Disclosing Ribose-5-Phosphate Isomerase B Essentiality in Trypanosomatids.

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI) belongs to the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway, catalysing the inter-conversion of D-ribose-5-phosphate and D-ribulose-5-phosphate. Trypanosomatids encode a type B RPI, whereas humans have a structurally unrelated type A, making RPIB worthy of exploration as a potential drug target. Null mutant generation in Leishmania infantum was only possible when an episomal copy of RPIB gene was provided, and the latter was retained both in vitro and in vivo in the absence of drug pressure. This suggests the gene is essential for parasite survival. Importantly, the inability to remove the second allele of RPIB gene in sKO mutants complemented with an episomal copy of RPIB carrying a mutation that abolishes isomerase activity suggests the essentiality is due to its metabolic function. In vitro, sKO promastigotes exhibited no defect in growth, metacyclogenesis or macrophage infection, however, an impairment in intracellular amastigotes' replication was observed. Additionally, mice infected with sKO mutants rescued by RPIB complementation had a reduced parasite burden in the liver. Likewise, Trypanosoma brucei is resistant to complete RPIB gene removal and mice infected with sKO mutants showed prolonged survival upon infection. Taken together our results genetically validate RPIB as a potential drug target in trypanosomatids.We would like to thank Professor Ana Tomás from the Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, Portugal, for providing LimTXNPx antibody; Dr. Paul Michels from Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, for providing Tbenolase antibody; Professor Graham Coombs, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, for LmCS antibody; Professor Buddy Ullman, School of Medicine, Oregan Health and Science University, USA, for LdHGPRT antibody; Dr. Christine Clayton, Zentrum fur Molekulare Biologie der Universitat Heidelberg, Germany, for TbAldolase antibody. We would also like to thank Professor Jeremy Mottram, University of Glasgow, for pGL345HYG and Professor Marc Ouellette, Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, of Laval University, Canada, for pSPαNEOα and pSPαBLASTα. We would also like to thank Dr. Jane MacDougall from Photeomix, France, for proofreading the English of the manuscript. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement No. 602773 (Project KINDRED).’ The COST Action CM1307: Targeted chemotherapy towards diseases caused by endoparasites has also contributed for this work. We would like to acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FTC) for supporting Joana Faria (SFRH/BD/79712/2011) and Inês Loureiro (SFRH/BD/64528/2009). Inês Loureiro was also supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (KINDRED-PR300102-BD). JT is an Investigator FCT funded by National funds through FCT and co-funded through European Social Fund within the Human Potential Operating Programme. Nuno Santarem and Pedro Cecílio are supported by fellowships from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreements No. 602773 (Project KINDRED) and No. 603181 (Project MuLeVaClin), respectively

Phosphodiesterase 4B is essential for lipopolysaccharide-induced CC chemokine ligand 3 production in mouse macrophages

Background: Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors negatively modulate many inflammatory responses, and some of these pharmacological effects are mediated by inhibition of PDE4B in inflammatory cells. While inactivation of PDE4B, but not other PDE4 isotypes, is known to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in macrophages, a cell type critical in mediating innate immunity, the impact of PDE4B on many other inflammatory responses in these cells remains largely unknown. Materials and Methods: To investigate whether PDE4B regulates additional inflammatory mediators other than TNF-α, in this study we initially used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis approach to screen the secreted proteins that are modulated by the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 macrophages. Results: Three proteins were identified, of which the proinflammatory chemokine CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) and cytokine TNF-α were downregulated and the antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist was upregulated. Further analysis on CCL3 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages revealed that the reduced CCL3 secretion was associated with a substantial decrease in CCL3 mRNA accumulation. The inhibitory effect of rolipram on CCL3 production was mimicked by the protein kinase A activator 6-Bnz-cAMP, but not the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP activator 8-pCPT-2′-O-Me-cAMP. Analysis of PDE4-deficient macrophages showed that ablation of only PDE4B reproduced the rolipram effect on CCL3 production. Moreover, PDE4 inhibitor potentially attenuates T-cell migration to CCL3 in inflammatory sites. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PDE4B may regulate the production of diverse inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated macrophages, and an inhibitor with PDE4B selectivity should retain the anti-inflammatory effects of nonselective PDE4 inhibitors in endotoxin-induced inflammatory conditions