Amogh A. Sahasrabuddhe

Nitric oxide synthase localization in the rat neutrophils: immunocytochemical, molecular, and biochemical studies

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates diverse functions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), but localization of NO synthase (NOS) and identification of its interacting proteins remain the least defined. The present study discerns subcellular distribution of NOS and caveolin‐1, a prominent NOS‐interacting protein in rat PMNs. Localization of NOS was explored by confocal and immunogold electron microscopy, and its activity was assessed by L‐[3H] arginine and 4,5‐diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF‐2DA). Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction using NOS primers and Western blotting demonstrated the presence of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in PMNs. Immunocytochemical studies exhibited distribution of nNOS and iNOS in cytoplasm and nucleus, and L‐[3H] citrulline formation and DAF fluorescence confirmed NOS activity in both fractions. NOS activity correlated positively with calmodulin concentration in both of the fractions. nNOS and iNOS colocalized with caveolin‐1, as evidenced by immunocytochemical and immunoprecipitation studies. The results thus provide first evidence of nNOS and iNOS in the nuclear compartment and suggest NOS interaction with caveolin‐1 in rat PMNs.

Inhibition of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide-induced autophagy at a lower dose enhances cell death in malignant glioma cells

The question whether chemotherapy-induced autophagy is causative to the demise of the cells or a part of the survival mechanism activated during cellular distress is unclear. Others and we have previously demonstrated apoptosis-inducing capacity of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR) in malignant glioma cells. We provide evidences of 4-HPR-induced autophagy at a lower concentration (5 microM). Suboptimal dose of 4-HPR treatment of malignant glioma cell lines increased G(2)/M arrest, whereas cell accumulated in S phase at a higher concentration. 4-HPR-induced autophagy was associated with acidic vacuole [acidic vesicular organelle (AVO)] formation and recruitment of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3). At a higher concentration of 10 microM of 4-HPR, glioma cells undergoing apoptosis manifested autophagic features indicated by autophagosome formation, AVO development and LC3 localization. Autophagy inhibition at an early stage by 3-methyl adenine inhibited the AVO formation and LC3 localization with an enhancement in cell death. Bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar type Hthorn-ATPase also prevented AVO formation without effecting LC-3 localization pattern and also enhanced the extent of 4-HPR-induced cell death. 4-HPR activated c-jun and P38(MAPK) at both 5 and 10 microM concentrations, whereas increased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and NF-kappaB was seen only at lower dose. Inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways modulated 4-HPR-induced cell death. This is the first report that provides evidences that besides apoptosis induction 4-HPR can also induce autophagy. These results indicate that 4-HPR-induced autophagy in glioma cell may provide survival advantage and inhibition of autophagy may enhance the cytotoxicity to 4-HPR.

Immunization with the DNA-Encoding N-Terminal Domain of Proteophosphoglycan of Leishmania donovani Generates Th1-Type Immunoprotective Response against Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis

Leishmania produce several types of mucin-like glycoproteins called proteophosphoglycans (PPGs) which exist as secretory as well as surface-bound forms in both promastigotes and amastigotes. The structure and function of PPGs have been reported to be species and stage specific as in the case of Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana; there has been no such information available for Leishmania donovani. We have recently demonstrated that PPG is differentially expressed in sodium stibogluconate-sensitive and -resistant clinical isolates of L. donovani. To further elucidate the structure and function of the ppg gene of L. donovani, a partial sequence of its N-terminal domain of 1.6 kb containing the majority of antigenic determinants, was successfully cloned and expressed in prokaryotic as well as mammalian cells. We further evaluated the DNA-encoding N-terminal domain of the ppg gene as a vaccine in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) against the L. donovani challenge. The prophylactic efficacy to the tune of ∼80% was observed in vaccinated hamsters and all of them could survive beyond 6 mo after challenge. The efficacy was supported by a surge in inducible NO synthase, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 mRNA levels along with extreme down-regulation of TGF-β, IL-4, and IL-10. A rise in the level of Leishmania-specific IgG2 was also observed which was indicative of enhanced cellular immune response. The results suggest the N-terminal domain of L. donovani ppg as a potential DNA vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis.

Actin‐depolymerizing factor, ADF/cofilin, is essentially required in assembly of Leishmania flagellum

ADF/cofilins are ubiquitous actin dynamics‐regulating proteins that have been mainly implicated in actin‐based cell motility. Trypanosomatids, e.g. Leishmania and Trypanosoma, which mediate their motility through flagellum, also contain a putative ADF/cofilin homologue, but its role in flagellar motility remains largely unexplored. We have investigated the role of this protein in assembly and motility of the Leishmania flagellum after knocking out the ADF/cofilin gene by targeted gene replacement. The resultant mutants were completely immotile, short and stumpy, and had reduced flagellar length and severely impaired beat. In addition, the assembly of the paraflagellar rod was lost, vesicle‐like structures were seen throughout the length of the flagellum and the state and distribution of actin were altered. However, episomal complementation of the gene restored normal morphology and flagellar function. These results for the first time indicate that the actin dynamics‐regulating protein ADF/cofilin plays a critical role in assembly and motility of the eukaryotic flagellum.

Elongation Factor-2, a Th1 Stimulatory Protein of Leishmania donovani, Generates Strong IFN-γ and IL-12 Response in Cured Leishmania-Infected Patients/Hamsters and Protects Hamsters against Leishmania Challenge

In visceral leishmaniasis, Th1 types of immune responses correlate with recovery from and resistance to disease, and resolution of infection results in lifelong immunity against the disease. Leishmanial Ags that elicit proliferative and cytokine responses in PBMCs from cured/exposed/Leishmania patients have been characterized through proteomic approaches, and elongation factor-2 is identified as one of the potent immunostimulatory proteins. In this study, we report the cloning and expression of Leishmania donovani elongation factor-2 protein (LelF-2) and its immunogenicity in PBMCs of cured/exposed Leishmania-infected patients and hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Leishmania-infected cured/exposed patients and hamsters exhibited significantly higher proliferative responses to recombinant Lelf-2 (rLelF-2) than those with L. donovani-infected hosts. The soluble L. donovani Ag stimulated PBMCs of cured/exposed and Leishmania patients to produce a mixed Thl/Th2-type cytokine profile, whereas rLelF-2 stimulated the production of IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α but not IL-4 or IL-10. Further, rLelF-2 downregulated LPS-induced IL-10 as well as soluble L. donovani Ag-induced IL-4 production by Leishmania patient PBMCs. The immunogenicity of rLelF-2 was also checked in hamsters in which rLelF-2 generates strong IL-12– and IFN-γ–mediated Th1 immune response. This was further supported by a remarkable increase in IgG2 Ab level. We further demonstrated that rLelF-2 was able to provide considerable protection (∼65%) to hamsters against L. donovani challenge. The efficacy was supported by the increased inducible NO synthase mRNA transcript and Th1-type cytokines IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α and downregulation of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-β. Hence, it is inferred that rLelF-2 elicits a Th1 type of immune response exclusively and confers considerable protection against experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

Characterization of glycolytic enzymes--rAldolase and rEnolase of Leishmania donovani, identified as Th1 stimulatory proteins, for their immunogenicity and immunoprophylactic efficacies against experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

Th1 immune responses play an important role in controlling Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) hence, Leishmania proteins stimulating T-cell responses in host, are thought to be good vaccine targets. Search of such antigens eliciting cellular responses in Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cured/exposed/Leishmania patients and hamsters led to the identification of two enzymes of glycolytic pathway in the soluble lysate of a clinical isolate of Leishmania donovani - Enolase (LdEno) and aldolase (LdAld) as potential Th1 stimulatory proteins. The present study deals with the molecular and immunological characterizations of LdEno and LdAld. The successfully cloned and purified recombinant proteins displayed strong ability to proliferate lymphocytes of cured hamsters’ along with significant nitric-oxide production and generation of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12) from stimulated PBMCs of cured/endemic VL patients. Assessment of their prophylactic potentials revealed ∼90% decrease in parasitic burden in rLdEno vaccinated hamsters against Leishmania challenge, strongly supported by an increase in mRNA expression levels of iNOS, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-12 transcripts along with extreme down-regulation of TGF-β, IL-4 and IL-10. However, animals vaccinated with rLdAld showed comparatively lesser prophylactic efficacy (∼65%) with inferior immunological response. Further, with a possible implication in vaccine design against VL, identification of potential T-cell epitopes of both the proteins was done using computational approach. Additionally, in-silico 3-D modelling of the proteins was done in order to explore the possibility of exploiting them as potential drug targets. The comparative molecular and immunological characterizations strongly suggest rLdEno as potential vaccine candidate against VL and supports the notion of its being effective T-cell stimulatory protein.

Proteophosphoglycan is differentially expressed in sodium stibogluconate-sensitive and resistant Indian clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani.

Leishmania produce several types of mucin-like glycoproteins called proteophosphoglycans (PPGs) some of which are secreted while others are found on the surface of promastigotes and amastigotes. These proteins are thought to be important in the transmission, invasion and subsequent intracellular survival of parasites. The structure and function of PPGs are species and stage-specific in the case of L. major and L. mexicana, but no such information has hitherto been available for L. donovani. This study presents, for the first time, an initial characterization (localization) of PPG in sodium stibogluconate (SSG)-resistant and sensitive clinical isolates of L. donovani from Bihar (India) by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and Western blotting using antibodies to L. major PPG. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that both promastigotes and amastigotes possess PPG on their cell membrane and flagellar pocket membrane but its expression was variable in different isolates. The quantitative analysis by FACS and Western blotting showed that the expression and intensity of PPG bands was higher in SSG-resistant isolates. This study suggests the possibilities of involvement of PPG in drug-resistant mechanisms and of using PPG abundance as a marker for identifying drug-resistant clinical isolates in Indian kala azar.

An Unconventional Form of Actin in Protozoan Hemoflagellate, Leishmania

Leishmania actin was cloned, overexpressed in baculovirus-insect cell system, and purified to homogeneity. The purified protein polymerized optimally in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP, but differed from conventional actins in its following properties: (i) it did not polymerize in the presence of Mg2+ alone, (ii) it polymerized in a restricted range of pH 7.0-8.5, (iii) its critical concentration for polymerization was found to be 3-4-fold lower than of muscle actin, (iv) it predominantly formed bundles rather than single filaments at pH 8.0, (v) it displayed considerably higher ATPase activity during polymerization, (vi) it did not inhibit DNase-I activity, and (vii) it did not bind the F-actin-binding toxin phalloidin or the actin polymerization disrupting agent Latrunculin B. Computational and molecular modeling studies revealed that the observed unconventional behavior of Leishmania actin is related to the diverged amino acid stretches in its sequence, which may lead to changes in the overall charge distribution on its solvent-exposed surface, ATP binding cleft, Mg2+ binding sites, and the hydrophobic loop that is involved in monomer-monomer interactions. Phylogenetically, it is related to ciliate actins, but to the best of our knowledge, no other actin with such unconventional properties has been reported to date. It is therefore suggested that actin in Leishmania may serve as a novel target for design of new antileishmanial drugs.

Trafficking activity of myosin XXI is required in assembly of Leishmania flagellum

Actin-based myosin motors have a pivotal role in intracellular trafficking in eukaryotic cells. The parasitic protozoan organism Leishmania expresses a novel class of myosin, myosin XXI (Myo21), which is preferentially localized at the proximal region of the flagellum. However, its function in this organism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that Myo21 interacts with actin, and its expression is dependent of the growth stage. We further reveal that depletion of Myo21 levels results in impairment of the flagellar assembly and intracellular trafficking. These defects are, however, reversed by episomal complementation. Additionally, it is shown that deletion of the Myo21 gene leads to generation of ploidy, suggesting an essential role of Myo21 in survival of Leishmania cells. Together, these results indicate that actin-dependent trafficking activity of Myo21 is essentially required during assembly of the Leishmania flagellum.

Flagellar localization of a novel isoform of myosin, myosin XXI, in Leishmania.

Leishmania major genome analysis revealed the presence of putative genes corresponding to two myosins, which have been designated to class IB and a novel class, class XXI, specifically present in kinetoplastids. To characterize these myosin homologs in Leishmania, we have cloned and over-expressed the full-length myosin XXI gene and variable region of myosin IB gene in bacteria, purified the corresponding proteins, and then used the affinity purified anti-sera to analyze the expression and intracellular distribution of these proteins. Whereas myosin XXI was expressed in both the promastigote and amastigote stages, no expression of myosin IB could be detected in any of the two stages of these parasites. Further, myosin XXI expression was more predominant in the promastigote stage where it was preferentially localized in the proximal region of the flagellum. The observed flagellar localization was not dependent on the myosin head region or actin but was exclusively determined by the myosin tail region, as judged by over-expressing GFP conjugates of full-length myosin XXI, its head domain and its tail domain separately in Leishmania. Furthermore, immunofluorescence and immuno-gold electron microscopy analyses revealed that this protein was partly associated with paraflagellar rod proteins but not with tubulins in the flagellar axoneme. Our results, for the first time, report the expression and detailed analysis of cellular localization of a novel class of myosin, myosin XXI in trypanosomatids.