Project description:Undernutrition increases susceptibility to diarrheal diseases. The adipocytokine leptin imparts protection from amebiasis. We tested the role of leptin signaling in cellular resistance to E. histolytica cytotoxicity in HEK cells transfected to express the leptin receptor. Protection from amebic killing was conferred by the leptin receptor. It required activation of the transcriptional regulator STAT3 by the leptin receptor, as mutation of the STAT3 activation domain of the receptor, or addition of a STAT3 small-molecule inhibitor, reversed protection. In contrast, a leptin receptor containing a common polymorphism (Q223R) known to increase susceptibility to amebiasis in humans provided significantly less protection. Consistent with the importance of STAT3, the Q223R polymorphism decreased l leptin-dependent STAT3 activation by 21% relative to the WT receptor (P=0.035). Microarray analysis identified potential downstream effectors of STAT3-mediated protection, most importantly TRIB1 and SOCS3, which appear to having opposing roles in the regulation of E. histolytica induced apoptosis. Together these data demonstrated that leptin increased the resistance of host cells to E. histolytica cytotoxicity via a STAT3-dependent mechanism. Additionally we found that the Q223R polymorphism in the leptin receptor, known to increase susceptibility to E. histolytica infection, decreased STAT3 activation and decreased host resistance to amebic cytotoxicity. This is the first demonstration of a host-signaling pathway that restricts amebic pathogenesis. Additionally, this finding represents an important advance in our mechanistic understanding of the role of leptin in the relationship between undernutrition and increased susceptibility to infection.
Project description:Resistance to amebiasis is associated with a polymorphism in the leptin receptor. Previous studies demonstrated that humans with the ancestral Q223 leptin receptor allele were nearly four times less likely to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica than those carrying the mutant R223 allele. We hypothesized that the Q223 allele protected against E. histolytica via STAT3-mediated transcription of genes required for mucosal immunity. To test this, mice containing the humanized LEPR Q or R allele at codon 223 were intracecally infected with E. histolytica. Susceptibility to amebiasis was assessed, and cecal tissues analyzed for changes in gene expression. By 72 h post-challenge all Q223 mice had cleared E. histolytica, whereas 39% of 223R mice were infected. 37 genes were differentially expressed in response to infection at 72 h, including pro-inflammatory genes (CXCL2, calprotectin (S100A8/9), Pla2g7, Itbg2, and MMP9) and functions pertaining to the movement and activity of immune cells. A comparison at 12 h post-challenge of infected Q223 vs. R223 mice identified a subset of differentially-expressed genes, many of which were closely linked to leptin signaling. Further analyses indicated that the Q223 gene expression pattern was consistent with a suppressed apoptotic response to infection, while 223R showed increased cellular proliferation and recruitment. These studies are the first to illuminate the downstream effects of leptin receptor polymorphisms on intestinal infection by E. histolytica. As such, they are important for the insight that they provide to this previously uncharacterized mechanism of mucosal immunity. Resistance to amebiasis is associated with a polymorphism in the leptin receptor. Previous studies demonstrated that humans with the ancestral Q223 leptin receptor allele were nearly four times less likely to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica than those carrying the mutant R223 allele. We hypothesized that the Q223 allele protected against E. histolytica via STAT3-mediated transcription of genes required for mucosal immunity. To test this, mice containing the humanized LEPR Q or R allele at codon 223 were intracecally infected with E. histolytica. Susceptibility to amebiasis was assessed, and cecal tissues analyzed for changes in gene expression. By 72 h post-challenge all Q223 mice had cleared E. histolytica, whereas 39% of 223R mice were infected. 37 genes were differentially expressed in response to infection at 72 h, including pro-inflammatory genes (CXCL2, calprotectin (S100A8/9), Pla2g7, Itbg2, and MMP9) and functions pertaining to the movement and activity of immune cells. A comparison at 12 h post-challenge of infected Q223 vs. R223 mice identified a subset of differentially-expressed genes, many of which were closely linked to leptin signaling. Further analyses indicated that the Q223 gene expression pattern was consistent with a suppressed apoptotic response to infection, while 223R showed increased cellular proliferation and recruitment. These studies are the first to illuminate the downstream effects of leptin receptor polymorphisms on intestinal infection by E. histolytica. As such, they are important for the insight that they provide to this previously uncharacterized mechanism of mucosal immunity. Control (non-infected QQ or RR) vs. infected with E. histolytica at two time points (12hour and 72 hour)
Project description:Resistance to amebiasis is associated with a polymorphism in the leptin receptor. Previous studies demonstrated that humans with the ancestral Q223 leptin receptor allele were nearly four times less likely to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica than those carrying the mutant R223 allele. We hypothesized that the Q223 allele protected against E. histolytica via STAT3-mediated transcription of genes required for mucosal immunity. To test this, mice containing the humanized LEPR Q or R allele at codon 223 were intracecally infected with E. histolytica. Susceptibility to amebiasis was assessed, and cecal tissues analyzed for changes in gene expression. By 72 h post-challenge all Q223 mice had cleared E. histolytica, whereas 39% of 223R mice were infected. 37 genes were differentially expressed in response to infection at 72 h, including pro-inflammatory genes (CXCL2, calprotectin (S100A8/9), Pla2g7, Itbg2, and MMP9) and functions pertaining to the movement and activity of immune cells. A comparison at 12 h post-challenge of infected Q223 vs. R223 mice identified a subset of differentially-expressed genes, many of which were closely linked to leptin signaling. Further analyses indicated that the Q223 gene expression pattern was consistent with a suppressed apoptotic response to infection, while 223R showed increased cellular proliferation and recruitment. These studies are the first to illuminate the downstream effects of leptin receptor polymorphisms on intestinal infection by E. histolytica. As such, they are important for the insight that they provide to this previously uncharacterized mechanism of mucosal immunity. Resistance to amebiasis is associated with a polymorphism in the leptin receptor. Previous studies demonstrated that humans with the ancestral Q223 leptin receptor allele were nearly four times less likely to be infected with Entamoeba histolytica than those carrying the mutant R223 allele. We hypothesized that the Q223 allele protected against E. histolytica via STAT3-mediated transcription of genes required for mucosal immunity. To test this, mice containing the humanized LEPR Q or R allele at codon 223 were intracecally infected with E. histolytica. Susceptibility to amebiasis was assessed, and cecal tissues analyzed for changes in gene expression. By 72 h post-challenge all Q223 mice had cleared E. histolytica, whereas 39% of 223R mice were infected. 37 genes were differentially expressed in response to infection at 72 h, including pro-inflammatory genes (CXCL2, calprotectin (S100A8/9), Pla2g7, Itbg2, and MMP9) and functions pertaining to the movement and activity of immune cells. A comparison at 12 h post-challenge of infected Q223 vs. R223 mice identified a subset of differentially-expressed genes, many of which were closely linked to leptin signaling. Further analyses indicated that the Q223 gene expression pattern was consistent with a suppressed apoptotic response to infection, while 223R showed increased cellular proliferation and recruitment. These studies are the first to illuminate the downstream effects of leptin receptor polymorphisms on intestinal infection by E. histolytica. As such, they are important for the insight that they provide to this previously uncharacterized mechanism of mucosal immunity.
Project description:The ability of Entamoeba histolytica to phagocytose host cells correlates to observed virulence in vivo. To better understand the mechanism of phagocytosis we used paramagnetic beads coated with host ligand and sorted trophozoites based on phagocytic ability. Gene expression was then measured in both the sorted phagocytic and non-phagocytic populations using a custom Affymetrix chip for E. histolytica. Feed forward regulation of phagocytosis by Entamoeba histolytica. Infection and Immunity. PMID 23045476
Project description:Given that celastrol?s leptin-sensitizing effect requires both high levels of circulating leptin and intact leptin receptor signaling, we analyzed the effect of celastrol on hypothalamic gene expression profile of db/db mice, which have high circulating levels of leptin, but lack intact leptin receptor signaling. This analysis will be serving as negative control for DIO mice analysis.
Project description:Leptin monotherapy (i.e. without the use of administered insulin and/or any other molecule) corrects ID-induced metabolic aberrancies and promotes survival of insulin deficient rodents. These results generated great interest in the possibility of treating insulin deficient patients with leptin and/or molecule(s) underlying its beneficial effects. Hence, with the goal of identifying circulating molecule(s) underlying the advantageous effect of leptin we performed quantitative proteomic analysis of plasma and identified S100A9 as a putative peripheral mediator of leptin action. Here, to identify circulating molecule(s) underlying the advantageous effect of leptin we compared the results obtained by quantitative proteomic analysis of plasma between 2 groups of mice: streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice that underwent intracerebroventricular (icv) leptin treatment for 12 days (STZ-Leptin) and ii) STZ-treated mice that underwent icv leptin treatment for 10 days and were withdrawn from leptin treatment for the following two days (STZ-Leptin-STOP). STZ treatment led to a massive loss of pancreatic insulin-producing β-cells, diminished pancreatic Proinsulin mRNA level, and caused severe insulinopenia, and hyperglycemia. icv leptin administration normalized hyperglycemia. However, two days after leptin delivery was halted hyperglycemia reappeared. We hypothesized that change in plasmatic protein(s) content could underlie re-emergence of hyperglycemia following decrease of leptin action.
Project description:The ability of Entamoeba histolytica to phagocytose host cells correlates to observed virulence in vivo. To better understand the mechanism of phagocytosis we used paramagnetic beads coated with host ligand and sorted trophozoites based on phagocytic ability. Gene expression was then measured in both the sorted phagocytic and non-phagocytic populations using a custom Affymetrix chip for E. histolytica. Feed forward regulation of phagocytosis by Entamoeba histolytica. Infection and Immunity. PMID 23045476 M280 Streptavidin Dynabeads (Invitrogen) were labeled with 20ug/mL biotinylated Human C1q (Quidel). Entamoeba histolytica (strain HM1) were washed twice with PBS then resuspended with the labeled beads at a 10:1 ratio of beads to trophozoites. Samples were incubated at 37°C for 45 minutes, washed twice with agitation to remove adherent beads, then resuspended in MACS buffer. Samples were loaded into magnetic columns (Miltenyi Biotec) and trophozoites were seperated according to manufacturer's protocols. phagocytic vs. non-phagocytic Entamoeba histolytica populations
Project description:Purpose: 1. Bulk-RNA-Seq was performed to identify tancytye-enriched genes. 2. scRNA-Seq was performed to profile hypothalamic cells following leptin treatment Conclusions: Leptin receptor expression in tanycytes is either absent or undetectably low, that tanycytes do not directly regulate hypothalamic leptin signaling, and that leptin regulates gene expression in diverse hypothalamic cell types through both direct and indirect mechanisms.