Caracterização Molecular do Gene que Codifica a Enzima Triparedoxina Peroxidase em Populações de Leishmania spp. Sensíveis e Resistentes ao Antimonial Trivalente

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-19T12:51:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Juvana Moreira Andrade.pdf: 5431599 bytes, checksum: 3d184133a348c819e04d8bdb3554b856 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-19T12:52:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Juvana Moreira Andrade.pdf: 5431599 bytes, checksum: 3d184133a348c819e04d8bdb3554b856 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-06-19T12:52:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Juvana Moreira Andrade.pdf: 5431599 bytes, checksum: 3d184133a348c819e04d8bdb3554b856 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-19T12:52:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Juvana Moreira Andrade.pdf: 5431599 bytes, checksum: 3d184133a348c819e04d8bdb3554b856 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Triparedoxina peroxidase (TxP) é uma enzima que pertence à família das. peroxiredoxinas e participa da defesa antioxidante,por metabolizar peróxido de hidrogênio em moléculas de água. Dados da literatura têm mostrado que parasitos resistentes à droga podem aumentar os níveis de TxPjunto com outras enzimas, protegendo-os contra o estresse oxidativo. Inicialmente neste trabalho, avaliamos os níveis de mRNA do gene TxP e a expressão da enzima Triparedoxina peroxidase em populações de L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis,L. infantum chagasi e L. guyanensis. sensíveis e resistentes ao antimonial trivalente (SbIII). Estas populações apresentam resistência à concentração de SbIII de 4 a 20 vezes maior comparada aos seus respectivos pares sensíveis. O nível de mRNA do gene TxP, determinado por northern blot e RT-PCR quantitativo em tempo real, foi maior nas populações resistentes de L. amazonensis e L. braziliensis, enquanto que o Northern blotting mostrou maior. expressão do gene TxP na população resistente de L. guyanensis. Por outro lado, nenhuma diferença foi observada no nível do mRNA do gene TxP nas populações sensíveis e resistentes de L. infantum chagasi. Análises de southern blot mostraram que o gene cTxP não está amplificado no genoma das populações resistentes de Leishmania spp. analisadas. A expressão proteica foi determinada por ensaios de Western blotting. utilizando anticorpo policlonal contra a proteína recombinante TxP de T. cruzi. Análises do alinhamento de aminoácido da proteína TxP de T. cruzi e Leishmania spp. mostraram um alto grau de identidade entre estas sequências. O anticorpo anti-TcTxP reconheceu um polipeptídio de 25 kDa em todas as populações de Leishmania spp. analisadas.. Análises de densitometria mostraram que a proteína cTxP está 2 a 4 vezes mais expressa em todas as populações resistentes de Leishmania spp. analisadas. Na segunda parte deste estudo, ensaios funcionais da TxP foram realizados para determinar se a superexpressão da LbTxP nas populações sensíveis e resistentes de L. braziliensis. e L. infantum chagasi iria alterar o fenótipo de resistência dos parasitos transfectados ao antimonial SbIII. Análises por Western blotting mostraram que o nível de expressão da proteína TxP foi de 2 a 4 vezes maior nos parasitos transfectados quando comparado aos parasitos não-transfectados. Análises de IC50 destes parasitos mostraram que a. superexpressão do gene TxP na população de L. braziliensis sensível aumentou 2 vezes a resistência ao SbIII, quando comparado à população parental. Por outro lado, a superexpressão de TxP na população resistente de L. braziliensis reverteu o fenótipo de resistência. Os parasitos antes resistentes, após atransfecção se tornaram muito sensíveis ao SbIII. Além disto, a superexpressão daTxP em populações sensíveis e resistentes de L. infantum chagasinão alterou o fenótipo de resistência ao SbIII.. Concluindo, nossos resultados de análise funcional mostraram que a enzima triparedoxina peroxidase está envolvida no fenótipode resistência de L. braziliensis ao antimonial.Tryparedoxin peroxidase (TxP) is an enzyme that belongs to family of peroxiredoxins and participates in the antioxidant defense by metabolizing hydrogen peroxide in water molecules. Literature data have reported that drug-resistant parasites may increase the levels of TxP along with other enzymes, protecting them against oxidative stress. Initially in this study, we analyzed the TxP mRNA levels and protein expression levels in populations of L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. infantum chagasi and L. guyanensis susceptible and resistant to SbIII. These populations exhibit index of resistance to SbIII 4 to 20-fold higher compared to their respective counterparts susceptible. The level of cTxP mRNA determined by northern blot and quantitative real time RT-PCR was higher in the L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis resistant populations while that Northern blot showed increased expression this gene in the L. guyanensis resistant population. Moreover, no difference was observed in the level of cTxP mRNA between susceptible and resistant L. infantum chagasi populations. Southern blot analyzes showed that the TxP gene is not amplified in the genome of SbIII-resistant Leishmania spp. populations analyzed. Analysis of protein expression was determined by Western blotting assays using polyclonal antibody against the TxP recombinant protein from T. cruzi. Amino acid alignment of TxP sequence of T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. showed a high degree of identity among these sequences. The anti-TcTxP antibody recognized a 25 kDa polypeptide in all Leishmania spp. populations analyzed. Densitometry analysis showed that TxP protein is 2 to 4-fold more expressed in all SbIII-resistant Leishmania spp. populations analyzed. In the second part this study, functional analysis of TxP was performed to determine whether over expression of LbTxP in the susceptible and resistant L. braziliensis and L. infantum chagasi populations would change the resistance phenotype of transfected parasites to antimony SbIII. Western blotting analysis showed that the level of TxP protein expression was 2 to 4-fold higher in transfected parasites than in the non-transfected ones. IC 50 analysis showed that susceptible L. braziliensis population that overexpress of TxP protein are 2-fold more resistant to SbIII compared to its parental non-transfected population. On the other hand, overexpression of TxP in the resistant L. braziliensis population caused inversion of resistance phenotype. The resistant parasites after TxP transfection became very susceptible to SbIII. In addition, overexpression of TxP enzyme in the susceptible and resistant L. infantum chagasi populations did not alter the resistance phenotype to SbIII. In conclusion, our functional analysis results showed that the enzyme Tryparedoxin peroxidase is involved in the antimony-resistance phenotype in L. braziliensis

Functional analysis of cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase in antimony-resistant and –susceptible Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum Lines

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-23T19:18:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_166.pdf: 948597 bytes, checksum: 6877ac166c51b962e86adf57e9c472b4 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-23T19:18:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_166.pdf: 948597 bytes, checksum: 6877ac166c51b962e86adf57e9c472b4 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-23T19:20:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_166.pdf: 948597 bytes, checksum: 6877ac166c51b962e86adf57e9c472b4 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-23T19:20:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_166.pdf: 948597 bytes, checksum: 6877ac166c51b962e86adf57e9c472b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.BACKGROUND: Tryparedoxin peroxidase (TXNPx) participates in defence against oxidative stress as an antioxidant by metabolizing hydrogen peroxide into water molecules. Reports suggest that drug-resistant parasites may increase the levels of TXNPx and other enzymes, thereby protecting them against oxidative stress. METHODS: In this study, the gene encoding cytosolic TXNPx (cTXNPx) was characterized in lines of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum that are susceptible and resistant to potassium antimony tartrate (Sb(III)). We investigated the levels of mRNA and genomic organization of the cTXNPx gene. In addition, we transfected the Leishmania lines with the cTXNPx gene and analysed the susceptibility of transfected parasites to Sb(III) and to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). RESULTS: Northern blot and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that the level of TXNPx mRNA was approximately 2.5-fold higher in the Sb(III)-resistant L. braziliensis line than in the parental line. In contrast, no significant difference in cTXNPx mRNA levels between the L. infantum lines was observed. Southern blot analyses revealed that the cTXNPx gene is not amplified in the genome of the Sb(III)-resistant Leishmania lines analysed. Functional analysis of cTXNPx was performed to determine whether overexpression of the enzyme in L. braziliensis and L. infantum lines would change their susceptibility to Sb(III). Western blotting analysis showed that the level of cTXNPx was 2 to 4-fold higher in transfected clones compared to non-transfected cells. Antimony susceptibility test (EC50 assay) revealed that L. braziliensis lines overexpressing cTXNPx had a 2-fold increase in resistance to Sb(III) when compared to the untransfected parental line. In addition, these clones are more tolerant to exogenous H2O2 than the untransfected parental line. In contrast, no difference in Sb(III) susceptibility and a moderate index of resistance to H2O2 was observed in L. infantum clones overexpressing cTXNPx. CONCLUSION: Our functional analysis revealed that cTXNPx is involved in the antimony-resistance phenotype in L. braziliensis

Uncovering new insights into the role of the ubiquitin ligase Smurf1 on the regulation of innate immune signaling and resistance to infection

Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense against infections. Innate immune cells express pattern recognition receptors in distinct cellular compartments that are responsible to detect either pathogens-associated molecules or cellular components derived from damaged cells, to trigger intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the activation of inflammatory responses. Inflammation is essential to coordinate immune cell recruitment, pathogen elimination and to keep normal tissue homeostasis. However, uncontrolled, misplaced or aberrant inflammatory responses could lead to tissue damage and drive chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmunity. In this context, molecular mechanisms that tightly regulate the expression of molecules required for the signaling of innate immune receptors are crucial to prevent pathological immune responses. In this review, we discuss the ubiquitination process and its importance in the regulation of innate immune signaling and inflammation. Then, we summarize the roles of Smurf1, a protein that works on ubiquitination, on the regulation of innate immune signaling and antimicrobial mechanisms, emphasizing its substrates and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for infectious and inflammatory conditions

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of antimony resistant and susceptible Leishmania infantum lines

International audienceBackground: One of the major challenges to leishmaniasis treatment is the emergence of parasites resistant to antimony. To study differentially expressed genes associated with drug resistance, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis between wild-type and potassium antimonyl tartrate (SbIII)-resistant Leishmania infantum lines using high-throughput RNA sequencing.Methods: All the cDNA libraries were constructed from promastigote forms of each line, sequenced and analyzed using STAR for mapping the reads against the reference genome (L. infantum JPCM5) and DESeq2 for differential expression statistical analyses. All the genes were functionally annotated using sequence similarity search.Results: The analytical pipeline considering an adjusted p-value 2.0 identified 933 transcripts differentially expressed (DE) between wild-type and SbIII-resistant L. infantum lines. Out of 933 DE transcripts, 504 presented functional annotation and 429 were assigned as hypothetical proteins. A total of 837 transcripts were upregulated and 96 were downregulated in the SbIII-resistant L. infantum line. Using this DE dataset, the proteins were further grouped in functional classes according to the gene ontology database. The functional enrichment analysis for biological processes showed that the upregulated transcripts in the SbIII-resistant line are associated with protein phosphorylation, microtubule-based movement, ubiquitination, host-parasite interaction, cellular process and other categories. The downregulated transcripts in the SbIII-resistant line are assigned in the GO categories: ribonucleoprotein complex, ribosome biogenesis, rRNA processing, nucleosome assembly and translation.Conclusions: The transcriptomic profile of L. infantum showed a robust set of genes from different metabolic pathways associated with the antimony resistance phenotype in this parasite. Our results address the complex and multifactorial antimony resistance mechanisms in Leishmania, identifying several candidate genes that may be further evaluated as molecular targets for chemotherapy of leishmaniasis