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Rodríguez-González J, Wilkins-Rodríguez AA, Gutiérrez-Kobeh L. Human Dendritic Cell Maturation Is Modulated by Leishmania mexicana through Akt Signaling Pathway. Trop Med Infect Dis 2024; 9:118. [PMID: 38787051 PMCID: PMC11126033 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9050118] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) along with macrophages are the main host cells of the intracellular parasite Leishmania. DC traverse a process of maturation, passing through an immature state with phagocytic ability to a mature one where they can modulate the immune response through the secretion of cytokines. Several studies have demonstrated that Leishmania inhibits DC maturation. Nevertheless, when cells are subjected to a second stimulus such as LPS/IFN-γ, they manage to mature. In the maturation process of DC, several signaling pathways have been implicated, importantly MAPK. On the other hand, Akt is a signaling pathway deeply involved in cell survival. Some Leishmania species have shown to activate MAPK and Akt in different cells. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of ERK and Akt in the maturation of monocyte-derived DC (moDC) infected with L. mexicana. moDC were infected with L. mexicana metacyclic promastigotes, and the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, the expression of MHCII and CD86 and IL-12 transcript, and secretion were determined in the presence or absence of an Akt inhibitor. We showed that L. mexicana induces a sustained Akt and ERK phosphorylation, while the Akt inhibitor inhibits it. Moreover, the infection of moDC downregulates CD86 expression but not MHCII, and the Akt inhibitor reestablishes CD86 expression and 12p40 production. Thus, L. mexicana can modulate DC maturation though Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Rodríguez-González
- Laboratorio de Estudios Epidemiológicos, Clínicos, Diseños Experimentales e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez, Oaxaca C.P. 68120, Mexico;
| | - Arturo A. Wilkins-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City C.P. 14080, Mexico;
| | - Laila Gutiérrez-Kobeh
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City C.P. 14080, Mexico;
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Rego N, Libisch MG, Rovira C, Tosar JP, Robello C. Comparative microRNA profiling of Trypanosoma cruzi infected human cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1187375. [PMID: 37424776 PMCID: PMC10322668 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1187375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, can infect almost any nucleated cell in the mammalian host. Although previous studies have described the transcriptomic changes that occur in host cells during parasite infection, the understanding of the role of post-transcriptional regulation in this process is limited. MicroRNAs, a class of short non-coding RNAs, are key players in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and their involvement in the host-T. cruzi interplay is a growing area of research. However, to our knowledge, there are no comparative studies on the microRNA changes that occur in different cell types in response to T. cruzi infection. Methods and results Here we investigated microRNA changes in epithelial cells, cardiomyocytes and macrophages infected with T. cruzi for 24 hours, using small RNA sequencing followed by careful bioinformatics analysis. We show that, although microRNAs are highly cell type-specific, a signature of three microRNAs -miR-146a, miR-708 and miR-1246, emerges as consistently responsive to T. cruzi infection across representative human cell types. T. cruzi lacks canonical microRNA-induced silencing mechanisms and we confirm that it does not produce any small RNA that mimics known host microRNAs. We found that macrophages show a broad response to parasite infection, while microRNA changes in epithelial and cardiomyocytes are modest. Complementary data indicated that cardiomyocyte response may be greater at early time points of infection. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the significance of considering microRNA changes at the cellular level and complement previous studies conducted at higher organizational levels, such as heart samples. While miR-146a has been previously implicated in T. cruzi infection, similarly to its involvement in many other immunological responses, miR-1246 and miR-708 are demonstrated here for the first time. Given their expression in multiple cell types, we anticipate our work as a starting point for future investigations into their role in the post-transcriptional regulation of T. cruzi infected cells and their potential as biomarkers for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Rego
- Unidad de Bioinformática, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Gabriela Libisch
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Rovira
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Oncology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Juan Pablo Tosar
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Unidad de Bioquímica Analítica, Centro de Investigaciones Nucleares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Ferri G, Musikant D, Edreira MM. Host Cell Rap1b mediates cAMP-dependent invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011191. [PMID: 36897926 PMCID: PMC10032529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi cAMP-mediated invasion has long been described, however, the detailed mechanism of action of the pathway activated by this cyclic nucleotide still remains unknown. We have recently demonstrated a crucial role for Epac in the cAMP-mediated invasion of the host cell. In this work, we gathered evidence indicating that the cAMP/Epac pathway is activated in different cells lines. In accordance, data collected from pull-down experiments designed to identify only the active form of Rap1b (Rap1b-GTP), and infection assays using cells transfected with a constitutively active mutant of Rap1b (Rap1b-G12V), strongly suggest the participation of Rap1b as mediator of the pathway. In addition to the activation of this small GTPase, fluorescence microscopy allowed us to demonstrate the relocalization of Rap1b to the entry site of the parasite. Moreover, phospho-mimetic and non-phosphorylable mutants of Rap1b were used to demonstrate a PKA-dependent antagonistic effect on the pathway, by phosphorylation of Rap1b, and potentially of Epac. Finally, Western Blot analysis was used to determine the involvement of the MEK/ERK signalling downstream of cAMP/Epac/Rap1b-mediated invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ferri
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosomas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Musikant
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosomas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosomas, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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PIK-24 Inhibits RSV-Induced Syncytium Formation via Direct Interaction with the p85α Subunit of PI3K. J Virol 2022; 96:e0145322. [PMID: 36416586 PMCID: PMC9749462 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01453-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling regulates many cellular processes, including cell survival, differentiation, proliferation, cytoskeleton reorganization, and apoptosis. The actin cytoskeleton regulated by PI3K signaling plays an important role in plasma membrane rearrangement. Currently, it is known that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection requires PI3K signaling. However, the regulatory pattern or corresponding molecular mechanism of PI3K signaling on cell-to-cell fusion during syncytium formation remains unclear. This study synthesized a novel PI3K inhibitor PIK-24 designed with PI3K as a target and used it as a molecular probe to investigate the involvement of PI3K signaling in syncytium formation during RSV infection. The results of the antiviral mechanism revealed that syncytium formation required PI3K signaling to activate RHO family GTPases Cdc42, to upregulate the inactive form of cofilin, and to increase the amount of F-actin in cells, thereby causing actin cytoskeleton reorganization and membrane fusion between adjacent cells. PIK-24 treatment significantly abolished the generation of these events by blocking the activation of PI3K signaling. Moreover, PIK-24 had an obvious binding activity with the p85α regulatory subunit of PI3K. The anti-RSV effect similar to PIK-24 was obtained after knockdown of p85α in vitro or knockout of p85α in vivo, suggesting that PIK-24 inhibited RSV infection by targeting PI3K p85α. Most importantly, PIK-24 exerted a potent anti-RSV activity, and its antiviral effect was stronger than that of the classic PI3K inhibitor LY294002, PI-103, and broad-spectrum antiviral drug ribavirin. Thus, PIK-24 has the potential to be developed into a novel anti-RSV agent targeting cellular PI3K signaling. IMPORTANCE PI3K protein has many functions and regulates various cellular processes. As an important regulatory subunit of PI3K, p85α can regulate the activity of PI3K signaling. Therefore, it serves as the key target for virus infection. Indeed, p85α-regulated PI3K signaling facilitates various intracellular plasma membrane rearrangement events by modulating the actin cytoskeleton, which may be critical for RSV-induced syncytium formation. In this study, we show that a novel PI3K inhibitor inhibits RSV-induced PI3K signaling activation and actin cytoskeleton reorganization by targeting the p85α protein, thereby inhibiting syncytium formation and exerting a potent antiviral effect. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common respiratory pathogens, causing enormous morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Currently, no effective antiviral drugs or vaccines exist for RSV infection. This study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanism by which PI3K signaling regulates syncytium formation and provides a leading compound for anti-RSV infection drug development.
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Farani PSG, Ferreira BIS, Gibaldi D, Lannes-Vieira J, Moreira OC. Modulation of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p levels is linked to reduced parasite load in H9C2 Trypanosoma cruzi infected cardiomyoblasts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1436. [PMID: 35082354 PMCID: PMC8791985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05493-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the heart tissue of acutely Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p are, respectively, downregulated and upregulated. Here, we used the H9C2 rat cardiomyoblast cell line infected with the Colombian T. cruzi strain to investigate the parasite-host cell interplay, focusing on the regulation of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p expression. Next, we explored the effects of interventions with the trypanosomicidal drug Benznidazole (Bz) alone or combined with Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative shown to modulate immunological and cardiac abnormalities in a model of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, on parasite load and expression of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p. The infection of H9C2 cells with trypomastigote forms allowed parasite cycle with intracellular forms multiplication and trypomastigote release. After 48 and 144 h of infection, upregulation of miR-145-5p (24 h: 2.38 ± 0.26; 48 h: 3.15 ± 0.9-fold change) and miR-146b-5b (24 h: 2.60 ± 0.46; 48 h: 2.97 ± 0.23-fold change) was detected. The peak of both miRNA levels paralleled with release of trypomastigote forms. Addition of 3 µM and 10 µM of Bz 48 h after infection reduced parasite load but did not interfere with miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p levels. Addition of PTX did not interfere with Bz-induced parasite control efficacy. Conversely, combined Bz + PTX treatment decreased the levels of both microRNAs, resembling the expression levels detected in non-infected H9C2 cells. Moreover, the use of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p mimic/inhibitor systems before infection of H9C2 cells decreased parasite load, 72 h postinfection. When H9C2 cells were treated with miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p mimic/inhibitor 48 h after infection, all the used systems, except the miR-146b-5p inhibitor, reduced parasite load. Altogether, our data indicate that these microRNAs putatively control signaling pathways crucial for parasite–host cell interaction. Thus, miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p deserve to be further investigated as biomarkers of parasite control and tools to identify therapeutic adjuvants to etiological treatment in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Silva Grijó Farani
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Iandra Silva Ferreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Gibaldi
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Medina CM, Ferreira ÉR, Bonifácio BS, Mortara RA, Bonfim-Melo A. Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes engage Rac1 and Cdc42 to invade RAW macrophages. Microbes Infect 2021; 23:104837. [PMID: 33957277 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2021.104837] [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: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes (EAs) relies significantly upon the host cell actin cytoskeleton. In past decades EAs have been established as a reliable model for phagocytosis inducer in non-phagocytic cells. Our current hypothesis is that EAs engage a phagocytosis-like mechanism in non-professional phagocytic cells; however, the molecular mechanisms in professional phagocytes still remain unexplored. In this work, we evaluated the involvement of Rac1 and Cdc42 in the actin-dependent internalization of EAs in RAW 246.7 macrophages. Kinetic assays showed similar internalization of EAs in unstimulated RAW and non-phagocytic HeLa cells but increased in LPS/IFN-γ stimulated RAW cells. However, depletion of Rac1, Cdc42 or RhoA inhibited EA internalization similarly in both unstimulated and stimulated RAW cells. Overexpression of active, but not the dominant-negative, construct of Rac1 increased EA internalization. Remarkably, for Cdc42, both the active and the inactive mutants decreased EA internalization when compared to wild type groups. Despite that both Rac1 and Cdc42 activation mutants were similarly recruited to and colocalized with actin at the EA-macrophage contact sites when compared to their native isoforms. Altogether, these results corroborate that EAs engage phagocytic processes to invade both professional and non-professional phagocytic cells providing evidences of converging actin mediated mechanisms induced by intracellular pathogens in both cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Macedo Medina
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Éden Ramalho Ferreira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Souza Bonifácio
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato Arruda Mortara
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexis Bonfim-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; current address: Division of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Nájera CA, Batista MF, Meneghelli I, Bahia D. Mixed signals - how Trypanosoma cruzi exploits host-cell communication and signaling to establish infection. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:134/5/jcs255687. [PMID: 33692153 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.255687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) is a 'neglected' pathology that affects millions of people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent, is an obligate intracellular parasite with a complex and diverse biology that infects several mammalian species, including humans. Because of genetic variability among strains and the presence of four biochemically and morphologically distinct parasite forms, the outcome of T. cruzi infection varies considerably depending on host cell type and parasite strain. During the initial contact, cellular communication is established by host-recognition-mediated responses, followed by parasite adherence and penetration. For this purpose, T. cruzi expresses a variety of proteins that modify the host cell, enabling it to safely reach the cytoplasm. After entry into the host cell, T. cruzi forms a transitory structure termed 'parasitophorous vacuole' (PV), followed by its cytoplasmic replication and differentiation after PV rupture, and subsequent invasion of other cells. The success of infection, maintenance and survival inside host cells is facilitated by the ability of T. cruzi to subvert various host signaling mechanisms. We focus in this Review on the various mechanisms that induce host cytoskeletal rearrangements, activation of autophagy-related proteins and crosstalk among major immune response regulators, as well as recent studies on the JAK-STAT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Acides Nájera
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Marina Ferreira Batista
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Isabela Meneghelli
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
| | - Diana Bahia
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 486, Brazil
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Ferri G, Edreira MM. All Roads Lead to Cytosol: Trypanosoma cruzi Multi-Strategic Approach to Invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:634793. [PMID: 33747982 PMCID: PMC7973469 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.634793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T. cruzi has a complex life cycle involving four developmental stages namely, epimastigotes, metacyclic trypomastigotes, amastigotes and bloodstream trypomastigotes. Although trypomastigotes are the infective forms, extracellular amastigotes have also shown the ability to invade host cells. Both stages can invade a broad spectrum of host tissues, in fact, almost any nucleated cell can be the target of infection. To add complexity, the parasite presents high genetic variability with differential characteristics such as infectivity. In this review, we address the several strategies T. cruzi has developed to subvert the host cell signaling machinery in order to gain access to the host cell cytoplasm. Special attention is made to the numerous parasite/host protein interactions and to the set of signaling cascades activated during the formation of a parasite-containing vesicle, the parasitophorous vacuole, from which the parasite escapes to the cytosol, where differentiation and replication take place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ferri
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Fan X, Zhou J, Bi X, Liang J, Lu S, Yan X, Luo L, Yin Z. L-theanine suppresses the metastasis of prostate cancer by downregulating MMP9 and Snail. J Nutr Biochem 2020; 89:108556. [PMID: 33249185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a very prevalent male-specific malignancy; most PCa patients eventually die as a result of metastasis. L-theanine (C7H14N2O3), a nonprotein amino acid derivative from green tea leaves, has been demonstrated to act as an anticarcinogen through proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects. However, the antimetastatic effect of L-theanine in tumor cells and its underlying mechanism are still unclear. Here, we found that L-theanine could suppress invasion, migration, and increase cell-cell adhesion of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We also found that L-theanine could inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in PCa. Our study revealed that L-theanine could downregulate MMP9, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and upregulate E-cadherin. Furthermore, L-theanine suppressed the transcription of MMP9 and Snail by significantly inhibiting the ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway and the binding activity of p65 to the promoter regions of MMP9 and Snail. All of these findings suggest that L-theanine has therapeutic potential for metastatic PCa and may be considered a promising candidate for antimetastatic therapy of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xirui Fan
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinyi Zhou
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Bi
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Juanjuan Liang
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Lu
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xintong Yan
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Lan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhimin Yin
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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Batista MF, Nájera CA, Meneghelli I, Bahia D. The Parasitic Intracellular Lifestyle of Trypanosomatids: Parasitophorous Vacuole Development and Survival. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:396. [PMID: 32587854 PMCID: PMC7297907 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The trypanosomatid (protozoan) parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are causative agents of Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, respectively. They display high morphological plasticity, are capable of developing in both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, and are the only trypanosomatids that can survive and multiply inside mammalian host cells. During internalization by host cells, these parasites are lodged in “parasitophorous vacuoles” (PVs) comprised of host cell endolysosomal system components. PVs effectively shelter parasites within the host cell. PV development and maturation (acidification, acquisition of membrane markers, and/or volumetric expansion) precede parasite escape from the vacuole and ultimately from the host cell, which are key determinants of infective burden and persistence. PV biogenesis varies, depending on trypanosomatid species, in terms of morphology (e.g., size), biochemical composition, and parasite-mediated processes that coopt host cell machinery. PVs play essential roles in the intracellular development (i.e., morphological differentiation and/or multiplication) of T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. They are of great research interest as potential gateways for drug delivery systems and other therapeutic strategies for suppression of parasite multiplication and control of the large spectrum of diseases caused by these trypanosomatids. This mini-review focuses on mechanisms of PV biogenesis, and processes whereby PVs of T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. promote parasite persistence within and dissemination among mammalian host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ferreira Batista
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Carlos Alcides Nájera
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Isabela Meneghelli
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Diana Bahia
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Horta MF, Andrade LO, Martins-Duarte ÉS, Castro-Gomes T. Cell invasion by intracellular parasites - the many roads to infection. J Cell Sci 2020; 133:133/4/jcs232488. [PMID: 32079731 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.232488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites from the genera Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania and from the phylum Microsporidia are, respectively, the causative agents of toxoplasmosis, malaria, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and microsporidiosis, illnesses that kill millions of people around the globe. Crossing the host cell plasma membrane (PM) is an obstacle these parasites must overcome to establish themselves intracellularly and so cause diseases. The mechanisms of cell invasion are quite diverse and include (1) formation of moving junctions that drive parasites into host cells, as for the protozoans Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp., (2) subversion of endocytic pathways used by the host cell to repair PM, as for Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania, (3) induction of phagocytosis as for Leishmania or (4) endocytosis of parasites induced by specialized structures, such as the polar tubes present in microsporidian species. Understanding the early steps of cell entry is essential for the development of vaccines and drugs for the prevention or treatment of these diseases, and thus enormous research efforts have been made to unveil their underlying biological mechanisms. This Review will focus on these mechanisms and the factors involved, with an emphasis on the recent insights into the cell biology of invasion by these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fátima Horta
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Luciana Oliveira Andrade
- Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Érica Santos Martins-Duarte
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thiago Castro-Gomes
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901, Brazil
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