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Trypanosoma cruzi Exploits E- and P-Selectins to Migrate Across Endothelial Cells and Extracellular Matrix Proteins. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0017821. [PMID: 34228487 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00178-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi must extravasate to home in on susceptible cells residing in most tissues. It remains unknown how T. cruzi undertakes this crucial step of its life cycle. We hypothesized that the pathogen exploits the endothelial cell programming leukocytes use to extravasate to sites of inflammation. Transendothelial migration (TEM) starts after inflammatory cytokines induce E-selectin expression and P-selectin translocation on endothelial cells (ECs), enabling recognition by leukocyte ligands that engender rolling cell adhesion. Here we show that T. cruzi upregulates E- and P-selectins in cardiac ECs to which it binds in a ligand-receptor fashion, whether under static or shear flow conditions. Glycoproteins isolated from T. cruzi (TcEx) specifically recognize P-selectin in a ligand-receptor interaction. As with leukocytes, binding of P-selectin to T. cruzi or TcEx requires sialic acid and tyrosine sulfate, which are pivotal for downstream migration across ECs and extracellular matrix proteins. Additionally, soluble selectins, which bind T. cruzi, block transendothelial migration dose-dependently, implying that the pathogen bears selectin-binding ligand(s) that start transmigration. Furthermore, function-blocking antibodies against E- and P-selectins, which act on endothelial cells and not T. cruzi, are exquisite in preventing TEM. Thus, our results show that selectins can function as mediators of T. cruzi transendothelial transmigration, suggesting a pathogenic mechanism that allows homing in of the parasite on targeted tissues. As selectin inhibitors are sought-after therapeutic targets for autoimmune diseases and cancer metastasis, they may similarly represent a novel strategy for Chagas disease therapy.
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Chain MDO, Paiva CADM, Maciel IO, Neto AN, Castro VFD, Oliveira CPD, Mendonça BDS, Nestal de Moraes G, Reis SAD, Carvalho MAD, De-Melo LDB. Galectin-3 mediates survival and apoptosis pathways during Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell interplay. Exp Parasitol 2020; 216:107932. [PMID: 32535113 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, affect millions of people worldwide but lack effective treatments that are accessible to the entire population, especially patients with the debilitating chronic phase. The recognition of host cells, invasion and its intracellular replicative success are essential stages for progression of the parasite life cycle and the development of Chagas disease. It is predicted that programmed cell death pathways (apoptosis) would be activated in infected cells, either via autocrine secretion or mediated by cytotoxic immune cells. This process should play a key role in resolving infections by hindering the evolutionary success of the parasite. In this research, we performed assays to investigate the role of the lectin galectin-3 (Gal3) in parasite-host signaling pathways. Using cells with endogenous levels of Gal3 compared to Gal3-deficient cells (induced by RNA interference), we demonstrated that T. cruzi mediated the survival pathways and the subverted apoptosis through Gal3 promoting a pro-survival state in infected cells. Infected Gal3-depleted cells showed increased activation of caspase 3 and pro-apoptotic targets, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and lower accumulation of anti-apoptotic proteins, such as c-IAP1, survivin and XIAP. During the early stages of infection, Gal3 translocates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and must act in survival pathways. In a murine model of experimental infection, Gal3 knockout macrophages showed lower infectivity and viability. In vivo infection revealed a lower parasitemia and longer survival and an increased spleen cellularity in Gal3 knockout mice with consequences on the percentage of T lymphocytes (CD4+ CD11b+) and macrophages. In addition, cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α are increased in Gal3 knockout mice when compared to wild type genotype. These data demonstrate a Gal3-mediated complex interplay in the host cell, keeping infected cells alive long enough for infection and intracellular proliferation of new parasites. However, a continuous knowledge of these signaling pathways should contribute to a better understanding the mechanisms of cell death subversion that are promoted by protozoans in the pathophysiology of neglected diseases such as Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle de Oliveira Chain
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cefas Augusto de Medeiros Paiva
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Igor Oliveira Maciel
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alberto Nogueira Neto
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitória Fernandes de Castro
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Caroline Pacheco de Oliveira
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruna Dos Santos Mendonça
- Cellular and Molecular Hemato-Oncology Laboratory, National Institute of Cancer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Nestal de Moraes
- Cellular and Molecular Hemato-Oncology Laboratory, National Institute of Cancer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sheila Albert Dos Reis
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Alex de Carvalho
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz Dione Barbosa De-Melo
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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