1
|
Solomonova E, Shoman N, Akimov A, Rylkova O, Meger Y. Application of confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to identify physiological responses of Prorocentrum micans to the herbicide glyphosate. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106417. [PMID: 38394976 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The physiological response of the dinoflagellate P. micans to the effect of the herbicide glyphosate at a concentration of 25-200 μg L-1 was evaluated. It has been shown that P. micans is able to grow due to the consumption of dissolved organic phosphorus formed as a result of the mineralization of glyphosate by bacteria. The addition of glyphosate to the medium inhibits the photosynthetic activity of cells; there is a pronounced inhibition of the relative electron transfer rate along the electron transport chain and the maximum quantum efficiency of the use of light energy. Morphological and ultrastructural changes in P. micans cells were evaluated at sublethal (150 μg L-1) and lethal (200 μg L-1) glyphosate concentrations. It has been shown that at a herbicide concentration of 150 μg L-1, the first signs of apoptosis appear in most P. micans cells: a decrease in lateral light scattering, cytoplasmic retraction, partial destruction of cytoplasmic organelles, a change in the morphology of nuclei, mitochondria, a change in the potential of mitochondrial membranes, and a decrease in the autofluorescence of chlorophyll in cells. At a glyphosate concentration of 200 μg L-1, P. micans showed signs of a late stage of apoptosis: violation of the integrity of intracellular organelles and chromatin organization, fragmentation of nuclei, condensation of cytoplasm, disorganization of chloroplasts in the cells, and the release of cell contents beyond the cell membrane. The effectiveness of using flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy methods for identifying signs and stages of cell apoptosis when exposed to glyphosate is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Solomonova
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2, Nahimov Avе., Sevastopol, Russian Federation.
| | - Natalia Shoman
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2, Nahimov Avе., Sevastopol, Russian Federation
| | - Arkady Akimov
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2, Nahimov Avе., Sevastopol, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Rylkova
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2, Nahimov Avе., Sevastopol, Russian Federation
| | - Yakov Meger
- Sevastopol State University, 299053, Universitetskaya Street, 33, Sevastopol, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ozlem-Caliskan S, Ilikci-Sagkan R, Karakas H, Sever S, Yildirim C, Balikci M, Ertabaklar H. Efficacy of malachite green mediated photodynamic therapy on treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: In vitro study. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2022; 40:103111. [PMID: 36075521 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.103111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a common zoonotic disease that is transmitted by phlebotomus and causes several clinical conditions, from self healing lesion to deadly internal organ involvement. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment method that leads to the generation of cytotoxic species and consequently to cell death and tissue destruction by visible light in the presence of a photosensitizer and oxygen. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of malachite green (MG)-mediated PDT in Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) promastigotes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Parasites were incubated with 0.19, 0.39, 1.56, 3.25 and 6.25 μM of MG for one hour and subjected to 46.4 J/cm2 light irradiation. Trypan blue assay was used to evaluate the viability of the cells and mitochondirial activity alteration was determined by MTT. Morphological changes were analyzed by Giemsa staining and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the fluorescence emitted by cell volume, JC-1, Cell Cycle and Annexin V/PI staining reagents. RESULTS Malachite green mediated photodynamic therapy at 1.56 and 3.125 μM decreased the viability of the L. tropica promastigotes and induced changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential. L.tropica promastigotes was bloked in G0/G1 phase. The morphology of the parasite was affected at the 1.56 and 3.125 μM MG+PDT, resulting in rounded cells with loss of flagellum and irregular shape. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that antileishmanial effects through mitochondrial dysfunction, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis-like cell death to parasites. This work showed PDT with MG effectedparasites. Therefore, MG-mediated PDT may provide a promising approach for L. tropica promastigotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rahsan Ilikci-Sagkan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Usak University, Usak, Turkey
| | - Hatice Karakas
- Faculty of Medicine, Student at Usak University, Usak, Turkey
| | - Sevgi Sever
- Faculty of Medicine, Student at Usak University, Usak, Turkey
| | - Cansu Yildirim
- Faculty of Medicine, Student at Usak University, Usak, Turkey
| | - Misra Balikci
- Faculty of Medicine, Student at Usak University, Usak, Turkey
| | - Hatice Ertabaklar
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Larraga J, Alcolea PJ, Alonso AM, Martins LTC, Moreno I, Domínguez M, Larraga V. Leishmania infantum UBC1 in Metacyclic Promastigotes from Phlebotomus perniciosus, a Vaccine Candidate for Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020231. [PMID: 35214689 PMCID: PMC8877641 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause outstanding levels of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Numerous gene expression profiling studies have been performed comparing different Leishmania species’ life-cycles and stage forms in regard to their distinct infective ability. Based on expression patterns, homology to human orthologues, in silico HLA-binding predictions, and annotated functions, we were able to select several vaccine candidates which are currently under study. One of these candidates is the Leishmania infantum ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 (LiUBC1), whose relative levels, subcellular location, in vitro infectivity in the U937 myeloid human cell model, and protection levels in Syrian hamsters against L. infantum infection were studied herein. LiUBC1 displays a low level of similarity with the mammalian orthologs and relevant structure differences, such as the C-terminal domain, which is absent in the human ortholog. LiUBC1 is present in highly infective promastigotes. Knock-in parasites overexpressing the enzyme increased their infectivity, according to in vitro experiments. Syrian hamsters immunized with the recombinant LiUBC1 protein did not show any parasite burden in the spleen, unlike the infection control group. The IFN-γ transcript levels in splenocytes were significantly higher in the LiUBC1 immunized group. Therefore, LiUBC1 induced partial protection against L. infantum in the Syrian hamster model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Larraga
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.L.); (P.J.A.); (A.M.A.); (L.T.C.M.)
| | - Pedro J. Alcolea
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.L.); (P.J.A.); (A.M.A.); (L.T.C.M.)
| | - Ana M. Alonso
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.L.); (P.J.A.); (A.M.A.); (L.T.C.M.)
| | - Luis T. C. Martins
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.L.); (P.J.A.); (A.M.A.); (L.T.C.M.)
| | - Inmaculada Moreno
- Unidad de Inmunología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (I.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Mercedes Domínguez
- Unidad de Inmunología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (I.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Vicente Larraga
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.L.); (P.J.A.); (A.M.A.); (L.T.C.M.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
The ultimate fate determinants of drug induced cell-death mechanisms in Trypanosomatids. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2021; 15:81-91. [PMID: 33601284 PMCID: PMC7900639 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy constitutes a major part of modern-day therapy for infectious and chronic diseases. A drug is said to be effective if it can inhibit its target, induce stress, and thereby trigger an array of cell death pathways in the form of programmed cell death, autophagy, necrosis, etc. Chemotherapy is the only treatment choice against trypanosomatid diseases like Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and sleeping sickness. Anti-trypanosomatid drugs can induce various cell death phenotypes depending upon the drug dose and growth stage of the parasites. The mechanisms and pathways triggering cell death in Trypanosomatids serve to help identify potential targets for the development of effective anti-trypanosomatids. Studies show that the key proteins involved in cell death of trypanosomatids are metacaspases, Endonuclease G, Apoptosis-Inducing Factor, cysteine proteases, serine proteases, antioxidant systems, etc. Unlike higher eukaryotes, these organisms either lack the complete set of effectors involved in cell death pathways, or are yet to be deciphered. A detailed summary of the existing knowledge of different drug-induced cell death pathways would help identify the lacuna in each of these pathways and therefore open new avenues for research and thereby new therapeutic targets to explore. The cell death pathway associated complexities in metazoans are absent in trypanosomatids; hence this summary can also help understand the trigger points as well as cross-talk between these pathways. Here we provide an in-depth overview of the existing knowledge of these drug-induced trypanosomatid cell death pathways, describe their associated physiological changes, and suggest potential interconnections amongst them.
Collapse
|
5
|
Al-Tamimi AMS, Etxebeste-Mitxeltorena M, Sanmartín C, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Syrjänen L, Parkkila S, Selleri S, Carta F, Angeli A, Supuran CT. Discovery of new organoselenium compounds as antileishmanial agents. Bioorg Chem 2019; 86:339-345. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.01.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
6
|
ROS regulate differentiation of visceralizing Leishmania species into the virulent amastigote form. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 4. [PMID: 31093331 DOI: 10.1017/pao.2018.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania virulence and disease development critically depends on the ability of Leishmania promastigotes to infect, differentiate into amastigote forms and replicate inside mammalian host macrophages. Understanding changes associated with amastigote differentiation in axenic culture conditions is key to identifying virulence factors. Here we compared efficiency of the conventional pH-temperature-dependent shift method to induce amastigote differentiation with the recently identified trigger for differentiation mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Using two different visceral leishmaniasis species, L. infantum and. L. donovani, we show that ROS-generating methods such as iron deprivation or exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of H2O2 or menadione are significantly more effective in promoting promastigoteamastigote differentiation than the low pH-high temperature shift, leading to higher survival rates, morphological changes and gene expression patterns characteristic of the amastigote stage. Notably, both H2O2 and menadione-mediated differentiation did not require up-regulation of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC)-associated protein p27, suggesting that treatment with oxidants bypasses the necessity to upregulate mitochondrial activity, a precondition for mROS generation. Our findings confirm that ROS-induced differentiation occurs in multiple Leishmania species, including the medically important visceralizing species, and provide mechanistic rationale for earlier reports demonstrating markedly increased virulence of L. infantum promastigotes pre-treated with oxidative reagents.
Collapse
|
7
|
Azami M, Ranjkesh Adermanabadi V, Khanahmad H, Mohaghegh MA, Zaherinejad E, Aghaei M, Jalali A, Hejazi SH. Immunology and Genetic of Leishmania infantum: The Role of Endonuclease G in the Apoptosis. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2018; 23:36. [PMID: 29887904 PMCID: PMC5961285 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_705_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the causative agent of infantile visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Mediterranean region. Despite developing protective responses, the disease progresses due to many of factors. These include the action of suppressive cytokines, exhaustion of specific T cells, loss of lymphoid tissue, and defective humoral response. Genetic changes that occur inside the genome of alienated or parasite cells, along with immune responses, play an important role in controlling or progressing the disease. Proapoptotic proteins such as Smac/DIABLO, EndoG, AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor), and cytochrome C are effective in apoptosis. EndoG is a mitochondrion-specific nuclease that translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis. Once released from mitochondria, endoG cleaves chromatin DNA into nucleosomal fragments independently of caspases. Therefore, endoG represents a caspase-independent apoptotic pathway initiated from the mitochondria. A comprehensive understanding of the immune and genetic events that occur during VL is very important for designing immunotherapy strategies and developing effective vaccines for disease prevention. In this review which explained the immunological responses and also the important factors that can contribute to parasite apoptosis and are used in subsequent studies as a target for the preparation of drugs or recombinant vaccines against parasites are briefly reviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Azami
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mohaghegh
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran.,Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Ebtesam Zaherinejad
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley Campus, Australia
| | - Maryam Aghaei
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Akram Jalali
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Giovati L, Santinoli C, Mangia C, Vismarra A, Belletti S, D'Adda T, Fumarola C, Ciociola T, Bacci C, Magliani W, Polonelli L, Conti S, Kramer LH. Novel Activity of a Synthetic Decapeptide Against Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:753. [PMID: 29731744 PMCID: PMC5920037 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The killer peptide KP is a synthetic decapeptide derived from the sequence of the variable region of a recombinant yeast killer toxin-like microbicidal single-chain antibody. KP proved to exert significant activities against diverse microbial and viral pathogens through different mechanisms of action, but little is known of its effect on apicomplexan protozoa. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of KP against Toxoplasma gondii, a globally widespread protozoan parasite of great medical interest. The effect of KP treatment and its potential mechanism of action on T. gondii were evaluated by various methods, including light microscopy, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In the presence of KP, the number of T. gondii tachyzoites able to invade Vero cells and the parasite intracellular proliferation were significantly reduced. Morphological observation and analysis of apoptotic markers suggested that KP is able to trigger an apoptosis-like cell death in T. gondii. Overall, our results indicate that KP could be a promising candidate for the development of new anti-Toxoplasma drugs with a novel mechanism of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Giovati
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Santinoli
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Mangia
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Vismarra
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Silvana Belletti
- Laboratory of Histology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana D'Adda
- Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Fumarola
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tecla Ciociola
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Cristina Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Walter Magliani
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Luciano Polonelli
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Conti
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura H Kramer
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Villa-Pulgarín JA, Gajate C, Botet J, Jimenez A, Justies N, Varela-M RE, Cuesta-Marbán Á, Müller I, Modolell M, Revuelta JL, Mollinedo F. Mitochondria and lipid raft-located FOF1-ATP synthase as major therapeutic targets in the antileishmanial and anticancer activities of ether lipid edelfosine. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005805. [PMID: 28829771 PMCID: PMC5568728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis is the world’s second deadliest parasitic disease after malaria, and current treatment of the different forms of this disease is far from satisfactory. Alkylphospholipid analogs (APLs) are a family of anticancer drugs that show antileishmanial activity, including the first oral drug (miltefosine) for leishmaniasis and drugs in preclinical/clinical oncology trials, but their precise mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Methodology/Principal findings Here we show that the tumor cell apoptosis-inducer edelfosine was the most effective APL, as compared to miltefosine, perifosine and erucylphosphocholine, in killing Leishmania spp. promastigotes and amastigotes as well as tumor cells, as assessed by DNA breakdown determined by flow cytometry. In studies using animal models, we found that orally-administered edelfosine showed a potent in vivo antileishmanial activity and diminished macrophage pro-inflammatory responses. Edelfosine was also able to kill Leishmania axenic amastigotes. Edelfosine was taken up by host macrophages and killed intracellular Leishmania amastigotes in infected macrophages. Edelfosine accumulated in tumor cell mitochondria and Leishmania kinetoplast-mitochondrion, and led to mitochondrial transmembrane potential disruption, and to the successive breakdown of parasite mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Ectopic expression of Bcl-XL inhibited edelfosine-induced cell death in both Leishmania parasites and tumor cells. We found that the cytotoxic activity of edelfosine against Leishmania parasites and tumor cells was associated with a dramatic recruitment of FOF1-ATP synthase into lipid rafts following edelfosine treatment in both parasites and cancer cells. Raft disruption and specific FOF1-ATP synthase inhibition hindered edelfosine-induced cell death in both Leishmania parasites and tumor cells. Genetic deletion of FOF1-ATP synthase led to edelfosine drug resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Conclusions/Significance The present study shows that the antileishmanial and anticancer actions of edelfosine share some common signaling processes, with mitochondria and raft-located FOF1-ATP synthase being critical in the killing process, thus identifying novel druggable targets for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is a major health problem worldwide, and can result in loss of human life or a lifelong stigma because of bodily scars. According to World Health Organization, leishmaniasis is considered as an emerging and uncontrolled disease, and its current treatment is far from ideal, with only a few drugs available that could lead to drug resistance or cause serious side-effects. Here, we have found that mitochondria and raft-located FOF1-ATPase synthase are efficient druggable targets, through which an ether lipid named edelfosine exerts its antileishmanial action. Edelfosine effectively kills Leishmania spp. promastigotes and amastigotes. Our experimental animal models demonstrate that oral administration of edelfosine exerts a potent antileishmanial activity, while inhibits macrophage pro-inflammatory responses. Our results show that both Leishmania and tumor cells share mitochondria and raft-located FOF1-ATPase synthase as major druggable targets in leishmaniasis and cancer therapy. These data, showing a potent antileishmanial activity of edelfosine and unveiling its mechanism of action, together with the inhibition of the inflammatory responses elicited by macrophages, suggest that the ether lipid edelfosine is a promising oral drug for leishmaniasis, and highlight mitochondria and lipid raft-located FOF1-ATP synthase as major therapeutic targets for the treatment of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janny A Villa-Pulgarín
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Consuelo Gajate
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Laboratory of Cell Death and Cancer Therapy, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Botet
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Edificio Departamental, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alberto Jimenez
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Edificio Departamental, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nicole Justies
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rubén E Varela-M
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Álvaro Cuesta-Marbán
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ingrid Müller
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, St. Mary's Campus, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel Modolell
- Department of Cellular Immunology, Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie und Epigenetik, Freiburg, Germany
| | - José L Revuelta
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, Edificio Departamental, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Faustino Mollinedo
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain.,Laboratory of Cell Death and Cancer Therapy, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Peña MS, Cabral GC, Fotoran WL, Perez KR, Stolf BS. Metacaspase-binding peptide inhibits heat shock-induced death in Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2645. [PMID: 28252649 PMCID: PMC5386556 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is an important agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. This parasite faces cell death in some situations during transmission to the vertebrate host, and this process seems to be dependent on the activity of metacaspase (MCA), an enzyme bearing trypsin-like activity present in protozoans, plants and fungi. In fact, the association between MCA expression and cell death induced by different stimuli has been demonstrated for several Leishmania species. Regulators and natural substrates of MCA are poorly known. To fulfill this gap, we have employed phage display over recombinant L. (L.) amazonensis MCA to identify peptides that could interact with the enzyme and modulate its activity. Four peptides were selected for their capacity to specifically bind to MCA and interfere with its activity. One of these peptides, similar to ecotin-like ISP3 of L. (L.) major, decreases trypsin-like activity of promastigotes under heat shock, and significantly decreases parasite heat shock-induced death. These findings indicate that peptide ligands identified by phage display affect trypsin-like activity and parasite death, and that an endogenous peptidase inhibitor is a possible natural regulator of the enzyme.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio S Peña
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme C Cabral
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wesley L Fotoran
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katia R Perez
- Department of Biophysics, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz S Stolf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Genes CM, de Lucio H, Sánchez-Murcia PA, Gago F, Jiménez-Ruiz A. Pro-death activity of a BH3 domain in an aquaporin from the protozoan parasite Leishmania. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2318. [PMID: 27468694 PMCID: PMC4973364 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Mario Genes
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Spain
| | - Héctor de Lucio
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Spain
| | | | - Federico Gago
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Spain
| | - Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Spain
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Novel Heteroaryl Selenocyanates and Diselenides as Potent Antileishmanial Agents. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:3802-12. [PMID: 27067328 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02529-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of new selenocyanates and diselenides bearing interesting bioactive scaffolds (quinoline, quinoxaline, acridine, chromene, furane, isosazole, etc.) was synthesized, and their in vitro leishmanicidal activities against Leishmania infantum amastigotes along with their cytotoxicities in human THP-1 cells were determined. Interestingly, most tested compounds were active in the low micromolar range and led us to identify four lead compounds (1h, 2d, 2e, and 2f) with 50% effective dose (ED50) values ranging from 0.45 to 1.27 μM and selectivity indexes of >25 for all of them, much higher than those observed for the reference drugs. These active derivatives were evaluated against infected macrophages, and in order to gain preliminary knowledge about their possible mechanism of action, the inhibition of trypanothione reductase (TryR) was measured. Among these novel structures, compounds 1h (3,5-dimethyl-4-isoxazolyl selenocyanate) and 2d [3,3'-(diselenodiyldimethanediyl)bis(2-bromothiophene)] exhibited good association between TryR inhibitory activity and antileishmanial potency, pointing to 1h, for its excellent theoretical ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, as the most promising lead molecule for leishmancidal drug design.
Collapse
|
13
|
López-Arencibia A, Martín-Navarro CM, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, Wagner C, Lorenzo-Morales J, Piñero JE. Apoptotic protein profile in Leishmania donovani after treatment with hexaazatrinaphthylenes derivatives. Exp Parasitol 2016; 166:83-8. [PMID: 27060614 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Two hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives, DGV-B and DGV-C previously known to induce an apoptotic-like process in Leishmania donovani parasites were used in this study. For this purpose, two different human protein commercial arrays were used to determine the proteomic profile of the treated parasites compared to non-treated ones. One of the commercial arrays is able to detect the relative expression of 35 human apoptosis-related proteins and the other one is able to identify 9 different human kinases. The obtained results showed that the two tested molecules were able to activate a programmed cell death process by different pathways in the promastigote stage of the parasite. The present study reports the potential application of two commercialised human apoptotic arrays to evaluate the action mechanism of active compounds at least against Leishmania donovani. The obtained data would be useful to establish the putative activated apoptosis pathways in the treated parasites and to further support the use of hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis in the near future. Nevertheless, further molecular studies should be developed in order to design and evaluate specific apoptotic arrays for Leishmania genus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atteneri López-Arencibia
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Carmen M Martín-Navarro
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, University of Carthage, La Marsa, Tunisia
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Carolina Wagner
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - José E Piñero
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lopes RM, Pereira J, Esteves MA, Gaspar MM, Carvalheiro M, Eleutério CV, Gonçalves L, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Almeida AJ, Cruz MEM. Lipid-based nanoformulations of trifluralin analogs in the management of Leishmania infantum infections. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2016; 11:153-70. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm.15.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To improve the potential of trifluralin (TFL) in the management of Leishmania infantum infections through the synthesis of analogs (TFLA) and incorporation in nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (NanoDDS), liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles, for selective targeting to leishmania infection sites. Material & methods: In vitro screening of 18 TFLA was performed by flow cytometry. NanoDDS were loaded with active TFLA and evaluated for antileishmanial efficacy in mice through determination of parasite burden in liver and spleen. Results: The in vitro testing revealed the most active and nontoxic TFLAs, which were selected for the in vivo studies based on high incorporation in liposomes and lipid nanoparticles (>90%). Selected TFLA nanoformulations showed superior antileishmanial activity in mice (parasite burden >80%), over free TFLA and Glucantime. Conclusion: The modification of TFL structure to obtain active TFLA, together with their incorporation in NanoDDS, improved their in vivo performance against L. infantum infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui M Lopes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M Alexandra Esteves
- Solar Energy Unit, National Laboratory for Energy & Geology, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649–038 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Manuela Carvalheiro
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla V Eleutério
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lídia Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - António J Almeida
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M Eugénia M Cruz
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649–003 Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Genes CM, de Lucio H, González VM, Sánchez-Murcia PA, Rico E, Gago F, Fasel N, Jiménez-Ruiz A. A functional BH3 domain in an aquaporin from Leishmania infantum. Cell Death Discov 2016; 2:16043. [PMID: 27551533 PMCID: PMC4979448 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2016.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the absence of sequences showing significant similarity to any of the members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in protozoa, experiments carried out in yeast or trypanosomatids have demonstrated that ectopic expression of some of these members alters their response to different death stimuli. Because the BH3 domain is the smallest common signature in all the proteins of this family of apoptosis regulators and also because they are essential for molecular interactions between antagonistic members, we looked for sequences with significant similarity to the BH3 motif in the Leishmania infantum genome. Among the top scoring ones, we found the MYLALQNLGDEV amino-acid stretch at the C terminus of a previously described aquaporin, now renamed as Li-BH3AQP. This motif is highly conserved in homologous proteins from other species of the Leishmania genus. The association of Li-BH3AQP with human Bcl-XL was demonstrated by both co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid experiments. Ectopic expression of Li-BH3AQP reduced viability of HeLa cells and this deleterious effect was abrogated by the simultaneous overexpression of Bcl-XL. Although we were not able to demonstrate a reduction in parasite viability when the protein was overexpressed in Leishmania promastigotes, a prodeath effect could be observed when the parasites overexpressing Li-BH3AQP were treated with staurosporine or antimycin A. Surprisingly, these parasites were more resistant, compared with wild-type parasites, to hypotonic stress or nutrient deprivation. The prodeath activity was abolished upon replacement of two highly conserved amino acids in this BH3 domain. Taken together, these results point to Li-BH3AQP as the first non-enzymatic protein ever described in trypanosomatids that is involved in cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M Genes
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - H de Lucio
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - V M González
- Laboratory of aptamers, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - P A Sánchez-Murcia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Medicina, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - E Rico
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - F Gago
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Medicina, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - N Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 155 Chemin des Boveresses, Epalinges 1066, Switzerland
| | - A Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
- ()
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Differential Subcellular Localization of Leishmania Alba-Domain Proteins throughout the Parasite Development. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137243. [PMID: 26334886 PMCID: PMC4559404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alba-domain proteins are RNA-binding proteins found in archaea and eukaryotes and recently studied in protozoan parasites where they play a role in the regulation of virulence factors and stage-specific proteins. This work describes in silico structural characterization, cellular localization and biochemical analyses of Alba-domain proteins in Leishmania infantum. We show that in contrast to other protozoa, Leishmania have two Alba-domain proteins, LiAlba1 and LiAlba3, representative of the Rpp20- and the Rpp25-like eukaryotic subfamilies, respectively, which share several sequence and structural similarities but also important differences with orthologs in other protozoa, especially in sequences targeted for post-translational modifications. LiAlba1 and LiAlba3 proteins form a complex interacting with other RNA-binding proteins, ribosomal subunits, and translation factors as supported by co-immunoprecipitation and sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis. A higher co-sedimentation of Alba proteins with ribosomal subunits was seen upon conditions of decreased translation, suggesting a role of these proteins in translational repression. The Leishmania Alba-domain proteins display differential cellular localization throughout the parasite development. In the insect promastigote stage, Alba proteins co-localize predominantly to the cytoplasm but they translocate to the nucleolus and the flagellum upon amastigote differentiation in the mammalian host and are found back to the cytoplasm once amastigote differentiation is completed. Heat-shock, a major signal of amastigote differentiation, triggers Alba translocation to the nucleolus and the flagellum. Purification of the Leishmania flagellum confirmed LiAlba3 enrichment in this organelle during amastigote differentiation. Moreover, partial characterization of the Leishmania flagellum proteome of promastigotes and differentiating amastigotes revealed the presence of other RNA-binding proteins, as well as differences in the flagellum composition between these two parasite lifestages. Shuttling of Alba-domain proteins between the cytoplasm and the nucleolus or the flagellum throughout the parasite life cycle suggests that these RNA-binding proteins participate in several distinct regulatory pathways controlling developmental gene expression in Leishmania.
Collapse
|
17
|
Rico E, Oliva C, Gutierrez KJ, Alzate JF, Genes CM, Moreno D, Casanova E, Gigante A, Pérez-Pérez MJ, Camarasa MJ, Clos J, Gago F, Jiménez-Ruiz A. Leishmania infantum EndoG is an endo/exo-nuclease essential for parasite survival. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89526. [PMID: 24651293 PMCID: PMC3971528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
EndoG, a member of the DNA/RNA non-specific ββα-metal family of nucleases, has been demonstrated to be present in many organisms, including Trypanosomatids. This nuclease participates in the apoptotic program in these parasites by migrating from the mitochondrion to the nucleus, where it takes part in the degradation of genomic DNA that characterizes this process. We now demonstrate that Leishmania infantum EndoG (LiEndoG) is an endo-exonuclease that has a preferential 5' exonuclease activity on linear DNA. Regardless of its role during apoptotic cell death, this enzyme seems to be necessary during normal development of the parasites as indicated by the reduced growth rates observed in LiEndoG hemi-knockouts and their poor infectivity in differentiated THP-1 cells. The pro-life role of this protein is also corroborated by the higher survival rates of parasites that over-express this protein after treatment with the LiEndoG inhibitor Lei49. Taken together, our results demonstrate that this enzyme plays essential roles in both survival and death of Leishmania parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Rico
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Oliva
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kilian Jesús Gutierrez
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Fernando Alzate
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Carlos Mario Genes
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Moreno
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Casanova
- Instituto de Química Médica - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Gigante
- Instituto de Química Médica - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pérez-Pérez
- Instituto de Química Médica - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María-José Camarasa
- Instituto de Química Médica - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joachim Clos
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Federico Gago
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas - Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas-Unidad Asociada al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Baquedano Y, Moreno E, Espuelas S, Nguewa P, Font M, Gutierrez KJ, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Palop JA, Sanmartín C. Novel hybrid selenosulfonamides as potent antileishmanial agents. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 74:116-23. [PMID: 24448421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Diselenide and sulfonamide derivatives have recently attracted considerable interest as leishmanicidal agents in drug discovery. In this study, a novel series of sixteen hybrid selenosulfonamides has been synthesized and screened for their in vitro activity against Leishmania infantum intracellular amastigotes and THP-1 cells. These assays revealed that most of the compounds exhibited antileishmanial activity in the low micromolar range and led us to identify three lead compounds (derivatives 2, 7 and 14) with IC50 values ranging from 0.83 to 1.47 μM and selectivity indexes (SI) over 17, much higher than those observed for the reference drugs miltefosine and edelfosine. When evaluated against intracellular amastigotes, hybrid compound 7 emerged as the most active compound (IC50 = 2.8 μM), showing higher activity and much less toxicity against THP-1 cells than edelfosine. These compounds could potentially serve as templates for future drug-optimization and drug-development efforts for their use as therapeutic agents in developing countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ylenia Baquedano
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Esther Moreno
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Socorro Espuelas
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Paul Nguewa
- Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María Font
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Kilian Jesús Gutierrez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Alcalá, Carretera Madrid-Barcelona km 33,600, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Alcalá, Carretera Madrid-Barcelona km 33,600, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Palop
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Carmen Sanmartín
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain; Instituto de Salud Tropical, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea, 1, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ni Nyoman AD, Lüder CGK. Apoptosis-like cell death pathways in the unicellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii following treatment with apoptosis inducers and chemotherapeutic agents: a proof-of-concept study. Apoptosis 2013; 18:664-80. [PMID: 23468121 PMCID: PMC3634991 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-013-0832-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ancient pathways of an apoptosis-like cell death have been identified in unicellular eukaryotes including protozoan parasites. Here, we examined programmed cell death in the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii which is a common intracellular pathogen of humans and warm-blooded animals. Treatment of extracellular T. gondii with various pro-apoptotic stimuli significantly induced DNA strand breaks as revealed by TUNEL and flow cytometry. Using staurosporine or miltefosine as pro-apoptotic stimuli, parasites also presented a reduced cell size, i.e. pyknosis and externalized phosphatidylserine while the plasma membrane remained intact. Importantly, staurosporine also induced DNA strand breaks in intracellular T. gondii. Data mining of the Toxoplasma genome resource identified 17 putative cell death-associated genes encoding proteases, a nuclease and several apoptosis regulators. Staurosporine-treated parasites but not controls strongly up-regulated several of these genes in a time-dependent fashion with a putative PDCD2 protein being more than 100-fold up-regulated. However, the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) remained intact and caspase-like activity increased only slightly during staurosporine-triggered cell death. As compared to staurosporine, the transcriptional response of parasites to miltefosine was more restricted but PDCD2 was again strongly induced. Furthermore, T. gondii lost their ΔΨm and rapidly presented strong caspase-like activity during miltefosine treatment. Consequently, protease inhibitors abrogated miltefosine-induced but not staurosporine-induced Toxoplasma cell death. Finally, toxoplasmacidal drugs triggered DNA strand breaks in extracellular T. gondii. Interestingly, clindamycin also induced markers of an apoptosis-like cell death in intracellular parasites. Together, the data indicate that T. gondii possesses ancient apoptosis-like cell death machinery which can be triggered by chemotherapeutic agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ayu Dewi Ni Nyoman
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Udayana University, Sudirman Denpasar, 80232 Bali, Indonesia
| | - Carsten G. K. Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sazgarnia A, Taheri AR, Soudmand S, Parizi AJ, Rajabi O, Darbandi MS. Antiparasitic effects of gold nanoparticles with microwave radiation on promastigots and amastigotes of Leishmania major. Int J Hyperthermia 2013; 29:79-86. [PMID: 23311381 DOI: 10.3109/02656736.2012.758875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine the efficacy of thermotherapy in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and microwave (MW) radiation at a frequency of 2450 MHz on the survival of Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes. MATERIALS AND METHODS L. major promastigotes (strain MRHO/IR/75/ER) were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with foetal bovine serum and antibiotic. The promastigotes were incubated with GNPs for 2 h. After washing, thermotherapy was performed by MW irradiation. After 48 h the promastigote survival rate was assessed using Alamar Blue assay. In the second part of the study, after culture and proliferation of J744 cells, the infected macrophages were incubated with the GNPs and were inserted under MW irradiation. After 24 h, the number of amastigotes in the macrophages was determined after Giemsa staining by a light microscope. RESULT Increased exposure time of the microwave to the parasites in the presence of GNPs induced a significant decline in promastigotes survival rate in comparison to similar samples without GNPs. The least survival of amastigotes was also recorded in the groups containing GNPs. The presence of GNPs during MW irradiation was more lethal for promastigotes and amastigotes in comparison to MW alone. CONCLUSION Thermotherapy using MW radiation in the presence of GNPs may be proposed as a new approach to treat leishmaniasis in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ameneh Sazgarnia
- Department and Research Centre of Medical Physics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Casanova E, Moreno D, Gigante A, Rico E, Genes CM, Oliva C, Camarasa MJ, Gago F, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Pérez-Pérez MJ. 5′-Trityl-Substituted Thymidine Derivatives as a Novel Class of Antileishmanial Agents:Leishmania infantumEndoG as a Potential Target. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:1161-74. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
22
|
Mittra B, Cortez M, Haydock A, Ramasamy G, Myler PJ, Andrews NW. Iron uptake controls the generation of Leishmania infective forms through regulation of ROS levels. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 210:401-16. [PMID: 23382545 PMCID: PMC3570109 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20121368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
During its life cycle, Leishmania undergoes extreme environmental changes, alternating between insect vectors and vertebrate hosts. Elevated temperature and decreased pH, conditions encountered after macrophage invasion, can induce axenic differentiation of avirulent promastigotes into virulent amastigotes. Here we show that iron uptake is a major trigger for the differentiation of Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes, independently of temperature and pH changes. We found that iron depletion from the culture medium triggered expression of the ferrous iron transporter LIT1 (Leishmania iron transporter 1), an increase in iron content of the parasites, growth arrest, and differentiation of wild-type (WT) promastigotes into infective amastigotes. In contrast, LIT1-null promastigotes showed reduced intracellular iron content and sustained growth in iron-poor media, followed by cell death. LIT1 up-regulation also increased iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) activity in WT but not in LIT1-null parasites. Notably, the superoxide-generating drug menadione or H(2)O(2) was sufficient to trigger differentiation of WT promastigotes into fully infective amastigotes. LIT1-null promastigotes accumulated superoxide radicals and initiated amastigote differentiation after exposure to H(2)O(2) but not to menadione. Our results reveal a novel role for FeSOD activity and reactive oxygen species in orchestrating the differentiation of virulent Leishmania amastigotes in a process regulated by iron availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bidyottam Mittra
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Weingärtner A, Kemmer G, Müller FD, Zampieri RA, Gonzaga dos Santos M, Schiller J, Pomorski TG. Leishmania promastigotes lack phosphatidylserine but bind annexin V upon permeabilization or miltefosine treatment. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42070. [PMID: 22870283 PMCID: PMC3411662 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania is an intracellular pathogen infecting and replicating inside vertebrate host macrophages. A recent model suggests that promastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite mimic mammalian apoptotic cells by exposing phosphatidylserine (PS) at the cell surface to trigger their phagocytic uptake into host macrophages. PS presentation at the cell surface is typically analyzed using fluorescence-labeled annexin V. Here we show that Leishmania promastigotes can be stained by fluorescence-labeled annexin V upon permeabilization or miltefosine treatment. However, combined lipid analysis by thin-layer chromatography, mass spectrometry and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed that Leishmania promastigotes lack any detectable amount of PS. Instead, we identified several other phospholipid classes such phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine; phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as candidate lipids enabling annexin V staining.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Weingärtner
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infektion Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gerdi Kemmer
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ricardo Andrade Zampieri
- Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Jürgen Schiller
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Günther Pomorski
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gannavaram S, Debrabant A. Programmed cell death in Leishmania: biochemical evidence and role in parasite infectivity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2012; 2:95. [PMID: 22919685 PMCID: PMC3417670 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Demonstration of features of a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway in protozoan parasites initiated a great deal of interest and debate in the field of molecular parasitology. Several of the markers typical of mammalian apoptosis have been shown in Leishmania which suggested the existence of an apoptosis like death in these organisms. However, studies to elucidate the downstream events associated with phosphotidyl serine exposure, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase-like activities in cells undergoing such cell death remain an ongoing challenge. Recent advances in genome sequencing, chemical biology should help to solve some of these challenges. Leishmania genetic mutants that lack putative regulators/effectors of PCD pathway should not only help to demonstrate the mechanisms of PCD but also provide tools to better understand the putative role for this pathway in population control and in the establishment of a successful infection of the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Apoptosis-like programmed cell death induces antisense ribosomal RNA (rRNA) fragmentation and rRNA degradation in Leishmania. Cell Death Differ 2012; 19:1972-82. [PMID: 22767185 PMCID: PMC3504711 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2012.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Few natural antisense (as) RNAs have been reported as yet in the unicellular protozoan Leishmania. Here, we describe that Leishmania produces natural asRNAs complementary to all ribosomal RNA (rRNA) species. Interestingly, we show that drug-induced apoptosis-like programmed cell death triggers fragmentation of asRNA complementary to the large subunit gamma (LSU-γ) rRNA, one of the six 28S rRNA processed fragments in Leishmania. Heat and oxidative stress also induce fragmentation of asrRNA, but to a lesser extent. Extensive asrRNA cleavage correlates with rRNA breakdown and translation inhibition. Indeed, overexpression of asLSU-γ rRNA accelerates rRNA degradation upon induction of apoptosis. In addition, we provide mechanistic insight into the regulation of apoptosis-induced asrRNA fragmentation by a 67 kDa ATP-dependent RNA helicase of the DEAD-box subfamily. This helicase binds both sense (s)LSU-γ and asLSU-γ rRNAs, and appears to have a key role in protecting rRNA from degradation by preventing asrRNA cleavage and thus cell death. Remarkably, the asrRNA fragmentation process operates not only in trypanosomatid protozoa but also in mammals. Our findings uncover a novel mechanism of regulation involving asrRNA fragmentation and rRNA breakdown, that is triggered by apoptosis and conditions of reduced translation under stress, and seems to be evolutionary conserved.
Collapse
|
26
|
Meslin B, Beavogui AH, Fasel N, Picot S. Plasmodium falciparum metacaspase PfMCA-1 triggers a z-VAD-fmk inhibitable protease to promote cell death. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23867. [PMID: 21858231 PMCID: PMC3157471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of proteolytic cell death pathways may circumvent drug resistance in deadly protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania. To this end, it is important to define the cell death pathway(s) in parasites and thus characterize proteases such as metacaspases (MCA), which have been reported to induce cell death in plants and Leishmania parasites. We, therefore, investigated whether the cell death function of MCA is conserved in different protozoan parasite species such as Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania major, focusing on the substrate specificity and functional role in cell survival as compared to Saccharomyces cerevisae. Our results show that, similarly to Leishmania, Plasmodium MCA exhibits a calcium-dependent, arginine-specific protease activity and its expression in yeast induced growth inhibition as well as an 82% increase in cell death under oxidative stress, a situation encountered by parasites during the host or when exposed to drugs such as artemisins. Furthermore, we show that MCA cell death pathways in both Plasmodium and Leishmania, involve a z-VAD-fmk inhibitable protease. Our data provide evidence that MCA from both Leishmania and Plasmodium falciparum is able to induce cell death in stress conditions, where it specifically activates a downstream enzyme as part of a cell death pathway. This enzymatic activity is also induced by the antimalarial drug chloroquine in erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum. Interestingly, we found that blocking parasite cell death influences their drug sensitivity, a result which could be used to create therapeutic strategies that by-pass drug resistance mechanisms by acting directly on the innate pathways of protozoan cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Meslin
- Malaria Research Unit, ICBMS UMR 5246 CNRS-UCBL1-INSA, Lyon, France
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Selenocyanates and diselenides: A new class of potent antileishmanial agents. Eur J Med Chem 2011; 46:3315-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.04.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2010] [Revised: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
28
|
Genes C, Baquero E, Echeverri F, Maya JD, Triana O. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Trypanosoma cruzi: the role of Serratia marcescens prodigiosin in the alternative treatment of Chagas disease. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:66. [PMID: 21548954 PMCID: PMC3118961 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is a health threat for many people, mostly those living in Latin America. One of the most important problems in treatment is the limitation of existing drugs. Prodigiosin, produced by Serratia marcescens (Rhodnius prolixus endosymbiont), belongs to the red-pigmented bacterial prodiginine family, which displays numerous biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, immunosuppressive, and anticancer properties. Here we describe its effects on Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondria belonging to Tc I and Tc II. RESULTS Parasites exposed to prodigiosin altered the mitochondrial function and oxidative phosphorylation could not have a normal course, probably by inhibition of complex III. Prodigiosin did not produce cytotoxic effects in lymphocytes and Vero cells and has better effects than benznidazole. Our data suggest that the action of prodigiosin on the parasites is mediated by mitochondrial structural and functional disruptions that could lead the parasites to an apoptotic-like cell death process. CONCLUSIONS Here, we propose a potentially useful trypanocidal agent derived from knowledge of an important aspect of the natural life cycle of the parasite: the vector-parasite interaction. Our results indicate that prodigiosin could be a good candidate for the treatment of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Genes
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas BCEI-SIU, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lüder CG, Campos-Salinas J, Gonzalez-Rey E, van Zandbergen G. Impact of protozoan cell death on parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:116. [PMID: 21126352 PMCID: PMC3003647 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PCD in protozoan parasites has emerged as a fascinating field of parasite biology. This not only relates to the underlying mechanisms and their evolutionary implications but also to the impact on the parasite-host interactions within mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors. During recent years, common functions of apoptosis and autophagy in protozoa and during parasitic infections have emerged. Here, we review how distinct cell death pathways in Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Plasmodium or Toxoplasma may contribute to regulation of parasite cell densities in vectors and mammalian hosts, to differentiation of parasites, to stress responses, and to modulation of the host immunity. The examples provided indicate crucial roles of PCD in parasite biology. The existence of PCD pathways in these organisms and the identification as being critical for parasite biology and parasite-host interactions could serve as a basis for developing new anti-parasitic drugs that take advantage of these pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Gk Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Georg-August-University, Kreuzbergring 57, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Smirlis D, Duszenko M, Ruiz AJ, Scoulica E, Bastien P, Fasel N, Soteriadou K. Targeting essential pathways in trypanosomatids gives insights into protozoan mechanisms of cell death. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:107. [PMID: 21083891 PMCID: PMC3136144 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2010] [Accepted: 11/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a normal component of the development and health of multicellular organisms. However, apoptosis is now considered a prerogative of unicellular organisms, including the trypanosomatids of the genera Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp., causative agents of some of the most important neglected human diseases. Trypanosomatids show typical hallmarks of apoptosis, although they lack some of the key molecules contributing to this process in metazoans, like caspase genes, Bcl-2 family genes and the TNF-related family of receptors. Despite the lack of these molecules, trypanosomatids appear to have the basic machinery to commit suicide. The components of the apoptotic execution machinery of these parasites are slowly coming into light, by targeting essential processes and pathways with different apoptogenic agents and inhibitors. This review will be confined to the events known to drive trypanosomatid parasites to apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Despina Smirlis
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Bas, Sofias Ave,, 11521 Athens, Greece.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Jiménez-Ruiz A, Alzate JF, Macleod ET, Lüder CGK, Fasel N, Hurd H. Apoptotic markers in protozoan parasites. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:104. [PMID: 21062457 PMCID: PMC2993696 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The execution of the apoptotic death program in metazoans is characterized by a sequence of morphological and biochemical changes that include cell shrinkage, presentation of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface, mitochondrial alterations, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and the formation of apoptotic bodies. Methodologies for measuring apoptosis are based on these markers. Except for membrane blebbing and formation of apoptotic bodies, all other events have been observed in most protozoan parasites undergoing cell death. However, while techniques exist to detect these markers, they are often optimised for metazoan cells and therefore may not pick up subtle differences between the events occurring in unicellular organisms and multi-cellular organisms. In this review we discuss the markers most frequently used to analyze cell death in protozoan parasites, paying special attention to changes in cell morphology, mitochondrial activity, chromatin structure and plasma membrane structure/permeability. Regarding classical regulators/executors of apoptosis, we have reviewed the present knowledge of caspase-like and nuclease activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zalila H, González IJ, El-Fadili AK, Delgado MB, Desponds C, Schaff C, Fasel N. Processing of metacaspase into a cytoplasmic catalytic domain mediating cell death in Leishmania major. Mol Microbiol 2010; 79:222-39. [PMID: 21166905 PMCID: PMC3047009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07443.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Metacaspases are cysteine peptidases that could play a role similar to caspases in the cell death programme of plants, fungi and protozoa. The human protozoan parasite Leishmania major expresses a single metacaspase (LmjMCA) harbouring a central domain with the catalytic dyad histidine and cysteine as found in caspases. In this study, we investigated the processing sites important for the maturation of LmjMCA catalytic domain, the cellular localization of LmjMCA polypeptides, and the functional role of the catalytic domain in the cell death pathway of Leishmania parasites. Although LmjMCA polypeptide precursor form harbours a functional mitochondrial localization signal (MLS), we determined that LmjMCA polypeptides are mainly localized in the cytoplasm. In stress conditions, LmjMCA precursor forms were extensively processed into soluble forms containing the catalytic domain. This domain was sufficient to enhance sensitivity of parasites to hydrogen peroxide by impairing the mitochondrion. These data provide experimental evidences of the importance of LmjMCA processing into an active catalytic domain and of its role in disrupting mitochondria, which could be relevant in the design of new drugs to fight leishmaniasis and likely other protozoan parasitic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Habib Zalila
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 155 Chemin des Boveresses, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Moreno D, Plano D, Baquedano Y, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Antonio Palop J, Sanmartín C. Antileishmanial activity of imidothiocarbamates and imidoselenocarbamates. Parasitol Res 2010; 108:233-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2073-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|
34
|
Rico E, Alzate JF, Arias AA, Moreno D, Clos J, Gago F, Moreno I, Domínguez M, Jiménez-Ruiz A. Leishmania infantum expresses a mitochondrial nuclease homologous to EndoG that migrates to the nucleus in response to an apoptotic stimulus. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 163:28-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2008] [Revised: 09/08/2008] [Accepted: 09/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
35
|
Edelfosine induces an apoptotic process in Leishmania infantum that is regulated by the ectopic expression of Bcl-XL and Hrk. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2008; 52:3779-82. [PMID: 18644968 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01665-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The alkyl-lysophospholipids edelfosine and miltefosine induce apoptosis in Leishmania infantum promastigotes. The finding that edelfosine-induced cell death can be regulated by the ectopic expression of the antiapoptotic and proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins Bcl-X(L) and Hrk suggests that this process is similar to apoptosis in eukaryotic cells.
Collapse
|
36
|
Deponte M. Programmed cell death in protists. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2008; 1783:1396-405. [PMID: 18291111 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2007] [Revised: 01/11/2008] [Accepted: 01/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Programmed cell death in protists does not seem to make sense at first sight. However, apoptotic markers in unicellular organisms have been observed in all but one of the six/eight major groups of eukaryotes suggesting an ancient evolutionary origin of this regulated process. This review summarizes the available data on apoptotic markers in non-opisthokonts and elucidates potential functions and evolution of programmed cell death. A newly discovered family of caspase-like proteases, the metacaspases, is considered to exert the function of caspases in unicellular organisms. Important results on metacaspases, however, showed that they cannot be always correlated to the measured proteolytic activity during protist cell death. Thus, a major challenge for apoptosis research in a variety of protists remains the identification of the molecular cell death machinery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Deponte
- Adolf-Butenandt-Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Zuppini A, Andreoli C, Baldan B. Heat stress: an inducer of programmed cell death in Chlorella saccharophila. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2007; 48:1000-9. [PMID: 17567640 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcm070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) has been recognized as a fundamental cellular process conserved in metazoans, plants and yeast. However, the cellular mechanisms leading to PCD have not been fully elucidated in unicellular organisms. Evidence is presented that heat stress induces PCD in Chlorella saccharophila cells. Our results demonstrate that heat shock triggers a PCD pathway occurring with characteristics features such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation, cell shrinkage and detachment of the plasma membrane from the cell wall, and suggest the presence of caspase 3-like activity. The caspase 3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO gave significant protection against heat shock-induced cell death. Moreover, a reduction in photosynthetic pigment contents associated with alteration of chloroplast morphology and a fairly rapid disappearance of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit and the light-harvesting complex of PSII have been observed. The timing of events in the signaling cascade associated with the C. saccharophila heat shock PCD response is discussed. Insights into this field may have general implications for understanding the pathway of cell death in unicellular green algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zuppini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|