scholarly journals Susceptibility of leishmania to oxygen intermediates and killing by normal macrophages

1981 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 1302-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
HW Murray
Keyword(s):  
Glutathione Peroxidase ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Oxygen Intermediates ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Promastigote Form ◽  
Oxidative Products ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

This study demonstrates that the promastigote form of virulent Leishmania donovani and Leishmania tropica are both deficient in endogenous enzymatic scavengers of H(2)0(2) (catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and susceptible to low fluxes of H(2)O(2) in a cell-free model. In addition, the killing of promastigotes by H(2)0(2) is markedly enhanced in the presence of a peroxidase and halide. Promastigotes also readily trigger the macrophage oxidative burst including the generation of H(2)0(2), and most intracellular promastigotes are killed within 18 h by unstimulated normal resident cells. Catalase, but not scavengers or quenchers of O(2)(-), OHx, or (1)O(2), protected promastigotes in a cell-free xanthine oxidase microbicidal system, and catalase also partially inhibited the leishmanicidal activity of resident macrophages. Thus, amongst various oxygen intermediates, H(2)0(2) alone appeared to be both necessary and sufficient for promastigote killing. Depriving macrophages of exogenous glucose, which inhibits the generation of oxygen intermediates, achieved effects similar to catalase treatment. These observations directly contrast with the intracellular parasite, T. gondii which is richly endowed with catalase and glutathione peroxidase, highly resistant to H(2)0(2), and requires products of O(2)(-)-H(2)0(2) interaction for effective oxidative killing. Toxoplasmas also fail to trigger the respiratory burst of normal macrophages, and readily multiply within these cells (1-5). Macrophages first activated by in vivo or in vitro immunologic stimuli, however, display an enhanced capacity to generate oxygen intermediates beyond O(2)(-) and H(2)0(2), and are able to kill toxoplasmas or inhibit their intracellular replication (1, 2). These studies illustrate the wide spectrum of susceptibility to oxidative products which appears to exist for virulent intracellular protozoans, and indicate that such differences may be reflected in contrasting fates of parasites within cell-free oxidative environments and the cytoplasm of normal resident macrophages. In addition, these observations also demonstrate that nonactivated phagocytes may display effective microbicidal activity against certain intracellular pathogens utilizing an oxygen-dependent mechanism.

scholarly journals The ER–Golgi intermediate compartment is a key membrane source for the LC3 lipidation step of autophagosome biogenesis

eLife ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Ge ◽  
David Melville ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Randy Schekman
Keyword(s):  
Autophagosome Formation ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Intermediate Compartment ◽  
Membrane Isolation ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
Organelle Membrane ◽  
Catabolic Process

Autophagy is a catabolic process for bulk degradation of cytosolic materials mediated by double-membraned autophagosomes. The membrane determinant to initiate the formation of autophagosomes remains elusive. Here, we establish a cell-free assay based on LC3 lipidation to define the organelle membrane supporting early autophagosome formation. In vitro LC3 lipidation requires energy and is subject to regulation by the pathways modulating autophagy in vivo. We developed a systematic membrane isolation scheme to identify the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) as a primary membrane source both necessary and sufficient to trigger LC3 lipidation in vitro. Functional studies demonstrate that the ERGIC is required for autophagosome biogenesis in vivo. Moreover, we find that the ERGIC acts by recruiting the early autophagosome marker ATG14, a critical step for the generation of preautophagosomal membranes.

scholarly journals Macrophage Microbicidal Mechanisms In Vivo: Reactive Nitrogen versus Oxygen Intermediates in the Killing of Intracellular Visceral Leishmania donovani

1999 ◽  
Vol 189 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry W. Murray ◽  
Carl F. Nathan
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Burst ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen ◽  
Oxygen Intermediates ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen Intermediates ◽  
Infected Liver ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

To determine the relative contributions of respiratory burst–derived reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) versus reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) to macrophage-mediated intracellular host defense, mice genetically deficient in these mechanisms were challenged with Leishmania donovani, a protozoan that selectively parasitizes visceral tissue macrophages. During the early stage of liver infection at wk 2, both respiratory burst–deficient gp91phox−/− (X-linked chronic granulomatous disease [X-CGD]) mice and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout (KO) mice displayed comparably increased susceptibility. Thereafter, infection was unrestrained in mice lacking iNOS but was fully controlled in X-CGD mice. Mononuclear cell influx into infected liver foci in X-CGD and iNOS KO mice was also overtly impaired at wk 2. However, granuloma assembly in parasitized tissue eventually developed in both hosts but with divergent effects: mature granulomas were functionally active (leishmanicidal) in X-CGD mice but inert in iNOS-deficient animals. These results suggest that (a) ROI and RNI probably act together in the early stage of intracellular infection to regulate both tissue recruitment of mononuclear inflammatory cells and the initial extent of microbial replication, (b) RNI alone are necessary and sufficient for eventual control of visceral infection, and (c) although mature granulomas have traditionally been associated with control of such infections, these structures fail to limit intracellular parasite replication in the absence of iNOS.

An insight into the mechanism of inhibition of unusual bi-subunit topoisomerase I from Leishmania donovani by 3,3′-di-indolylmethane, a novel DNA topoisomerase I poison with a strong binding affinity to the enzyme

2007 ◽  
Vol 409 (2) ◽  
pp. 611-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Roy ◽  
Benu Brata Das ◽  
Agneyo Ganguly ◽  
Somdeb Bose Dasgupta ◽  
Neeta V. M. Khalkho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Affinity ◽  
Dna Cleavage ◽  
Topoisomerase I ◽  
Leishmania Donovani ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Free Enzyme ◽  
Rational Drug Design ◽  
Binary Complex

DIM (3,3′-di-indolylmethane), an abundant dietary component of cruciferous vegetables, exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. In the present study, we show that DIM is a potent inhibitor of Leishmania donovani topoisomerase I with an IC50 of 1.2 μM. Equilibrium dialysis shows that DIM binds strongly to the free enzyme with a binding constant of 9.73×10−9 M. The binding affinity of DIM to the small subunit is 8.6-fold more than that of the large subunit of unusual LdTOP1LS (bi-subunit L. donovani topoisomerase I). DIM stabilizes topoisomerase I–DNA cleavage complexes in vitro and also in vivo. Like CPT (camptothecin), DIM inhibits the religation step when the drug was added to preformed topoisomerase I–DNA binary complex. Hence, DIM is similar to CPT with respect to its ability to form the topoisomerase I-mediated ‘cleavable complexes’ in vitro and in vivo. But unlike CPT, DIM interacts with both free enzyme and substrate DNA. Therefore DIM is a non-competitive class I inhibitor of topoisomerase I. DIM also inhibits the relaxation activity of the CPT-resistant mutant enzyme LdTOP1Δ39LS (N-terminal deletion of amino acids 1–39 of LdTOP1LS). The IC50 values of DIM in simultaneous and enzyme pre-incubation relaxation assays were 3.6 and 2.9 μM respectively, which are higher than that of wild-type topoisomerase I (LdTOP1LS), indicating that the affinity of DIM to LdTOP1Δ39LS is less than that for LdTOP1LS. This is the first report on DIM as an L. donovani topoisomerase I poison. Our study illuminates a new mode of action of enzyme inhibition by DIM that might be exploited for rational drug design in human leishmaniasis.

scholarly journals State of the Art in the Studies on Crotamine, a Cell Penetrating Peptide from South American Rattlesnake

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Kerkis ◽  
Mirian A. F. Hayashi ◽  
Alvaro R. B. Prieto da Silva ◽  
Alexandre Pereira ◽  
Paulo Luiz De Sá Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Peptides ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
South American ◽  
Structural And Functional Properties ◽  
Cell Penetrating ◽  
Melanoma Model ◽  
A Cell

Animal venoms comprise a naturally selected cocktail of bioactive peptides/proteins and other molecules, each of which playing a defined role thanks to the highly specific interactions with diverse molecular targets found in the prey. Research focused on isolation, structural, and functional characterizations of novel natural biologics (bioactive peptides/proteins from natural sources) has a long way to go through from the basic science to clinical applications. Herein, we overview the structural and functional characteristics of the myoneurotoxin crotamine, firstly isolated from the South American rattlesnake venom. Crotamine is the first venom peptide classified as a natural cell penetrating and antimicrobial peptide (CPP and AMP) with a more pronounced antifungal activity. In contrast to other known natural CPPs and AMPs, crotamine demonstrates a wide spectrum of biological activities with potential biotechnological and therapeutic values. More recent studies have demonstrated the selectivein vitroanticancer activity of crotamine.In vivo, using a murine melanoma model, it was shown that crotamine delays tumor implantation, inhibits tumor cells proliferation, and also increases the survival of mice engrafted with subcutaneous melanoma. The structural and functional properties and also the possible biotechnological applications of minimized molecules derived from crotamine are also discussed.

Ultrastructure of melanocyte-keratinocyte interactions and pigment transfer in vitro

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 650-651
Author(s):  
Raul I. Garcia ◽  
Evelyn A. Flynn ◽  
George Szabo
Keyword(s):  
Direct Injection ◽  
Skin Pigmentation ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Pigment Granule ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Ultrastructural Level ◽  
Lanthanum Tracer ◽  
A Cell

Skin pigmentation in mammals involves the interaction of epidermal melanocytes and keratinocytes in the structural and functional unit known as the Epidermal Melanin Unit. Melanocytes(M) synthesize melanin within specialized membrane-bound organelles, the melanosome or pigment granule. These are subsequently transferred by way of M dendrites to keratinocytes(K) by a mechanism still to be clearly defined. Three different, though not necessarily mutually exclusive, mechanisms of melanosome transfer have been proposed: cytophagocytosis by K of M dendrite tips containing melanosomes, direct injection of melanosomes into the K cytoplasm through a cell-to-cell pore or communicating channel formed by localized fusion of M and K cell membranes, release of melanosomes into the extracellular space(ECS) by exocytosis followed by K uptake using conventional phagocytosis. Variability in methods of transfer has been noted both in vivo and in vitro and there is evidence in support of each transfer mechanism. We Have previously studied M-K interactions in vitro using time-lapse cinemicrography and in vivo at the ultrastructural level using lanthanum tracer and freeze-fracture.

Analysis of the Dynamics of the Electric Capacitance of a Cell Monolayer at the Late Stages of Caco-2 cell Differentiation

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 87-90
Author(s):  
S.V. Nikulin ◽  
V.A. Petrov ◽  
D.A. Sakharov
Keyword(s):  
Impedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Cell Monolayer ◽  
Microfluidic Chips ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Electric Capacitance ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Static Conditions ◽  
Late Stages

The real-time monitoring of electric capacitance (impedance spectroscopy) allowed obtaining evidence that structures which look like intestinal villi can be formed during the cultivation under static conditions as well as during the cultivation in microfluidic chips. It was shown in this work via transcriptome analysis that the Hh signaling pathway is involved in the formation of villus-like structures in vitro, which was previously shown for their formation in vivo. impedance spectroscopy, intestine, villi, electric capacitance, Hh The study was funded by the Russian Science Foundation (Project 16-19-10597).

Tamarix articulata (T. articulata) - An Important Halophytic Medicinal Plant with Potential Pharmacological Properties

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan ◽  
Bilal Rah
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Phytochemical Analysis ◽  
Pharmacological Properties

Background:Tamarix Articulata (T. articulata), commonly known as Tamarisk or Athal in Arabic region, belongs to the Tamaricaece species. It is an important halophytic medicinal plant and a good source of polyphenolic phytochemical(s). In traditional medicines, T. articulata extract is commonly used, either singly or in combination with other plant extracts against different ailments since ancient times.Methods:Electronic database survey via Pubmed, Google Scholar, Researchgate, Scopus and Science Direct were used to review the scientific inputs until October 2018, by searching appropriate keywords. Literature related to pharmacological activities of T. articulata, Tamarix species, phytochemical analysis of T. articulata, biological activities of T. articulata extracts. All of these terms were used to search the scientific literature associated with T. articulata; the dosage of extract, route of administration, extract type, and in-vitro and in-vivo model.Results:Numerous reports revealed that T. articulata contains a wide spectrum of phytochemical(s), which enables it to have a wide window of biological properties. Owing to the presence of high content of phytochemical compounds like polyphenolics and flavonoids, T. articulata is a potential source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. In view of these pharmacological properties, T. articulata could be a potential drug candidate to treat various clinical conditions including cancer in the near future.Conclusion:In this review, the spectrum of phytochemical(s) has been summarized for their pharmacological properties and the mechanisms of action, and the possible potential therapeutic applications of this plant against various diseases discussed.

Ferula hermonis: A Review of Current Use and Pharmacological Studies of its Sesquiterpene Ester Ferutinin

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rémi Safi ◽  
Marwan El-Sabban ◽  
Fadia Najjar
Keyword(s):  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Sexual Impotence ◽  
Novel Applications ◽  
Anti Fungal ◽  
Sesquiterpene Ester

Ferula hermonis Boiss, is an endemic plant of Lebanon, locally known as “shilsh Elzallouh”. It has been extensively used in the traditional medicine as an aphrodisiac and for the treatment of sexual impotence. Crude extracts and isolated compounds of ferula hermonis contain phytoestrogenic substances having a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties including anti-osteoporosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal, anti-cancer and as sexual activity enhancer. The aim of this mini-review is to highlight the traditional and novel applications of this plant’s extracts and its major sesquiterpene ester, ferutinin. The phytochemical constituents and the pharmacological uses of ferula hermonis crude extract and ferutinin specifically will be discussed.

scholarly journals Drosophila Hormone Receptor 38 Functions in Metamorphosis: A Role in Adult Cuticle Formation

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 1465-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kozlova ◽  
G V Pokholkova ◽  
G Tzertzinis ◽  
J D Sutherland ◽  
I F Zhimulev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Transcription Unit ◽  
P Element ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Orphan Receptors ◽  
Mrna Isoforms ◽  
A Cell ◽  
In Vivo Analysis

Abstract DHR38 is a member of the steroid receptor superfamily in Drosophila homologous to the vertebrate NGFI-B-type orphan receptors. In addition to binding to specific response elements as a monomer, DHR38 interacts with the USP component of the ecdysone receptor complex in vitro, in yeast and in a cell line, suggesting that DHR38 might modulate ecdysone-triggered signals in the fly. We characterized the molecular structure and expression of the Dhr38 gene and initiated an in vivo analysis of its function(s) in development. The Dhr38 transcription unit spans more than 40 kb in length, includes four introns, and produces at least four mRNA isoforms differentially expressed in development; two of these are greatly enriched in the pupal stage and encode nested polypeptides. We characterized four alleles of Dhr38: a P-element enchancer trap line, l(2)02306, which shows exclusively epidermal staining in the late larval, pre-pupal and pupal stages, and three EMS-induced alleles. Dhr38 alleles cause localized fragility and rupturing of the adult cuticle, demonstrating that Dhr38 plays an important role in late stages of epidermal metamorphosis.

Regulation of RNA helicase activity: principles and examples

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Donsbach ◽  
Dagmar Klostermeier
Keyword(s):  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Rna Degradation ◽  
Rna Helicases ◽  
Interaction Partners ◽  
Rna Duplexes ◽  
Self Association

Abstract RNA helicases are a ubiquitous class of enzymes involved in virtually all processes of RNA metabolism, from transcription, mRNA splicing and export, mRNA translation and RNA transport to RNA degradation. Although ATP-dependent unwinding of RNA duplexes is their hallmark reaction, not all helicases catalyze unwinding in vitro, and some in vivo functions do not depend on duplex unwinding. RNA helicases are divided into different families that share a common helicase core with a set of helicase signature motives. The core provides the active site for ATP hydrolysis, a binding site for the non-sequence-specific interactions with RNA, and in many cases a basal unwinding activity. Its activity is often regulated by flanking domains, by interaction partners, or by self-association. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms that modulate the activities of the helicase core. Case studies on selected helicases with functions in translation, splicing, and RNA sensing illustrate the various modes and layers of regulation in time and space that harness the helicase core for a wide spectrum of cellular tasks.

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