Trypanosoma cruzi is lysed by coelomic cytolytic factor-1, an invertebrate analogue of tumor necrosis factor, and induces phenoloxidase activity in the coelomic fluid of Eisenia foetida foetida.
A cytolytic protein named Coelomic Cytolytic Factor-1 (CCF-1) was isolated from the coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia foetida foetida. Despite the absence of any gene homology, CCF-1 showed functional analogy with the mammalian cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF), particularly based on similar lectin-like activity. Indeed, both CCF-1 and TNF recognise N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and exert lytic activity on African Trypanosoma brucei brucei. In this report, we show that South-American Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes, but not epimastigotes, were lysed by earthworm coelomic fluid or purified CCF-1. However, T. cruzi was less susceptible to lysis than T. brucei brucei. This lytic effect of coelomic fluid and CCF-1 on T. cruzi trypomastigotes was partially inhibited in the presence of anti-CCF-1 monoclonal antibody, antibody neutralising the lectin-like activity of TNF or N,N'-diacetylchitobiose. In contrast, this lytic effect was completely inhibited when using T. b. brucei. In addition, T. cruzi components, upon recognition by CCF-1 in E. f. foetida coelomic fluid, triggered the prophenoloxidase cascade, an invertebrate defence mechanism. These results further extend the functional analogies of CCF-1 and TNF, suggesting that both molecules share a similar lectin-like activity that has been conserved as an innate recognition mechanism in invertebrates and vertebrates. They also establish a link between stercorarian (T. cruzi) and salivarian (T. brucei) trypanosomatids having divergent phylogenetic origins and patterns of evolution, but possessing closely related cell surface sugar moieties.
Olivares Fontt
Elizabeth
E
Laboratoire d'Immunologie Expérimentale (CP 615), Faculté de Médecine, 808 route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium.
Beschin
Alain
A
Van Dijck
Els
E
Vercruysse
Vincent
V
Bilej
Martin
M
Lucas
Ralph
R
De Baetselier
Patrick
P
Vray
Bernard
B
D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
D003603:Cytotoxins; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D037102:Lectins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C094795:coelomic cytolytic factor 1, Eisenia fetida; C038451:pro-phenoloxidase; D004156:Catechol Oxidase