Human extracellular vesicles and correlation with two clinical forms of toxoplasmosis

Author(s):Show less -

da Cruz, Allecineia Bispo ^[1] ; Maia, Marta Marques ^[1] ; Pereira, Ingrid de Siqueira ^[1] ; Taniwaki, Noemi Nosomi ^[2] ; Namiyama, Gislene Mitsue ^[2] ; Marochi Telles, Joao Paulo ^[3] ; Vidal, Jose Ernesto ^{[3, 4, 5]} ; Junqueira Franco Spegiorin, Ligia Cosentino ^{[6, 7]} ; Brandao de Mattos, Cinara Cassia ^[7] ; de Mattos, Luiz Carlos ^[7] ; Meira-Strejevitch, Cristina da Silva ^[1] ; Pereira-Chioccola, Vera Lucia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Ctr Parasitol & Micol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Nucleo Microscopia Eletron, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Inst Infectol Emilio Ribas, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop, Lab Invest Med LIM 49, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto - Brazil

^[7] Hosp Base, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 15, n. 3 MAR 3 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Aim This study analyzed microvesicles and exosomes, called as extracellular vesicles (EVs) excreted in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with cerebral or gestational toxoplasmosis. Methods Clinical samples from 83 individuals were divided into four groups. Group I, 20 sera from healthy individuals and pregnant women (seronegative for toxoplasmosis); group II, 21 sera from seropositive patients for toxoplasmosis (cerebral or gestational forms); group III, 26 CSF samples from patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis/HIV co-infection (CT/HIV) (seropositive for toxoplasmosis); and group IV, 16 CSF samples from seronegative patients for toxoplasmosis, but with HIV infection and other opportunistic infections (OI/HIV). Serum and CSF samples were ultracentrifuged to recover EVs. Next, vesicle size and concentration were characterized by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Results Concentrations of serum-derived EVs from toxoplasmosis patients (mean: 2.4 x 10(10) EVs/mL) were statically higher than of non-infected individuals (mean: 5.9 x 10(9) EVs/mL). Concentrations of CSF-derived EVs were almost similar in both groups. CT/HIV (mean: 2.9 x 10(9) EVs/mL) and OI/HIV (mean: 4.8 x 10(9) EVs/mL). Analyses by NTA confirmed that CSF-derived EVs and serum-derived EVs had size and shape similar to microvesicles and exosomes. The mean size of EVs was similar in serum and CSF. Thus, the concentration, and not size was able distinguish patients with toxoplasmosis than healthy individuals. Presence of exosomes was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and evidence of tetraspanins CD63 and CD9 in immunoblotting. Relative expressions of miR-146a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-29c-3p and miR-125b-5p were estimated in exosomal miRNA extracted of EVs. Serum-derived EVs from group II (cerebral and gestational toxoplasmosis) up-expressed miR-125b-5p and miR-146a-5p. CSF-derived EVs from CT/HIV patients) up-expressed miR-155-5p and miR-21-5p and were unable to express miR-29c-3p. Conclusion These data suggest the participation of EVs and exosomal miRNAs in unbalance of immune response as elevation of TNF-alpha, IL-6; and downregulation of IFN-gamma in cerebral and gestational forms of toxoplasmosis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/04709-8 - Study of Toxoplasma gondii extracellular vesicles modulating the immune system of infected hosts
• Grantee: Vera Lúcia Pereira Chioccola
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants