In this review, we highlight important aspects of the diseases caused by species of Plasmodium, Babesia, Toxoplasma, and Neospora, their infection during pregnancy, emphasizing the possible role played by the placenta in the host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Facultad de Farmacia y Bioanálisis, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maria Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Ana Isabel Liempi
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Núcleo de Investigación Aplicada en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastian Araneda
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Liempi A, Castillo C, Medina L, Rojas-Pirela M, Araneda S, Maya JD, Parraguez VH, Kemmerling U. Ex vivo infection of canine and ovine placental explants with Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii: differential activation of NF kappa B signaling pathways. Acta Trop 2021; 214:105766. [PMID: 33245906 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and toxoplasmosis, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, respectively, are important zoonotic diseases affecting humans, companion animals, and livestock, responsible for major health and economic burden. Both parasites can be transmitted vertically in different mammalian species through the placenta. Of note, the transmission rate of T. cruzi is low in dogs, whereas that of T. gondii is high in sheep. The probability of congenital infection depends on complex parasite-host interactions; parasite factors, maternal and fetal immune responses and placental responses all have a role in infection establishment. Since the innate immune response is regulated, at least partially, by NF-κB signaling pathways, our main objective was to determine the effect of ex vivo infection of canine (CPE) and ovine (OPE) placental explants with both parasites, on the activation of canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways and its relation to infection. Here, we show that T. cruzi activates both the NF-κB canonical and non-canonical pathways in CPE and OPE, unlike T. gondii, that activates only the canonical pathway in CPE and has no effect on the non-canonical pathway in both explants. Moreover, the inhibition of either or both NF-κB pathways increases the DNA load of T. cruzi in both explants, modulates, on the other hand, T. gondii infection in a differential fashion. Overall, we conclude that the differential modulation of the NF-κB pathways by both pathogens in placental explants might explain, at least partially, the differences in transmission rates of T. cruzi and T. gondii in different mammalian species.
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Rojas-Pirela M, Andrade-Alviárez D, Rojas V, Kemmerling U, Cáceres AJ, Michels PA, Concepción JL, Quiñones W. Phosphoglycerate kinase: structural aspects and functions, with special emphasis on the enzyme from Kinetoplastea. Open Biol 2020; 10:200302. [PMID: 33234025 PMCID: PMC7729029 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200302] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a glycolytic enzyme that is well conserved among the three domains of life. PGK is usually a monomeric enzyme of about 45 kDa that catalyses one of the two ATP-producing reactions in the glycolytic pathway, through the conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (1,3BPGA) to 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA). It also participates in gluconeogenesis, catalysing the opposite reaction to produce 1,3BPGA and ADP. Like most other glycolytic enzymes, PGK has also been catalogued as a moonlighting protein, due to its involvement in different functions not associated with energy metabolism, which include pathogenesis, interaction with nucleic acids, tumorigenesis progression, cell death and viral replication. In this review, we have highlighted the overall aspects of this enzyme, such as its structure, reaction kinetics, activity regulation and possible moonlighting functions in different protistan organisms, especially both free-living and parasitic Kinetoplastea. Our analysis of the genomes of different kinetoplastids revealed the presence of open-reading frames (ORFs) for multiple PGK isoforms in several species. Some of these ORFs code for unusually large PGKs. The products appear to contain additional structural domains fused to the PGK domain. A striking aspect is that some of these PGK isoforms are predicted to be catalytically inactive enzymes or ‘dead’ enzymes. The roles of PGKs in kinetoplastid parasites are analysed, and the apparent significance of the PGK gene duplication that gave rise to the different isoforms and their expression in Trypanosoma cruzi is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2373223, Chile
| | - Diego Andrade-Alviárez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2373223, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Santigo de Chile
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Paul A Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK.,Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
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Medina L, Castillo C, Liempi A, Guerrero-Muñoz J, Rojas-Pirela M, Maya JD, Prieto H, Kemmerling U. Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii Induce a Differential MicroRNA Profile in Human Placental Explants. Front Immunol 2020; 11:595250. [PMID: 33240284 PMCID: PMC7677230 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.595250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii are two parasites than can be transmitted from mother to child through the placenta. However, congenital transmission rates are low for T. cruzi and high for T. gondii. Infection success or failure depends on complex parasite-host interactions in which parasites can alter host gene expression by modulating non-coding RNAs such as miRNAs. As of yet, there are no reports on altered miRNA expression in placental tissue in response to either parasite. Therefore, we infected human placental explants ex vivo by cultivation with either T. cruzi or T. gondii for 2 h. We then analyzed the miRNA expression profiles of both types of infected tissue by miRNA sequencing and quantitative PCR, sequence-based miRNA target prediction, pathway functional enrichment, and upstream regulator analysis of differentially expressed genes targeted by differentially expressed miRNAs. Both parasites induced specific miRNA profiles. GO analysis revealed that the in silico predicted targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs regulated different cellular processes involved in development and immunity, and most of the identified KEGG pathways were related to chronic diseases and infection. Considering that the differentially expressed miRNAs identified here modulated crucial host cellular targets that participate in determining the success of infection, these miRNAs might explain the differing congenital transmission rates between the two parasites. Molecules of the different pathways that are regulated by miRNAs and modulated during infection, as well as the miRNAs themselves, may be potential targets for the therapeutic control of either congenital Chagas disease or toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisvaneth Medina
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jesús Guerrero-Muñoz
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Humberto Prieto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Ministerio de Agricultura, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Veas R, Rojas-Pirela M, Castillo C, Olea-Azar C, Moncada M, Ulloa P, Rojas V, Kemmerling U. Microalgae extracts: Potential anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents? Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 127:110178. [PMID: 32371317 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasiteTrypanosoma cruzi, has no effective treatment available. On the other hand, microalgae are aquatic organisms that constitute an interesting reservoir of biologically active metabolites. Moreover, some species of green and red algae present anti-protozoan activity. Our aim was to study the antiparasitic effects of aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic extracts from different microalgae. METHODS AND RESULTS Our results show that the methanolic extracts of S. obliquus and T. suecica as well as the ethanolic extracts of C. reinhardtii and T. suecica present trypanocidal activity on the infective extracellular trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. In addition, the ethanolic extract of C. reinhardtii potentiates the activity of the conventional antichagasic drug nifurtimox. In order to identify some potential compounds with trypanocidal activity, we performed a phytochemical screening analyzing the presence of phenolic compounds, pigments and terpenoids. CONCLUSION The different microalgae extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract ofC. reinhardtii, are promising potential candidates for the development of future natural antichagasic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda Veas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile; Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile
| | - Claudio Olea-Azar
- Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380494, Chile
| | - Mauricio Moncada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile; Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380494, Chile
| | - Pablo Ulloa
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile; Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA-La Platina, Santiago de Chile 8831314, Chile
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile.
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Chile.
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Rojas-Pirela M, Rigden DJ, Michels PA, Cáceres AJ, Concepción JL, Quiñones W. Structure and function of Per-ARNT-Sim domains and their possible role in the life-cycle biology of Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2017; 219:52-66. [PMID: 29133150 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Per-ARNT-Sim (PAS) domains of proteins play important roles as modules for signalling and cellular regulation processes in widely diverse organisms such as Archaea, Bacteria, protists, plants, yeasts, insects and vertebrates. These domains are present in many proteins where they are used as sensors of stimuli and modules for protein interactions. Characteristically, they can bind a broad spectrum of molecules. Such binding causes the domain to trigger a specific cellular response or to make the protein containing the domain susceptible to responding to additional physical or chemical signals. Different PAS proteins have the ability to sense redox potential, light, oxygen, energy levels, carboxylic acids, fatty acids and several other stimuli. Such proteins have been found to be involved in cellular processes such as development, virulence, sporulation, adaptation to hypoxia, circadian cycle, metabolism and gene regulation and expression. Our analysis of the genome of different kinetoplastid species revealed the presence of PAS domains also in different predicted kinases from these protists. Open-reading frames coding for these PAS-kinases are unusually large. In addition, the products of these genes appear to contain in their structure combinations of domains uncommon in other eukaryotes. The physiological significance of PAS domains in these parasites, specifically in Trypanosoma cruzi, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Daniel J Rigden
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela.
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