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Zou Y, Yang X, Chen C, Ma H, Cao HW, Jiang J, Wei XY, Zhang XX. Transcriptomic profiling of long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs in the liver of mice during Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:20. [PMID: 38229193 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06053-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It poses significant health risks, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy, leading to severe disease manifestations. The liver, being a crucial organ involved in immune response and metabolic regulation, plays a critical role in the host's defense against T. gondii infection. METHODS In this study, we utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the liver of mice infected with T. gondii. By employing this method, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the alterations in gene expression occurring in the liver during infection. RESULTS By comparing the infected groups to the control groups, we identified numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs DElncRNAs and DEmRNAs at two stages of infection. Specifically, at the acute infection stage, we found 628 DElncRNAs, and 6346 DEmRNAs. At the chronic infection stage, we identified 385 DElncRNAs and 2513 DEmRNAs. Furthermore, we identified 1959 commonly expressed DEmRNAs, including IL27, Nos2, and Cxcr2, across two infection stages. Enrichment and co-location analyses revealed pathways linked to immune and inflammatory responses during T. gondii infection. Notably, through co-location analysis, our analysis revealed several DElncRNAs, including Gm29156, Gm29157, and Gm28644, which are potentially implicated in the progression of liver inflammation induced by T. gondii. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis disclosed stage-specific characteristics of liver inflammation and immune response, alongside changes in metabolic regulation and immunosuppression pathways. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable insights into the expression patterns of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the liver at different stages of T. gondii infection. We identified potential regulatory factors and pathways implicated in liver inflammation, thereby enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying liver inflammation and immune responses during T. gondii infection. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for liver inflammation in the context of T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, 224002, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Baicheng Normal University, Baicheng, Jilin Province, 137000, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan Province, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, ChangchunJilin Province, 130118, People's Republic of China
| | - He Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Wei Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, 224002, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Baicheng Normal University, Baicheng, Jilin Province, 137000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xin-Yu Wei
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Heilongjiang Province163316, Daqing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, People's Republic of China
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Han C, Guan L, Xu L. Protective effect of luteoloside against Toxoplasma gondii-induced liver injury through inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB and P2X7R/NLRP3 and enhancing Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1333-1342. [PMID: 37046028 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07833-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can cause liver injury by inducing inflammation and oxidative stress. The Chinese herbal extract luteoloside (Lut) has considerable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but its effects on the liver injury during T. gondii infection have not been reported. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Lut by treating T. gondii-infected mice with 0-200 mg/kg doses of Lut and further examined the expression of key proteins in the inflammation and oxidative stress-related pathways in the liver to investigate the potential mechanism of the hepatoprotective effects of Lut. Results showed that Lut remarkably reduced serum ALT and AST levels, considerably decreased inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, as well as oxidative products MDA, and greatly increased antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH. The expression of key proteins TLR4, Myd88, TRAF6, p-NF-κB p65 in the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and P2X7R, NLRP3, caspase 1, IL-1β, IL-18 in the P2X7R/NLRP3 pathway were significantly decreased in the liver. And the expression of key proteins Nrf2, HO-1, NQO-1, and GCLC in the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant-related pathway was significantly upregulated. In conclusion, Lut attenuated T. gondii-induced liver injury by inhibiting the inflammatory response and enhancing antioxidant capacity. The hepatoprotective mechanisms of Lut are involved in inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB and P2X7R/NLRP3 inflammatory signaling pathways, as well as enhancing the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. These findings not only provide some reference for further exploring the specific hepatoprotective mechanism of Lut during T. gondii infection, but also provide some theoretical basis for the future clinical application of Lut as a hepatoprotective drug in T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengquan Han
- College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, Shandong, China
| | - Lizeng Guan
- College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, Shandong, China
| | - Lu Xu
- College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, Shandong, China.
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Sato H, Fukui JN, Hirano H, Osada H, Arimura Y, Masuda M, Aida Y. Application of the Luminescence Syncytium Induction Assay to Identify Chemical Compounds That Inhibit Bovine Leukemia Virus Replication. Viruses 2022; 15:4. [PMID: 36680045 PMCID: PMC9861517 DOI: 10.3390/v15010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection causes endemic bovine leukemia and lymphoma, resulting in lower carcass weight and reduced milk production by the infected cattle, leading to economic losses. Without effective measures for treatment and prevention, high rates of BLV infection can cause problems worldwide. BLV research is limited by the lack of a model system to assay infection. To overcome this, we previously developed the luminescence syncytium induction assay (LuSIA), a highly sensitive and objectively quantifiable method for visualizing BLV infectivity. In this study, we applied LuSIA for the high-throughput screening of drugs that could inhibit BLV infection. We screened 625 compounds from a chemical library using LuSIA and identified two that markedly inhibited BLV replication. We then tested the chemical derivatives of those two compounds and identified BSI-625 and -679 as potent inhibitors of BLV replication with low cytotoxicity. Interestingly, BSI-625 and -679 appeared to inhibit different steps of the BLV lifecycle. Thus, LuSIA was applied to successfully identify inhibitors of BLV replication and may be useful for the development of anti-BLV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotaka Sato
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
- Virus Infectious Diseases Unit, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Jun-na Fukui
- Department of Host Defense for Animals, School of Animal Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hirano
- Chemical Resource Development Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- Chemical Resource Development Unit, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan
| | - Yutaka Arimura
- Department of Host Defense for Animals, School of Animal Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Michiaki Masuda
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
| | - Yoko Aida
- Virus Infectious Diseases Unit, RIKEN, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Laboratory of Global Infectious Diseases Control Science, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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