title: Progesterone induces scolex evagination of the human parasite Taenia solium: evolutionary implications to the host-parasite relationship.
abstract: Taenia solium cysticercosis is a health problem in underdeveloped and developed countries. Sex hormones are involved in cysticercosis prevalence in female and male pigs. Here, we evaluated the effects of progesterone and its antagonist RU486 on scolex evagination, which is the initial step in the development of the adult worm. Interestingly, progesterone increased T. solium scolex evagination and worm growth, in a concentration-independent pattern. Progesterone effects could be mediated by a novel T. solium progesterone receptor (TsPR), since RU486 inhibits both scolex evagination and worm development induced by progesterone. Using RT-PCR and western blot, sequences related to progesterone receptor were detected in the parasite. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that TsPR is highly related to fish and amphibian progesterone receptors, whereas it has a distant relation with birds and mammals. Conclusively, progesterone directly acts upon T. solium cysticerci, possibly through its binding to a progesterone receptor synthesized by the parasite.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 70228, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Galileo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Camacho-Arroyo
authors.forename: Olivia Tania
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Hernández-Hernández
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostoa-Saloma
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Varela
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales-Montor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013045:Species Specificity; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone