title: Possible role of the 34-kilodalton hyaluronic acid-binding protein in visceral Leishmaniasis.
abstract: Leishmania donovani, the causative organism of human visceral leishmaniasis, invades host macrophages through its interaction with the cell surface molecules of target cells. The presence of a cell surface protein (Mr 34 kDa) having specific affinity toward hyaluronan (HA), a major extracellular matrix component, has been previously reported in macrophage cell lines. In order to identify the possible role of this HA-binding protein (HABP) in leishmaniasis, initially we demonstrated its overexpression in spleen, liver, macrophages, and serum of hamsters infected with L. donovani. We further observed higher levels of HABP in the macrophage cell line J774.G8 upon infection with L. donovani. Finally, we observed a significant increase in the level of HABP in the serum of patients with kala-azar. In order to understand its functional role in leishmaniasis, we report here a significant inhibition of cellular phosphorylation of HABP in hamster macrophages infected with L. donovani. Interestingly, the 34-kDa HABP was shown to bind with 2 proteins of promastigotes as well as amastigotes of L. donovani (with molecular masses of 55 kDa and 30 kDa respectively), suggesting a possible role for HABP in adhesion during the interaction of promastigotes and macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salotra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006224:Cricetinae; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000209:etiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011951:Receptors, Complement / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C087299:C1QBP protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011951:Receptors, Complement; C032402:complement 1q receptor; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid