title: Extracellular vesicles from parasitic helminths contain specific excretory/secretory proteins and are internalized in intestinal host cells.
abstract: The study of host-parasite interactions has increased considerably in the last decades, with many studies focusing on the identification of parasite molecules (i.e. surface or excretory/secretory proteins (ESP)) as potential targets for new specific treatments and/or diagnostic tools. In parallel, in the last few years there have been significant advances in the field of extracellular vesicles research. Among these vesicles, exosomes of endocytic origin, with a characteristic size ranging from 30-100 nm, carry several atypical secreted proteins in different organisms, including parasitic protozoa. Here, we present experimental evidence for the existence of exosome-like vesicles in parasitic helminths, specifically the trematodes Echinostoma caproni and Fasciola hepatica. These microvesicles are actively released by the parasites and are taken up by host cells. Trematode extracellular vesicles contain most of the proteins previously identified as components of ESP, as confirmed by proteomic, immunogold labeling and electron microscopy studies. In addition to parasitic proteins, we also identify host proteins in these structures. The existence of extracellular vesicles explains the secretion of atypical proteins in trematodes, and the demonstration of their uptake by host cells suggests an important role for these structures in host-parasite communication, as described for other infectious agents.
authors.affiliation: Área de Parasitología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Parasitología, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain. antonio.marcilla@uv.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcilla
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trelis
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotillo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantalapiedra
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Minguez
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Manuel Mateo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sánchez del Pino
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Antoli
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004449:Echinostoma / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004451:Echinostomiasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins