Molecular characterization of host-parasite cell signalling in Schistosoma mansoni during early development

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 35614
• Main Authors: Ressurreição, Margarida, Elbeyioglu, Firat, Kirk, Ruth S., Rollinson, David, Emery, Aidan M., Page, Nigel M., Walker, Anthony J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.10.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13; 13/1; 13/51; 13/95; 14/19; 631/45/275; 631/80/86/820; 64; 692/699/255/1715; Animals; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - metabolism; Growth factors; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Insulin; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin-like growth factor I; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Kinases; Lipid rafts; Locomotion; Membrane Microdomains - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Parasites; Protein kinase C; Protein Kinase C - metabolism; Schistosoma mansoni - growth & development; Science; Signal Transduction; Skin; Survival; Survival Analysis; Swimming
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep35614

During infection of their human definitive host, schistosomes transform rapidly from free-swimming infective cercariae in freshwater to endoparasitic schistosomules. The ‘somules’ next migrate within the skin to access the vasculature and are surrounded by host molecules that might activate intracellular pathways that influence somule survival, development and/or behaviour. However, such ‘transactivation’ by host factors in schistosomes is not well defined. In the present study, we have characterized and functionally localized the dynamics of protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation during early somule development in vitro and demonstrate activation of these protein kinases by human epidermal growth factor, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor I, particularly at the parasite surface. Further, we provide evidence that support the existence of specialized signalling domains called lipid rafts in schistosomes and propose that correct signalling to ERK requires proper raft organization. Finally, we show that modulation of PKC and ERK activities in somules affects motility and reduces somule survival. Thus, PKC and ERK are important mediators of host-ligand regulated transactivation events in schistosomes, and represent potential targets for anti-schistosome therapy aimed at reducing parasite survival in the human host.