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Sena F, Cancela S, Bollati-Fogolín M, Pagotto R, Francia ME. Exploring Toxoplasma gondii´s Biology within the Intestinal Epithelium: intestinal-derived models to unravel sexual differentiation. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1134471. [PMID: 37313339 PMCID: PMC10258352 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1134471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A variety of intestinal-derived culture systems have been developed to mimic in vivo cell behavior and organization, incorporating different tissue and microenvironmental elements. Great insight into the biology of the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, has been attained by using diverse in vitro cellular models. Nonetheless, there are still processes key to its transmission and persistence which remain to be elucidated, such as the mechanisms underlying its systemic dissemination and sexual differentiation both of which occur at the intestinal level. Because this event occurs in a complex and specific cellular environment (the intestine upon ingestion of infective forms, and the feline intestine, respectively), traditional reductionist in vitro cellular models fail to recreate conditions resembling in vivo physiology. The development of new biomaterials and the advances in cell culture knowledge have opened the door to a next generation of more physiologically relevant cellular models. Among them, organoids have become a valuable tool for unmasking the underlying mechanism involved in T. gondii sexual differentiation. Murine-derived intestinal organoids mimicking the biochemistry of the feline intestine have allowed the generation of pre-sexual and sexual stages of T. gondii for the first time in vitro, opening a window of opportunity to tackling these stages by "felinizing" a wide variety of animal cell cultures. Here, we reviewed intestinal in vitro and ex vivo models and discussed their strengths and limitations in the context of a quest for faithful models to in vitro emulate the biology of the enteric stages of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Sena
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Saira Cancela
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Molecular, Cellular, and Animal Technology Program (ProTeMCA), Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mariela Bollati-Fogolín
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Molecular, Cellular, and Animal Technology Program (ProTeMCA), Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Romina Pagotto
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María E. Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Cancela S, Esteves A, Alvite G, Paulino M. Modeling, molecular dynamics and docking studies of a full-length Echinococcus granulosus 2DBD nuclear receptor. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:1414-1423. [PMID: 34994278 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2023641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors capable of regulating the expression of complex gene networks. The family includes seven subfamilies of protein with a wide phylogenetic distribution. A novel subfamily with two DNA-binding domains (2DBDs) has been first reported in Schistosoma mansoni (Platyhelminth, Trematoda). Employing an ab initio protocol and homology modeling methods, the full-length 3D structure of the Eg2DBDα.1 nuclear receptor from Echinococcus granulosus (Platyhelminth, Cestoda) was generated. The model analysis reveals the presence of the conserved three-layered alpha-helical sandwich structure in the ligand binding domain, and a particularly long and flexible hinge region. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed previous to dock a conformational library of fatty acids and retinoic acids. Our results indicate that oleic and linoleic acids are suitable ligands to this receptor. The ligand-protein complex is stabilized mainly by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The fact that 2DBD nuclear receptors have not been identified in vertebrates confers particular interest to these nuclear receptors, not only concerning their structure and function but as targets of new anthelmintic drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saira Cancela
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Adriana Esteves
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriela Alvite
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Margot Paulino
- Bioinformatics Center, DETEMA, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Di Tomaso MV, Vázquez Alberdi L, Olsson D, Cancela S, Fernández A, Rosillo JC, Reyes Ábalos AL, Álvarez Zabaleta M, Calero M, Kun A. Colocalization Analysis of Peripheral Myelin Protein-22 and Lamin-B1 in the Schwann Cell Nuclei of Wt and TrJ Mice. Biomolecules 2022; 12:456. [PMID: 35327648 PMCID: PMC8946543 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelination of the peripheral nervous system requires Schwann cells (SC) differentiation into the myelinating phenotype. The peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP22) is an integral membrane glycoprotein, expressed in SC. It was initially described as a growth arrest-specific (gas3) gene product, up-regulated by serum starvation. PMP22 mutations were pathognomonic for human hereditary peripheral neuropathies, including the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Trembler-J (TrJ) is a heterozygous mouse model carrying the same pmp22 point mutation as a CMT1E variant. Mutations in lamina genes have been related to a type of peripheral (CMT2B1) or central (autosomal dominant leukodystrophy) neuropathy. We explore the presence of PMP22 and Lamin B1 in Wt and TrJ SC nuclei of sciatic nerves and the colocalization of PMP22 concerning the silent heterochromatin (HC: DAPI-dark counterstaining), the transcriptionally active euchromatin (EC), and the nuclear lamina (H3K4m3 and Lamin B1 immunostaining, respectively). The results revealed that the number of TrJ SC nuclei in sciatic nerves was greater, and the SC volumes were smaller than those of Wt. The myelin protein PMP22 and Lamin B1 were detected in Wt and TrJ SC nuclei and predominantly in peripheral nuclear regions. The level of PMP22 was higher, and those of Lamin B1 lower in TrJ than in Wt mice. The level of PMP22 was higher, and those of Lamin B1 lower in TrJ than in Wt mice. PMP22 colocalized more with Lamin B1 and with the transcriptionally competent EC, than the silent HC with differences between Wt and TrJ genotypes. The results are discussed regarding the probable nuclear role of PMP22 and the relationship with TrJ neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Vittoria Di Tomaso
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (D.O.); (S.C.); (A.L.R.Á.); (M.Á.Z.)
| | - Lucía Vázquez Alberdi
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular del Sistema Nervioso Periférico, Departamento de Proteínas y Ácidos Nucleicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay;
| | - Daniela Olsson
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (D.O.); (S.C.); (A.L.R.Á.); (M.Á.Z.)
| | - Saira Cancela
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (D.O.); (S.C.); (A.L.R.Á.); (M.Á.Z.)
| | - Anabel Fernández
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Comparada, Departamento de Neurociencias Integrativas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (A.F.); (J.C.R.)
| | - Juan Carlos Rosillo
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología Comparada, Departamento de Neurociencias Integrativas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (A.F.); (J.C.R.)
| | - Ana Laura Reyes Ábalos
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (D.O.); (S.C.); (A.L.R.Á.); (M.Á.Z.)
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Magdalena Álvarez Zabaleta
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay; (D.O.); (S.C.); (A.L.R.Á.); (M.Á.Z.)
| | - Miguel Calero
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Unidad de Microscopía Electrónica de Barrido, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Alejandra Kun
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular del Sistema Nervioso Periférico, Departamento de Proteínas y Ácidos Nucleicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay;
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Unidad de Encefalopatías Espongiformes (UFIEC), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
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Cancela S, Canclini L, Mourglia-Ettlin G, Hernández P, Merlino A. Neuroprotective effects of novel nitrones: In vitro and in silico studies. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 871:172926. [PMID: 31958456 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.172926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people around the world. Several studies point out caspase-3 as a key player in the development and progression of neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Furthermore, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in neurodegenerative pathologies leading to neuronal damage and cell death. Pharmacological properties of nitrones such as free radical trapping and neuroprotection has been previously described. In the present work, we have assessed ten non-cytotoxic nitrones for their ability to inhibit apoptosis plus their potential to reduce active caspase-3 and oxidative stress in the hippocampal neuronal cell line HT22. Our results highlight the faculty of nitrones to inhibit apoptosis by a mechanism that involves active caspase-3 reduction and decrease of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, docking and molecular dynamics approaches lead to a detailed analysis at the atomic level of the nitrones binding mode to caspase-3 suggesting that compounds bind in a region close to the catalytic site. All these data place these molecules as excellent hits for further efforts to redesign novel compounds in the search of a new therapy against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saira Cancela
- Laboratorio de Epigenética e Inestabilidad Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Lucía Canclini
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gustavo Mourglia-Ettlin
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paola Hernández
- Laboratorio de Epigenética e Inestabilidad Genómica, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Alicia Merlino
- Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Alvite G, Riera X, Cancela S, Paulino M, Esteves A. Bioinformatic analysis of a novel Echinococcus granulosus nuclear receptor with two DNA binding domains. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224703. [PMID: 31710619 PMCID: PMC6844482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors capable of regulating the expression of complex gene networks. The family includes seven subfamilies of proteins with a wide phylogenetic distribution. A novel subfamily with two DNA-binding domains (2DBDs) has been reported in Schistosoma mansoni (Platyhelminth, Trematoda). This work describes the cDNA cloning and bioinformatics analysis of Eg2DBDα, a 2DBD nuclear receptor isoform from the parasite Echinococcus granulosus (Platyhelminth, Cestoda). The Eg2DBDα gene coding domain structure was analysed. Although two additional 2DBD nuclear receptors are reported in the parasite database GeneDB, they are unlikely to be expressed in the larval stage. Phylogenetic relationships between these atypical proteins from different cestodes are also analysed including S. mansoni 2DBD nuclear receptors. The presence of two DNA binding domains confers particular interest to these nuclear receptors, not only concerning their function but to the development of new antihelminthic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Alvite
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ximena Riera
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Saira Cancela
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Margot Paulino
- Center of Bioinformatics, Departamento de Experimentación y Teoría de la Materia, Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Adriana Esteves
- Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- * E-mail:
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Yebra MC, Moreno-Cid A, Cespón R, Cancela S. Preparation of a soluble solid sample by a continuous ultrasound assisted dissolution system for the flow-injection atomic absorption spectrometric determination of iron in milk powder and infant formula. Talanta 2012; 62:403-6. [PMID: 18969309 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2003.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2003] [Revised: 07/04/2003] [Accepted: 08/12/2003] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A simple and new flow-injection manifold (CUDS) for the continuous ultrasound assisted dissolution of a soluble solid sample coupled to a flow-injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric manifold for the continuous iron determination is described. An experimental design was used for the evaluation of factors involving the CUDS. The method was applied to a certified reference material (CRM-151, skim milk powder) for quality assurance/validation and to real samples (milk powder and infant formulas). The total sampling frequency achieved was 80 samples per hour with a relative standard deviation for the complete procedure of 1.1%. The detection limit was 0.60mugg(-1) for a sample amount of 30mg. The results demonstrated that the CUDS is an innovative and efficient tool as compared to the manual-traditional sample preparation methods, but with drastic increase of both sample throughput and precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Yebra
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Yebra M, Cancela S, Cespón R. Automatic determination of nickel in foods by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Food Chem 2008; 108:774-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2007] [Revised: 10/16/2007] [Accepted: 11/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Yebra MC, Cancela S. Continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction of cadmium from legumes and dried fruit samples coupled with on-line preconcentration-flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2005; 382:1093-8. [PMID: 15909187 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-005-3237-x] [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: 11/09/2005] [Revised: 01/31/2005] [Accepted: 02/07/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium was continuously extracted with diluted nitric acid from legumes and dried fruit samples using a simple, rapid and continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction system. A minicolumn packed with a chelating resin (Chelite P, with aminomethylphosphoric acid groups) was placed between the extraction unit and the detector for cadmium preconcentration. The cadmium content in the acid extract was retained into the minicolumn, and elution was carried out with hydrochloric acid, with this trace metal continuously monitored by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. An experimental design (Plackett-Burman 2(6) x 3/16) was used to optimize the continuous leaching procedure and the preconcentration step. The method allowed a total sampling frequency of 10 and 14 samples per hour for legumes and dried fruit, respectively. The procedure displayed good precision (2.0 and 2.5%, respectively, expressed as relative standard deviations) for samples containing 0.202+/-0.005 microg g(-1) Cd (broad bean) and 0.239+/-0.004 microg g(-1) Cd (peanut). Detection limits of 0.014 microg g(-1) Cd for 60 mg of legume samples and 0.011 microg g(-1) Cd for 80 mg of dried fruit samples were obtained. The method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amounts of cadmium in legumes and dried fruit samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Yebra
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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Moreno-Cid A, Yebra MC, Cancela S, Cespón RM. Flow injection on-line ultrasound-assisted extraction of iron in meat samples coupled to a flame atomic absorption spectrometric system. Anal Bioanal Chem 2003; 377:730-4. [PMID: 12898105 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-003-2124-6] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2003] [Revised: 06/02/2003] [Accepted: 06/17/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Iron was extracted on-line from solid meat samples by a simple and rapid continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction system (CUES). The CUES is connected to a flow injection manifold, which allows the on-line flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of iron. A Plakett-Burman design was used for the optimisation of the CUES. The method achieved a total sampling frequency of 11 samples per hour with a relative standard deviation for the complete procedure of 0.4%. The detection limit was 0.6 microg g(-1) (dry mass) for a sample amount of 30 mg. Accurate results were obtained by measuring the certified reference materials BCR-186 (pig kidney) and BCR-184 (bovine muscle). The analytical procedure was applied to different real meat samples with satisfactory results.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Moreno-Cid
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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