title: Androgens Exert a Cysticidal Effect upon Taenia crassiceps by Disrupting Flame Cell Morphology and Function.
abstract: The effects of testosterone (T4) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the survival of the helminth cestode parasite Taenia crassiceps, as well as their effects on actin, tubulin and myosin expression and their assembly into the excretory system of flame cells are described in this paper. In vitro evaluations on parasite viability, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, video-microscopy of live flame cells, and docking experiments of androgens interacting with actin, tubulin, and myosin were conducted. Our results show that T4 and DHT reduce T. crassiceps viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, reaching 90% of mortality at the highest dose used (40 ng/ml) and time exposed (10 days) in culture. Androgen treatment does not induce differences in the specific expression pattern of actin, tubulin, and myosin isoforms as compared with control parasites. Confocal microscopy demonstrated a strong disruption of the parasite tegument, with reduced assembly, shape, and motion of flame cells. Docking experiments show that androgens are capable of affecting parasite survival and flame cell morphology by directly interacting with actin, tubulin and myosin without altering their protein expression pattern. We show that both T4 and DHT are able to bind actin, tubulin, and myosin affecting their assembly and causing parasite intoxication due to impairment of flame cell function. Live flame cell video microscopy showing a reduced motion as well changes in the shape of flame cells are also shown. In summary, T4 and DHT directly act on T. crassiceps cysticerci through altering parasite survival as well as the assembly and function of flame cells.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Javier R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valverde-Islas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Nava-Castro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Palacios-Arreola
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ostoa-Saloma
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reynoso-Ducoing
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Galileo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Segar Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Azucena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruíz-Rosado
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Escuela de Ciencias, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Santa Catarina Mártir Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lenin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dominguez-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales-Montor
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013621:Taenia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000728:Androgens; D000871:Anthelmintics; D014404:Tubulin; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D009218:Myosins