| 1. |
- Bhandage, Amol K., 1988-, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of GABA receptors subunits in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is gender dependent, altered in pregnancy and modified by mental health
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Physiologica. - : Wiley. - 1748-1708 .- 1748-1716. ; 213:3, s. 575-585
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimThe concept of nerve-driven immunity recognizes a link between the nervous and the immune system. -aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and receptors activated by GABA can be expressed by immune cells. Here, we examined whether the expression of GABA receptors and chloride transporters in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was influenced by gender, pregnancy or mental health. MethodsWe used RT-qPCR to determine the mRNA expression level in PBMCs from men (n=16), non-pregnant women (n=19), healthy pregnant women (n=27) and depressed pregnant women (n=15). ResultsThe 2 subunit had the most prominent expression level of the GABA-A receptor subunits in all samples. The and 2 subunits were up-regulated by pregnancy, whereas the epsilon subunit was more frequently expressed in healthy pregnant women than non-pregnant women who, in turn, commonly expressed the 6 and the 2 subunits. The 1 and epsilon subunits expression was altered by depression in pregnant women. The GABA-B1 receptor was up-regulated by depression in pregnant women, while the transporters NKCC1 and KCC4 were down-regulated by pregnancy. The changes recorded in the mRNA expression levels imply participation of GABA receptors in establishing and maintaining tolerance in pregnancy. Importantly, the correlation of mental health with the expression of specific receptor subunits reveals a connection between the immune cells and the brain. Biomarkers for mental health may be identified in PBMCs. ConclusionThe results demonstrate the impact gender, pregnancy and mental health have on the expression of GABA receptors and chloride transporters expressed in human PBMCs.
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| 2. |
- Gretarsdottir, Solveig, et al.
(författare)
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Genome-wide association study identifies a sequence variant within the DAB2IP gene conferring susceptibility to abdominal aortic aneurysm
- 2010
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 42:8, s. 71-692
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We performed a genome-wide association study on 1,292 individuals with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and 30,503 controls from Iceland and The Netherlands, with a follow-up of top markers in up to 3,267 individuals with AAAs and 7,451 controls. The A allele of rs7025486 on 9q33 was found to associate with AAA, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.21 and P = 4.6 x 10(-10). In tests for association with other vascular diseases, we found that rs7025486[A] is associated with early onset myocardial infarction (OR = 1.18, P = 3.1 x 10(-5)), peripheral arterial disease (OR = 1.14, P = 3.9 x 10(-5)) and pulmonary embolism (OR = 1.20, P = 0.00030), but not with intracranial aneurysm or ischemic stroke. No association was observed between rs7025486[A] and common risk factors for arterial and venous diseases-that is, smoking, lipid levels, obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Rs7025486 is located within DAB2IP, which encodes an inhibitor of cell growth and survival.
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| 3. |
- Rivera-Cuevas, Yolanda, et al.
(författare)
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Toxoplasma gondii exploits the host ESCRT machinery for parasite uptake of host cytosolic proteins
- 2021
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Ingår i: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 17:12, s. e1010138-e1010138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Toxoplasma gondii is a master manipulator capable of effectively siphoning the resources from the host cell for its intracellular subsistence. However, the molecular underpinnings of how the parasite gains resources from its host remain largely unknown. Residing within a non-fusogenic parasitophorous vacuole (PV), the parasite must acquire resources across the limiting membrane of its replicative niche, which is decorated with parasite proteins including those secreted from dense granules. We discovered a role for the host Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery in host cytosolic protein uptake by T. gondii by disrupting host ESCRT function. We identified the transmembrane dense granule protein TgGRA14, which contains motifs homologous to the late domain motifs of HIV-1 Gag, as a candidate for the recruitment of the host ESCRT machinery to the PV membrane. Using an HIV-1 virus-like particle (VLP) release assay, we found that the motif-containing portion of TgGRA14 is sufficient to substitute for HIV-1 Gag late domain to mediate ESCRT-dependent VLP budding. We also show that TgGRA14 is proximal to and interacts with host ESCRT components and other dense granule proteins during infection. Furthermore, analysis of TgGRA14-deficient parasites revealed a marked reduction in ingestion of a host cytosolic protein compared to WT parasites. Thus, we propose a model in which T. gondii recruits the host ESCRT machinery to the PV where it can interact with TgGRA14 for the internalization of host cytosolic proteins across the PV membrane (PVM). These findings provide new insight into how T. gondii accesses contents of the host cytosol by exploiting a key pathway for vesicular budding and membrane scission.
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| 4. |
- Smith, David, et al.
(författare)
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Toxoplasma TgATG9 is critical for autophagy and long-term persistence in tissue cysts
- 2021
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Ingår i: eLIFE. - : eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd. - 2050-084X. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many of the world’s warm-blooded species are chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts, including an estimated one-third of the global human population. The cellular processes that permit long-term persistence within the cyst are largely unknown for T. gondii and related coccidian parasites that impact human and animal health. Herein, we show that genetic ablation of TgATG9 substantially reduces canonical autophagy and compromises bradyzoite viability. Transmission electron microscopy revealed numerous structural abnormalities occurring in ∆atg9 bradyzoites. Intriguingly, abnormal mitochondrial networks were observed in TgATG9-deficient bradyzoites, some of which contained numerous different cytoplasmic components and organelles. ∆atg9 bradyzoite fitness was drastically compromised in vitro and in mice, with very few brain cysts identified in mice 5 weeks post-infection. Taken together, our data suggests that TgATG9, and by extension autophagy, is critical for cellular homeostasis in bradyzoites and is necessary for long-term persistence within the cyst of this coccidian parasite.
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| 5. |
- García-Sanchez, Marta, et al.
(författare)
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Differential Responses of Bovine Monocyte-Derived Macrophages to Infection by Neospora caninum Isolates of High and Low Virulence
- 2019
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neospora caninum, a protozoan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, represents one of the main causes of abortion in cattle. Macrophages (Mempty sets) are mediators of the innate immune response against infection and likely one of the first cells encountered by the parasite during the host infection process. In this study, we investigated in vitro how high or low virulent isolates of N. caninum (Nc-Spain7 and Nc-Spain1H, respectively) interact with bovine monocyte-derived Mempty sets and the influence of the isolate virulence on the subsequent cellular response. Both isolates actively invaded, survived and replicated in the Mempty sets. However, Nc-Spain7 showed a higher invasion rate and a replication significantly faster, following an exponential growth model, whereas Nc-Spain1H presented a delayed replication and a lower growth rate without an exponential pattern. N. caninum infection induced a hypermigratory phenotype in bovine Mempty sets that was characterized by enhanced motility and transmigration in vitro and was accompanied by morphological changes and abrogated extracellular matrix degradation. A significantly higher hypermotility was observed with the highly virulent isolate Nc-Spain7. Nc-Spain1H-infected Mempty sets showed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and IL12p40 expression, which also resulted in increased IFN-gamma release by lymphocytes, compared to cells infected with Nc-Spain7. Furthermore, IL-10 was upregulated in Mempty sets infected with both isolates. Infected Mempty sets exhibited lower expression of MHC Class II, CD86, and CD1b molecules than uninfected Mempty sets, with non-significant differences between isolates. This work characterizes for the first time N. caninum replication in bovine monocyte-derived Mempty sets and details isolate-dependent differences in host cell responses to the parasite.
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| 6. |
- Helgadottir, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Apolipoprotein(a) Genetic Sequence Variants Associated With Systemic Atherosclerosis and Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden But Not With Venous Thromboembolism
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0735-1097 .- 1558-3597. ; 60:8, s. 722-729
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The purpose of this study is investigate the effects of variants in the apolipoprotein(a) gene (LPA) on vascular diseases with different atherosclerotic and thrombotic components. Background It is unclear whether the LPA variants rs10455872 and rs3798220, which correlate with lipoprotein(a) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD), confer susceptibility predominantly via atherosclerosis or thrombosis. Methods The 2 LPA variants were combined and examined as LPA scores for the association with ischemic stroke (and TOAST [Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment] subtypes) (effective sample size [n(e)] = 9,396); peripheral arterial disease (n(e) = 5,215); abdominal aortic aneurysm (ne = 4,572); venous thromboembolism (ne = 4,607); intracranial aneurysm (ne = 1,328); CAD (n(e) = 12,716), carotid intima-media thickness (n = 3,714), and angiographic CAD severity (n = 5,588). Results LPA score was associated with ischemic stroke subtype large artery atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27; p = 6.7 X 10(-4)), peripheral artery disease (OR: 1.47; p = 2.9 x 10(-14)), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (OR: 1.23; p = 6.0 x 10(-5)), but not with the ischemic stroke subtypes cardioembolism (OR: 1.03; p = 0.69) or small vessel disease (OR: 1.06; p = 0.52). Although the LPA variants were not associated with carotid intima-media thickness, they were associated with the number of obstructed coronary vessels (p = 4.8 x 10(-12)). Furthermore, CAD cases carrying LPA risk variants had increased susceptibility to atherosclerotic manifestations outside of the coronary tree (OR: 1.26; p = 0.0010) and had earlier onset of CAD (-1.58 years/allele; p = 8.2 x 10(-8)) than CAD cases not carrying the risk variants. There was no association of LPA score with venous thromboembolism (OR: 0.97; p = 0.63) or intracranial aneurysm (OR: 0.85; p = 0.15). Conclusions LPA sequence variants were associated with atherosclerotic burden, but not with primarily thrombotic phenotypes. (J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60: 722-9) (C) 2012 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
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| 7. |
- Kanatani, Sachie, et al.
(författare)
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Voltage-dependent calcium channel signaling mediates GABA(A) receptor-induced migratory activation of dendritic cells infected by Toxoplasma gondii
- 2017
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Ingår i: PLoS Pathogens. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7366 .- 1553-7374. ; 13:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii exploits cells of the immune system to disseminate. Upon T. gondii-infection,. Upsilon-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/GABAA receptor signaling triggers a hypermigratory phenotype in dendritic cells (DCs) by unknown signal transduction pathways. Here, we demonstrate that calcium (Ca2+) signaling in DCs is indispensable for T. gondii-induced DC hypermotility and transmigration in vitro. We report that activation of GABAA receptors by GABA induces transient Ca2+ entry in DCs. Murine bone marrow-derived DCs preferentially expressed the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) subtype Cav1.3. Silencing of Cav1.3 by short hairpin RNA or selective pharmacological antagonism of VDCCs abolished the Toxoplasma-induced hypermigratory phenotype. In a mouse model of toxoplasmosis, VDCC inhibition of adoptively transferred Toxoplasma-infected DCs delayed the appearance of cell-associated parasites in the blood circulation and reduced parasite dissemination to target organs. The present data establish that T. gondii-induced hypermigration of DCs requires signaling via VDCCs and that Ca2+ acts as a second messenger to GABAergic signaling via the VDCC Cav1.3. The findings define a novel motility-related signaling axis in DCs and unveil that interneurons and DCs share common GABAergic motogenic pathways. T. gondii employs GABAergic non-canonical pathways to induce host cell migration and facilitate dissemination.
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| 8. |
- Ólafsson, Einar B., et al.
(författare)
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Convergent Met and voltage-gated Ca2+ channel signaling drives hypermigration of Toxoplasma-infected dendritic cells
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Cell Science. - : The Company of Biologists. - 0021-9533 .- 1477-9137. ; 134:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ras–Erk MAPK signaling controls many of the principal pathways involved in metazoan cell motility, drives metastasis of multiple cancer types and is targeted in chemotherapy. However, its putative roles in immune cell functions or in infections have remained elusive. Here, using primary dendritic cells (DCs) in an infection model with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, we show that two pathways activated by infection converge on Ras–Erk MAPK signaling to promote migration of parasitized DCs. We report that signaling through the receptor tyrosine kinase Met (also known as HGF receptor) contributes to T. gondii-induced DC hypermotility. Furthermore, voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC, subtype CaV1.3) signaling impacted the migratory activation of DCs via calmodulin–calmodulin kinase II. We show that convergent VGCC signaling and Met signaling activate the GTPase Ras to drive Erk1 and Erk2 (also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively) phosphorylation and hypermotility of T. gondii-infected DCs. The data provide a molecular basis for the hypermigratory mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition (MAT) of parasitized DCs. This emerging concept suggests that parasitized DCs acquire metastasis-like migratory properties that promote infection-related dissemination.
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| 9. |
- Ólafsson, Einar B., 1988-
(författare)
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Signaling determinants in Trojan horse-mediated dissemination of Toxoplasma gondii
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects all warm-blooded vertebrates including one third of the global human population. While infection is typically asymptomatic in healthy human hosts, reactivated and acute infection in immunosuppressed or immunecompromised individuals can lead to lethal toxoplasmic encephalitis After ingestion, the parasite crosses the intestinal epithelium and rapidly achieves systemic dissemination, ultimately establishing chronic infection in the brain. Shortly after crossing the intestinal epithelium T. gondii encounters dendritic cells (DCs). Paradoxically, T. gondii tachyzoites exploit the inherent migratory ability of DCs for dissemination via a “Trojan horse” mechanism. Within minutes of active invasion by T. gondii tachyzoites, DCs adopt a hypermigratory phenotype that mediates rapid systemic dissemination of T. gondii in mice. Previous studies have demonstrated that the hypermigratory phenotype involves cytoskeletal rearrangement, redistribution of integrins and high-velocity in vitro cell migration (termed hypermotility), which is initiated by GABAergic signaling. However, the downstream effectors of GABAergic signaling in parasitized DCs remain enigmatic. Leukocyte migration often relies on adhesion and proteolysis of extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the role of ECM proteolysis in hypermigration has not been addressed. In this thesis, the migratory activation of T. gondii-infected DCs is characterized in terms of cell signaling and ECM proteolysis.In paper I we demonstrate that MMP-mediated proteolytic activity of DCs is abolished upon T. gondii infection. To investigate DC pericellular proteolysis at the single cell level, we developed a high-content imaging and automated image analysis method. With pharmacological inhibitors and gene silencing, we show that T. gondii-infected DCs lose the ability to degrade ECM through the upregulation of TIMP1 and the loss of podosome structures.In paper II we show that the hypermigratory phenotype induced by GABAergic signaling in T. gondii-infected DCs is dependent on L-type voltage dependent Ca2+ channel (L-VDCC) activation, predominantly CaV1.3. Pharmacological antagonism of CaV1.3 and gene silencing of cav1.3 blocked hypermotility. Further, inhibition of L-VDCCs with benidipine significantly reduced T. gondii dissemination in a mouse model.In paper III we address the impact of TIMP1 on the migratory activation of T. gondii-infected DCs. Using pharmacological antagonism and shRNA-mediated gene silencing, we demonstrate that secreted TIMP1 induces motility and migration in T. gondii-infected DCs by activating ITGB1-FAK signaling through interactions with CD63.In paper IV we report that the GTPase Ras functions as a molecular switch in the migratory activation of T. gondii-infected DCs. We identify that VDCC-CaM-CaMkII and Met signaling converge on Ras-mediated Erk phosphorylation leading to migratory activation of T. gondii-infected DCs.In summary, my thesis details novel host signaling pathways hijacked by the protozoan parasite T. gondii in Trojan horse DCs for dissemination. Through the investigation of host-parasite interactions, we shed new light on mechanisms that govern leukocyte migration and strategies employed by T. gondii to achieve pervasive dissemination. Gaining further insights into the biology that underlies T. gondii pathogenesis and persistence will help ameliorate toxoplasmosis in at-risk groups.
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| 10. |
- Ólafsson, Einar B., et al.
(författare)
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The unicellular eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii hijacks the migration machinery of mononuclear phagocytes to promote its dissemination
- 2020
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Ingår i: Biology of the Cell. - : Wiley. - 0248-4900 .- 1768-322X. ; 112:9, s. 239-250
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan with the ability to infect virtually any type of nucleated cell in warm-blooded vertebrates including humans. Toxoplasma gondii invades immune cells, which the parasite employs as shuttles for dissemination by a Trojan horse mechanism. Recent findings are starting to unveil how this parasite orchestrates the subversion of the migratory functions of parasitised mononuclear phagocytes, especially dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes. Here, we focus on how T. gondii impacts host cell signalling that regulates leukocyte motility and systemic migration in tissues. Shortly after active parasite invasion, DCs undergo mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition and adopt a high-speed amoeboid mode of motility. To trigger migratory activation - termed hypermigratory phenotype - T. gondii induces GABAergic signalling, which results in calcium fluxes mediated by voltage-gated calcium channels in parasitised DCs and brain microglia. Additionally, a TIMP-1-CD63-ITGB1-FAK signalling axis and signalling via the receptor tyrosine kinase MET promotes sustained hypermigration of parasitised DCs. Recent reports show that the activated signalling pathways converge on the small GTPase Ras to activate the MAPK Erk signalling cascade, a central regulator of cell motility. To date, three T. gondii-derived putative effector molecules have been linked to hypermigration: Tg14-3-3, TgWIP and ROP17. Here, we discuss their impact on the hypermigratory phenotype of phagocytes. Altogether, the emerging concept suggests that T. gondii induces metastasis-like migratory properties in parasitised mononuclear phagocytes to promote infection-related dissemination.
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