Proteomic Analysis of Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles From Mice With Echinococcus granulosus at Different Infection Stages and Their Immunomodulatory Functions

Comparative evaluation of methods for isolating extracellular vesicles from ICC cell culture supernatants: Insights into proteomic and glycomic analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale structures involved in intercellular communication and play a key role in cancer pathology. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly invasive malignancy marked by abnormal sialylated glycosylation. Analyzing proteins and glycans in EVs provides insights into ICC molecular subtyping and mechanisms. Optimizing EV isolation methods for ICC-derived EVs enables comprehensive proteomic and glycomic analysis.

METHODS

We systematically evaluated five EV isolation methods-Ultracentrifugation (UC), exoEasy, Total Exosome Isolation (TEI), EVtrap, and ÄKTA-by analyzing the biophysical properties, proteomic profiles, and glycomic structures of EVs. Subsequently, we applied TMT-based quantitative proteome and light/heavy methylamine labeling for the quantification of sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers to investigate alterations in proteins and N-glycans within EVs secreted by HuCCT1 and HCCC-9810 cells with overexpressing ST6 β‑galactoside α2,6‑sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1).

RESULTS

By evaluating the biophysical properties, proteome, and N-glycome of EVs extracted using five different methods, UC was identified as the optimal approach for this study, as it offered a balance between operational complexity, cost-effectiveness, and the preservation of EVs activity. In this study, a total of 1,928 high-confidence proteins and over 84 high-confidence glycans were quantified. EVs secreted by HuCCT1 and HCCC-9810 cells overexpressing ST6GAL1 exhibited consistent upregulation of 16 proteins, consistent downregulation of 10 proteins, as well as consistent upregulation of 3 glycans and consistent downregulation of 3 glycans.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative proteomic and glycomic analysis of ICC-derived EVs revealed that ST6GAL1 overexpression led to significant alterations in proteins involved in cancer cell adhesion and glycosylation pathways, along with specific changes in N-glycan structures. Notably, these modifications extended beyond α2,6-sialylation, suggesting that interactions between glycosyltransferases and glycans may drive these alterations.

Laminated Layer Extract from Echinococcus Granulosus cyst Attenuates Ocular Damages and Inflammatory Responses in an Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis Model

PURPOSE

Since extract of the laminated layer (LL) from E. granulosus showed immuno-modulatory effects in vitro and in vivo, we sought to determine its effect on the onset, development, and evolution of experimental auto-immune uveitis (EAU). The latter is a model of some human diseases with ocular inflammation that can cause blindness.

METHODS

E. granulosus LL extract was either injected before EAU induction for the pretreated group or later for treated group. Ocular exploration was made by retinal histological and immunohistological (CD86, CD4, CD8) analysis. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase enzymatic activities (CAT), and Malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO), Urea, and TNF-α levels were measured in plasma.

RESULTS

LL injection attenuated retinal histological damage and reduced cells infiltration. Also, LL decreased systemic inflammatory and oxidative markers as well as TNF-α production and increased antioxidant parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Interestingly, we observed a protective effect of E. granulosus LL extract during EAU. LL appears to ameliorate retinal damage by down-regulating inflammatory responses. Our results support LL immunomodulatory effects during autoimmune diseases and offer a promising prospect for helminthic therapy during autoimmune uveitis.

Helminth-derived molecules: pathogenic and pharmacopeial roles

Parasitic helminths, taxonomically comprising trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes, are multicellular invertebrates widely disseminated in nature and have afflicted people continuously for a long time. Helminths play potent roles in the host through generating a variety of novel molecules, including some excretory/secretory products and others that are involved in intracellular material exchange and information transfer as well as the initiation or stimulation of immune and metabolic activation. The helminth-derived molecules have developed powerful and diverse immunosuppressive effects to achieve immune evasion for parasite survival and establish chronic infections. However, they also improve autoimmune and allergic inflammatory responses and promote metabolic homeostasis by promoting metabolic reprogramming of various immune functions, and then inducing alternatively activated macrophages, T helper 2 cells, and regulatory T cells-mediated immune responses. Therefore, a deeper exploration of the immunopathogenic mechanism and immune regulatory mechanisms of helminth-derived molecules exerted in the host is crucial for understanding host-helminth interactions as well as the development of therapeutic drugs for infectious or non-infectious diseases. In this review, we focus on the properties of helminth-derived molecules to give an overview of the most recent scientific knowledge about their pathogenic and pharmacopeial roles in immune-metabolic homeostasis.

Potential of extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy for parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases have a significant impact on human and animal health, representing a major hazard to the public and causing economic and health damage worldwide. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have long been recognized as diagnostic and therapeutic tools but are now also known to be implicated in the natural history of parasitic diseases and host immune response modulation. Studies have shown that EVs play a role in parasitic disease development by interacting with parasites and communicating with other types of cells. This review highlights the most recent research on EVs and their role in several aspects of parasite-host interactions in five key parasitic diseases: Chagas disease, malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis and helminthiases. We also discuss the potential use of EVs as diagnostic tools or treatment options for these infectious diseases.

Progresses and challenges in Strongyloides spp. proteomics

The availability of high-quality data of helminth genomes provided over the past two decades has supported and accelerated large-scale 'omics studies and, consequently, the achievement of a more in-depth molecular characterization of a number of pathogens. This has also involved Strongyloides spp. and since their genome was made available transcriptomics has been rather frequently applied to investigate gene expression regulation across their life cycle. Strongyloides proteomics characterization has instead been somehow neglected, with only a few reports performing high-throughput or targeted analyses associated with protein identification by tandem mass spectrometry. Such investigations are however necessary in order to discern important aspects associated with human strongyloidiasis, including understanding parasite biology and the mechanisms of host-parasite interaction, but also to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In this review article, we will give an overview of the published proteomics studies investigating strongyloidiasis at different levels, spanning from the characterization of the somatic proteome and excretory/secretory products of different parasite stages to the investigation of potentially immunogenic proteins. Moreover, in the effort to try to start filling the current gap in host-proteomics, we will also present the first serum proteomics analysis in patients suffering from human strongyloidiasis. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Strongyloides: omics to worm-free populations'.

Comparative characterization of microRNA-71 of Echinococcus granulosus exosomes

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a global zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, posing a great threat to human and animal health. MiRNAs are small regulatory noncoding RNA involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases, possibly via exosomes. Egr-miR-71 has been identified as one of the miRNAs in the blood of CE patients, but its secretory characteristics and functions remains unclear. Herein, we studied the secretory and biological activity of exosomal egr-miR-71 and its immunoregulatory functions in sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Our results showed that egr-miR-71 was enriched in the exosome secreted by protoscoleces with biological activity. These egr-miR-71-containing exosomes were easily internalized and then induced the dysregulation of cytokines (IL-10 and TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and key components (CD14 and IRF5) in the LPS/TLR4 pathway in the coincubated sheep PBMCs. Similarly, egr-miR-71 overexpression also altered the immune functions but exhibited obvious differences in regulation of the cytokines and key components, preferably inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α). These results demonstrate that exosomal egr-miR-71 is bioactive and capacity of immunomodulation of PBMCs, potentially being involved in immune responses during E. granulosus infection.

A Comparative Analysis of the Protein Cargo of Extracellular Vesicles from Helminth Parasites

Helminth parasites cause debilitating-sometimes fatal-diseases in humans and animals. Despite their impact on global health, mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions are still poorly understood. One such mechanism involves the exchange of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are membrane-enclosed subcellular nanoparticles. To date, EV secretion has been studied in helminth parasites, including EV protein content. However, information is highly heterogeneous, since it was generated in multiple species, using varied protocols for EV isolation and data analysis. Here, we compared the protein cargo of helminth EVs to identify common markers for each taxon. For this, we integrated published proteomic data and performed a comparative analysis through an orthology approach. Overall, only three proteins were common in the EVs of the seven analyzed species. Additionally, varied repertoires of proteins with moonlighting activity, vaccine antigens, canonical and non-canonical proteins related to EV biogenesis, taxon-specific proteins of unknown function and RNA-binding proteins were observed in platyhelminth and nematode EVs. Despite the lack of consensus on EV isolation protocols and protein annotation, several proteins were shown to be consistently detected in EV preparations from organisms at different taxa levels, providing a starting point for a selective biochemical characterization.

Extracellular vesicles secreted by Echinococcus multilocularis: important players in angiogenesis promotion

The involvement of Echinococcus multilocularis, and other parasitic helminths, in regulating host physiology is well recognized, but molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by helminths play important roles in regulating parasite-host interactions by transferring materials to the host. Analysis of protein cargo of EVs from E. multilocularis protoscoleces in the present study revealed a unique composition exclusively associated with vesicle biogenesis. Common proteins in various Echinococcus species were identified, including the classical EVs markers tetraspanins, TSG101 and Alix. Further, unique tegumental antigens were identified which could be exploited as Echinococcus EV markers. Parasite- and host-derived proteins within these EVs are predicted to support important roles in parasite-parasite and parasite-host communication. In addition, the enriched host-derived protein payloads identified in parasite EVs in the present study suggested that they can be involved in focal adhesion and potentially promote angiogenesis. Further, increased angiogenesis was observed in livers of mice infected with E. multilocularis and the expression of several angiogenesis-regulated molecules, including VEGF, MMP9, MCP-1, SDF-1 and serpin E1 were increased. Significantly, EVs released by the E. multilocularis protoscolex promoted proliferation and tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Taken together, we present the first evidence that tapeworm-secreted EVs may promote angiogenesis in Echinococcus-infections, identifying central mechanisms of Echinococcus-host interactions.

Proteomic profiling of serum extracellular vesicles identifies diagnostic markers for echinococcosis

Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the metacestodes of Echinococcus spp. The disease has a long latent period and is largely underdiagnosed, partially because of the lack of effective early diagnostic approaches. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we profiled the serum-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) of E. multilocularis-infected mice and identified three parasite-origin proteins, thioredoxin peroxidase 1 (TPx-1), transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase (TER ATPase), and 14-3-3, being continuously released by the parasites into the sera during the infection via EVs. Using ELISA, both TPx-1 and TER ATPase were shown to have a good performance in diagnosis of experimental murine echinococcosis as early as 10 days post infection and of human echinococcosis compared with that of control. Moreover, TER ATPase and TPx-1 were further demonstrated to be suitable for evaluation of the prognosis of patients with treatment. The present study discovers the potential of TER ATPase and TPx-1 as promising diagnostic candidates for echinococcosis.