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Veuthey T, Giunti S, De Rosa MJ, Alkema M, Rayes D. The neurohormone tyramine stimulates the secretion of an Insulin-Like Peptide from the intestine to modulate the systemic stress response in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.06.579207. [PMID: 38370834 PMCID: PMC10871264 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.06.579207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The DAF-2/insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathway plays an evolutionarily conserved role in regulating reproductive development, lifespan, and stress resistance. In C. elegans , DAF-2/IIS signaling is modulated by an extensive array of insulin-like peptides (ILPs) with diverse spatial and temporal expression patterns. However, the release dynamics and specific functions of these ILPs in adapting to different environmental conditions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the ILP, INS-3, plays a crucial role in modulating the response to different types of stressors in C. elegans . ins-3 mutants display increased resistance to both heat and oxidative stress; however, under favorable conditions, this advantage is countered by slower reproductive development. ins-3 expression in both neurons and the intestine is downregulated in response to environmental stressors. Conversely, the neurohormone tyramine, which is released during the acute flight response, triggers an upregulation in ins-3 expression. Moreover, we found that tyramine negatively impacts environmental stress resistance by stimulating the release of INS-3 from the intestine. The subsequent release of INS-3 systemically activates the DAF-2 pathway, resulting in the inhibition of cytoprotective mechanisms mediated by DAF-16/FOXO and HSF-1. These studies offer mechanistic insights into the brain-gut communication pathway that weighs adaptive strategies to respond to acute and long-term stress scenarios.
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Weng JW, Park H, Valotteau C, Chen RT, Essmann CL, Pujol N, Sternberg PW, Chen CH. Body stiffness is a mechanical property that facilitates contact-mediated mate recognition in Caenorhabditis elegans. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3585-3596.e5. [PMID: 37541249 PMCID: PMC10530406 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Physical contact is prevalent in the animal kingdom to recognize suitable mates by decoding information about sex, species, and maturity. Although chemical cues for mate recognition have been extensively studied, the role of mechanical cues remains elusive. Here, we show that C. elegans males recognize conspecific and reproductive mates through short-range cues, and that the attractiveness of potential mates depends on the sex and developmental stages of the hypodermis. We find that a particular group of cuticular collagens is required for mate attractiveness. These collagens maintain body stiffness to sustain mate attractiveness but do not affect the surface properties that evoke the initial step of mate recognition, suggesting that males utilize multiple sensory mechanisms to recognize suitable mates. Manipulations of body stiffness via physical interventions, chemical treatments, and 3D-printed bionic worms indicate that body stiffness is a mechanical property for mate recognition and increases mating efficiency. Our study thus extends the repertoire of sensory cues of mate recognition in C. elegans and provides a paradigm to study the important roles of mechanosensory cues in social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen-Wei Weng
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Heenam Park
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Claire Valotteau
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, LAI, Turing Centre for Living Systems, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Rui-Tsung Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Clara L Essmann
- Bio3/Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Schaenzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, 163 Avenue de Luminy, case 906, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Paul W Sternberg
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
| | - Chun-Hao Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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3
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Aggad D, Brouilly N, Omi S, Essmann CL, Dehapiot B, Savage-Dunn C, Richard F, Cazevieille C, Politi KA, Hall DH, Pujol R, Pujol N. Meisosomes, folded membrane microdomains between the apical extracellular matrix and epidermis. eLife 2023; 12:e75906. [PMID: 36913486 PMCID: PMC10010689 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical extracellular matrices (aECMs) form a physical barrier to the environment. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the epidermal aECM, the cuticle, is composed mainly of different types of collagen, associated in circumferential ridges separated by furrows. Here, we show that in mutants lacking furrows, the normal intimate connection between the epidermis and the cuticle is lost, specifically at the lateral epidermis, where, in contrast to the dorsal and ventral epidermis, there are no hemidesmosomes. At the ultrastructural level, there is a profound alteration of structures that we term 'meisosomes,' in reference to eisosomes in yeast. We show that meisosomes are composed of stacked parallel folds of the epidermal plasma membrane, alternately filled with cuticle. We propose that just as hemidesmosomes connect the dorsal and ventral epidermis, above the muscles, to the cuticle, meisosomes connect the lateral epidermis to it. Moreover, furrow mutants present marked modifications of the biomechanical properties of their skin and exhibit a constitutive damage response in the epidermis. As meisosomes co-localise to macrodomains enriched in phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, they could conceivably act, like eisosomes, as signalling platforms, to relay tensile information from the aECM to the underlying epidermis, as part of an integrated stress response to damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dina Aggad
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Nicolas Brouilly
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Clara Luise Essmann
- Department of Computer Science, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Bio3/Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics, Albert-Ludwigs-UniversityFreiburgGermany
| | - Benoit Dehapiot
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Cathy Savage-Dunn
- Department of Biology, Queens College and the Graduate Center, CUNYFlushingUnited States
| | - Fabrice Richard
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
| | - Chantal Cazevieille
- INM, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Plateau de microscopie électronique, INSERM, Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Kristin A Politi
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - David H Hall
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Remy Pujol
- INM, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Plateau de microscopie électronique, INSERM, Université de MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living SystemsMarseilleFrance
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4
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Goswamy D, Gonzalez X, Labed SA, Irazoqui JE. C. elegans orphan nuclear receptor NHR-42 represses innate immunity and promotes lipid loss downstream of HLH-30/TFEB. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1094145. [PMID: 36860863 PMCID: PMC9968933 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1094145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, transcription factors of the Microphthalmia-TFE (MiT) family, including TFEB and TFE3 in mammals and HLH-30 in Caenorhabditis elegans, have emerged as important regulators of innate immunity and inflammation in invertebrates and vertebrates. Despite great strides in knowledge, the mechanisms that mediate downstream actions of MiT transcription factors in the context of innate host defense remain poorly understood. Here, we report that HLH-30, which promotes lipid droplet mobilization and host defense, induces the expression of orphan nuclear receptor NHR-42 during infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Remarkably, NHR-42 loss of function promoted host infection resistance, genetically defining NHR-42 as an HLH-30-controlled negative regulator of innate immunity. During infection, NHR-42 was required for lipid droplet loss, suggesting that it is an important effector of HLH-30 in lipid immunometabolism. Moreover, transcriptional profiling of nhr-42 mutants revealed wholesale activation of an antimicrobial signature, of which abf-2, cnc-2, and lec-11 were important for the enhanced survival of infection of nhr-42 mutants. These results advance our knowledge of the mechanisms by which MiT transcription factors promote host defense, and by analogy suggest that TFEB and TFE3 may similarly promote host defense via NHR-42-homologous nuclear receptors in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Javier E. Irazoqui
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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5
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Peng H, Bai H, Pan Y, Li J, Pei Z, Liao Y, Wu C, Li C, Tao L, Zhong S, Ma C, Chen Z, Li X, Gong Y, Wang L, Li F. Immunological pathogenesis of Bovine E. coli infection in a model of C. elegans. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:311. [PMID: 36539715 PMCID: PMC9764636 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02733-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cattle industry is critical for China's livestock industry, whereas E. coli infection and relevant diseases could lead huge economic loss. Traditional mammalian models would be costly, time consuming and complicated to study pathological changes of bovine E. coli. There is an urgent need for a simple but efficient animal model to quantitatively evaluate the pathological changes of bovine-derived E. coli in vivo. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has a broad host range of diverse E. coli strains with advantages, including a short life cycle, a simple structure, a transparent body which is easily visualized, a well-studied genetic map, an intrinsic immune system which is conservable with more complicated mammalians. RESULTS Here, we considered that O126 was the dominant serotype, and a total of 19 virulence factors were identified from 41 common E. coli virulence factors. Different E. coli strains with diverse pathogenicity strengths were tested in C. elegans in E. coli with higher pathogenicity (EC3/10), Nsy-1, Sek-1 and Pmk-1 of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway cascade and the expression of the antimicrobial peptides Abf-3 and Clec-60 were significantly up-regulated comparing with other groups. E. coli with lower pathogenicity (EC5/13) only activated the expression of Nsy-1 and Sek-1 genes in the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, Additionally, both groups of E. coli strains caused significant upregulation of the antimicrobial peptide Spp-1. CONCLUSION Thirteen E. coli strains showed diverse pathogenicity in nematodes and the detection rate of virulence factors did not corresponding to the virulence in nematodes, indicating complex pathogenicity mechanisms. We approved that C. elegans is a fast and convenient detection model for pathogenic bacteria virulence examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Huili Bai
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Yan Pan
- Guangxi Agricultural Vocational University, Nanning, China
| | - Jun Li
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Zhe Pei
- grid.254250.40000 0001 2264 7145The City College of New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuying Liao
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Cuilan Wu
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Changting Li
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Li Tao
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Shuhong Zhong
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Chunxia Ma
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Zhongwei Chen
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Xiaoning Li
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Yu Gong
- Animal Science and Technology Station of Guizhou, Guiyang, China
| | - Leping Wang
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
| | - Fengsheng Li
- grid.418337.aGuangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, 530001 China
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Booth LN, Shi C, Tantilert C, Yeo RW, Miklas JW, Hebestreit K, Hollenhorst CN, Maures TJ, Buckley MT, Murphy CT, Brunet A. Males induce premature demise of the opposite sex by multifaceted strategies. NATURE AGING 2022; 2:809-823. [PMID: 37118502 PMCID: PMC10154206 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between the sexes negatively impact health in many species. In Caenorhabditis, males shorten the lifespan of the opposite sex-hermaphrodites or females. Here we use transcriptomic profiling and targeted screens to systematically uncover conserved genes involved in male-induced demise in C. elegans. Some genes (for example, delm-2, acbp-3), when knocked down, are specifically protective against male-induced demise. Others (for example, sri-40), when knocked down, extend lifespan with and without males, suggesting general mechanisms of protection. In contrast, many classical long-lived mutants are impacted more negatively than wild type by the presence of males, highlighting the importance of sexual environment for longevity. Interestingly, genes induced by males are triggered by specific male components (seminal fluid, sperm and pheromone), and manipulating these genes in combination in hermaphrodites induces stronger protection. One of these genes, the conserved ion channel delm-2, acts in the nervous system and intestine to regulate lipid metabolism. Our analysis reveals striking differences in longevity in single sex versus mixed sex environments and uncovers elaborate strategies elicited by sexual interactions that could extend to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren N Booth
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Calico Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cheng Shi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Cindy Tantilert
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin W Yeo
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jason W Miklas
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katja Hebestreit
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Travis J Maures
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Matthew T Buckley
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Coleen T Murphy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- LSI Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging and Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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7
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Kitisin T, Muangkaew W, Sukphopetch P. Caenorhabditis elegans DAF-16 regulates lifespan and immune responses to Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii infections. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:162. [PMID: 35733100 PMCID: PMC9214972 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02579-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection is primarily caused by two sibling species Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Several virulence-related factors of these cryptococci have been widely investigated in Caenorhabditis elegans, representing a facile in vivo model of host–pathogen interaction. While recent studies elucidated cryptococcal virulence factors, intrinsic host factors that affect susceptibility to infections by cryptococci remain unclear and poorly investigated. Results Here, we showed that defects in C. elegans insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS) pathway influenced animal lifespan and mechanisms of host resistance in cryptococcal infections, which required the activation of aging regulator DAF-16/Forkhead box O transcription factor. Moreover, accumulation of lipofuscin, DAF-16 nuclear localization, and expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) were elevated in C. elegans due to host defenses during cryptococcal infections. Conclusion The present study demonstrated the relationship between longevity and immunity, which may provide a possibility for novel therapeutic intervention to improve host resistance against cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thitinan Kitisin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Watcharamat Muangkaew
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Passanesh Sukphopetch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Courtine D, Zhang X, Ewbank JJ. Increased Pathogenicity of the Nematophagous Fungus Drechmeria coniospora Following Long-Term Laboratory Culture. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:778882. [PMID: 37744153 PMCID: PMC10512298 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.778882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Domestication provides a window into adaptive change. Over the course of 2 decades of laboratory culture, a strain of the nematode-specific fungus Drechmeria coniospora became more virulent during its infection of Caenorhabditis elegans. Through a close comparative examination of the genome sequences of the original strain and its more pathogenic derivative, we identified a small number of non-synonymous mutations in protein-coding genes. In one case, the mutation was predicted to affect a gene involved in hypoxia resistance and we provide direct corroborative evidence for such an effect. The mutated genes with functional annotation were all predicted to impact the general physiology of the fungus and this was reflected in an increased in vitro growth, even in the absence of C. elegans. While most cases involved single nucleotide substitutions predicted to lead to a loss of function, we also observed a predicted restoration of gene function through deletion of an extraneous tandem repeat. This latter change affected the regulatory subunit of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Remarkably, we also found a mutation in a gene for a second protein of the same, protein kinase A, pathway. Together, we predict that they result in a stronger repression of the pathway for given levels of ATP and adenylate cyclase activity. Finally, we also identified mutations in a few lineage-specific genes of unknown function that are candidates for factors that influence virulence in a more direct manner.
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Pujol N, Ewbank JJ. C. elegans: out on an evolutionary limb. Immunogenetics 2021; 74:63-73. [PMID: 34761293 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-021-01231-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The natural environment of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is rich in pathogenic microbes. There is now ample evidence to indicate that these pathogens exert a strong selection pressure on C. elegans, and have shaped its genome, physiology, and behaviour. In this short review, we concentrate on how C. elegans stands out from other animals in terms of its immune repertoire and innate immune signalling pathways. We discuss how C. elegans often detects pathogens because of their effects on essential cellular processes, or organelle integrity, in addition to direct microbial recognition. We illustrate the extensive molecular plasticity that is characteristic of immune defences in C. elegans and highlight some remarkable instances of lineage-specific innovation in innate immune mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
| | - Jonathan J Ewbank
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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10
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Zhang X, Harding BW, Aggad D, Courtine D, Chen JX, Pujol N, Ewbank JJ. Antagonistic fungal enterotoxins intersect at multiple levels with host innate immune defences. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009600. [PMID: 34166401 PMCID: PMC8263066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals and plants need to defend themselves from pathogen attack. Their defences drive innovation in virulence mechanisms, leading to never-ending cycles of co-evolution in both hosts and pathogens. A full understanding of host immunity therefore requires examination of pathogen virulence strategies. Here, we take advantage of the well-studied innate immune system of Caenorhabditis elegans to dissect the action of two virulence factors from its natural fungal pathogen Drechmeria coniospora. We show that these two enterotoxins have strikingly different effects when expressed individually in the nematode epidermis. One is able to interfere with diverse aspects of host cell biology, altering vesicle trafficking and preventing the key STAT-like transcription factor STA-2 from activating defensive antimicrobial peptide gene expression. The second increases STA-2 levels in the nucleus, modifies the nucleolus, and, potentially as a consequence of a host surveillance mechanism, causes increased defence gene expression. Our results highlight the remarkably complex and potentially antagonistic mechanisms that come into play in the interaction between co-evolved hosts and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Benjamin W. Harding
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Dina Aggad
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Damien Courtine
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Jonathan J. Ewbank
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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11
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Omi S, Zhang X, Thakur N, Pujol N. ifas-1 is upregulated by fungal infection in a GPA-12 and STA-2-independent manner in the Caenorhabditis elegans epidermis. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34056565 PMCID: PMC8150249 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Skin infection with the fungus Drechmeria coniospora leads to a transcriptional response in the worm epidermis. This involves an increased expression of a group of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes including those in the nlp-29 and cnc-2 clusters. The major pathways leading to the expression of these AMP genes have been well characterized and converge on the STAT transcription factor STA-2. We reported previously that expression in the epidermis of a constitutively active (gain of function, gf) form of the Gα protein GPA-12 (GPA-12gf) recapitulates much of the response to infection. To reveal parallel pathways activated by infection, we focus here on an effector gene that is not induced by GPA-12gf. This gene, ifas-1, encodes a protein with a fascin domain, associated with actin binding. Its induction upon fungal infection does not require sta-2. A transcriptional reporter revealed induction in the epidermis of ifas-1 by infection and wounding. Thus, ifas-1 represents part of a previously unexplored aspect of the innate immune response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Xing Zhang
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Nishant Thakur
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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Abstract
In its natural habitat, C. elegans encounters a wide variety of microbes, including food, commensals and pathogens. To be able to survive long enough to reproduce, C. elegans has developed a complex array of responses to pathogens. These activities are coordinated on scales that range from individual organelles to the entire organism. Often, the response is triggered within cells, by detection of infection-induced damage, mainly in the intestine or epidermis. C. elegans has, however, a capacity for cell non-autonomous regulation of these responses. This frequently involves the nervous system, integrating pathogen recognition, altering host biology and governing avoidance behavior. Although there are significant differences with the immune system of mammals, some mechanisms used to limit pathogenesis show remarkable phylogenetic conservation. The past 20 years have witnessed an explosion of host-pathogen interaction studies using C. elegans as a model. This review will discuss the broad themes that have emerged and highlight areas that remain to be fully explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline N Martineau
- Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
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Wanelik KM, Begon M, Arriero E, Bradley JE, Friberg IM, Jackson JA, Taylor CH, Paterson S. Transcriptome-wide analysis reveals different categories of response to a standardised immune challenge in a wild rodent. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7444. [PMID: 32366957 PMCID: PMC7198573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64307-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals vary in their immune response and, as a result, some are more susceptible to infectious disease than others. Little is known about the nature of this individual variation in natural populations, or which components of immune pathways are most responsible, but defining this underlying landscape of variation is an essential first step to understanding the drivers of this variation and, ultimately, predicting the outcome of infection. We describe transcriptome-wide variation in response to a standardised immune challenge in wild field voles. We find that genes (hereafter 'markers') can be categorised into a limited number of types. For the majority of markers, the response of an individual is dependent on its baseline expression level, with significant enrichment in this category for conventional immune pathways. Another, moderately sized, category contains markers for which the responses of different individuals are also variable but independent of their baseline expression levels. This category lacks any enrichment for conventional immune pathways. We further identify markers which display particularly high individual variability in response, and could be used as markers of immune response in larger studies. Our work shows how a standardised challenge performed on a natural population can reveal the patterns of natural variation in immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara M Wanelik
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Mike Begon
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Arriero
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Janette E Bradley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ida M Friberg
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph A Jackson
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Steve Paterson
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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14
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Jeong DE, Lee Y, Ham S, Lee D, Kwon S, Park HEH, Hwang SY, Yoo JY, Roh TY, Lee SJV. Inhibition of the oligosaccharyl transferase in Caenorhabditis elegans that compromises ER proteostasis suppresses p38-dependent protection against pathogenic bacteria. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008617. [PMID: 32130226 PMCID: PMC7055741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The oligosaccharyl transferase (OST) protein complex mediates the N-linked glycosylation of substrate proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which regulates stability, activity, and localization of its substrates. Although many OST substrate proteins have been identified, the physiological role of the OST complex remains incompletely understood. Here we show that the OST complex in C. elegans is crucial for ER protein homeostasis and defense against infection with pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA14), via immune-regulatory PMK-1/p38 MAP kinase. We found that genetic inhibition of the OST complex impaired protein processing in the ER, which in turn up-regulated ER unfolded protein response (UPRER). We identified vitellogenin VIT-6 as an OST-dependent glycosylated protein, critical for maintaining survival on PA14. We also showed that the OST complex was required for up-regulation of PMK-1 signaling upon infection with PA14. Our study demonstrates that an evolutionarily conserved OST complex, crucial for ER homeostasis, regulates host defense mechanisms against pathogenic bacteria. N-linked glycosylation is essential for the function of various proteins, but its effects on physiology at an organism level remain poorly understood. Using the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, we show that the oligosaccharyl transferase (OST) complex, which mediates the N-glycosylation of substrate proteins in the ER, reduces susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We find that OST enhances defense against P. aeruginosa via maintenance of ER unfolded protein response (UPRER) and up-regulation of cytosolic p38 MAP kinase signaling. Our findings propose an intriguing model for the organellar crosstalk between the ER and the cytosol in host defense mechanisms. Because the OST complex components are highly conserved among eukaryotes, our study on the regulation of cellular signaling and C. elegans physiology by the OST complex will provide an insight into the function of its mammalian counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae-Eun Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Yujin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seokjin Ham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Dongyeop Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Sujeong Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hae-Eun H. Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sun-Young Hwang
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Joo-Yeon Yoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Tae-Young Roh
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Seung-Jae V. Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
- * E-mail:
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15
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Irazoqui JE. Key Roles of MiT Transcription Factors in Innate Immunity and Inflammation. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:157-171. [PMID: 31959514 PMCID: PMC6995440 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Microphthalmia/TFE (MiT) transcription factors (TFs), such as transcription factor EB (TFEB) and transcription factor E3 (TFE3), are emerging as key regulators of innate immunity and inflammation. Rapid progress in the field requires a focused update on the latest advances. Recent studies show that TFEB and TFE3 function in innate immune cells to regulate antibacterial and antiviral responses downstream of phagocytosis, interferon (IFN)-γ, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and adenosine receptors. Moreover, overexpression of TFEB or TFE3 can drive inflammation in vivo, such as in atherosclerosis, while in other scenarios they can perform anti-inflammatory functions. MiT factors may constitute potential therapeutic targets for a broad range of diseases; however, to harness their therapeutic potential, sophisticated ways to manipulate MiT factor activity safely and effectively must be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier E Irazoqui
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems and Program in Innate Immunity, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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16
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Taffoni C, Omi S, Huber C, Mailfert S, Fallet M, Rupprecht JF, Ewbank JJ, Pujol N. Microtubule plus-end dynamics link wound repair to the innate immune response. eLife 2020; 9:45047. [PMID: 31995031 PMCID: PMC7043892 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The skin protects animals from infection and physical damage. In Caenorhabditis elegans, wounding the epidermis triggers an immune reaction and a repair response, but it is not clear how these are coordinated. Previous work implicated the microtubule cytoskeleton in the maintenance of epidermal integrity (Chuang et al., 2016). Here, by establishing a simple wounding system, we show that wounding provokes a reorganisation of plasma membrane subdomains. This is followed by recruitment of the microtubule plus end-binding protein EB1/EBP-2 around the wound and actin ring formation, dependent on ARP2/3 branched actin polymerisation. We show that microtubule dynamics are required for the recruitment and closure of the actin ring, and for the trafficking of the key signalling protein SLC6/SNF-12 toward the injury site. Without SNF-12 recruitment, there is an abrogation of the immune response. Our results suggest that microtubule dynamics coordinate the cytoskeletal changes required for wound repair and the concomitant activation of innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Taffoni
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Shizue Omi
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Caroline Huber
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Sébastien Mailfert
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Mathieu Fallet
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | | | - Jonathan J Ewbank
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- CIML, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Marseille, France
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17
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Polanowska J, Chen JX, Soulé J, Omi S, Belougne J, Taffoni C, Pujol N, Selbach M, Zugasti O, Ewbank JJ. Evolutionary plasticity in the innate immune function of Akirin. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007494. [PMID: 30036395 PMCID: PMC6072134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene expression requires the coordinated action of transcription factors, chromatin remodelling complexes and RNA polymerase. The conserved nuclear protein Akirin plays a central role in immune gene expression in insects and mammals, linking the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex with the transcription factor NFκB. Although nematodes lack NFκB, Akirin is also indispensable for the expression of defence genes in the epidermis of Caenorhabditis elegans following natural fungal infection. Through a combination of reverse genetics and biochemistry, we discovered that in C. elegans Akirin has conserved its role of bridging chromatin-remodellers and transcription factors, but that the identity of its functional partners is different since it forms a physical complex with NuRD proteins and the POU-class transcription factor CEH-18. In addition to providing a substantial step forward in our understanding of innate immune gene regulation in C. elegans, our results give insight into the molecular evolution of lineage-specific signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jia-Xuan Chen
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Soulé
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | | | - Clara Taffoni
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Matthias Selbach
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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