Interplay of Trypanosome Lytic Factor and innate immune cells in the resolution of cutaneous Leishmania infection

Trypanosome Lytic Factor (TLF) is a primate-specific high-density lipoprotein (HDL) complex that, through the cation channel-forming protein apolipoprotein L-1 (APOL1), provides innate immunity to a select kinetoplastid parasites. The immunoprotective effects of TLF have been extensively investigated in the context of its interaction with the extracellular protozoan Trypanosoma brucei brucei, to which it confers sterile immunity. We previously showed that TLF could act against intracellular pathogen Leishmania, and here we dissected the role of TLF and its synergy with host-immune cells. Leishmania major is transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies, which deposit the parasite intradermally into mammalian hosts, where neutrophils are the predominant phagocytes recruited to the site of infection. Once in the host, the parasites are phagocytosed and shed their surface glycoconjugates during differentiation to the mammalian-resident amastigote stage. Our data show that mice producing TLF have reduced parasite burdens when infected intradermally with metacyclic promastigotes of L. major, the infective, fly-transmitted stage. This TLF-mediated reduction in parasite burden was lost in neutrophil-depleted mice, suggesting that early recruitment of neutrophils is required for TLF-mediated killing of L. major. In vitro we find that only metacyclic promastigotes co-incubated with TLF in an acidic milieu were lysed. However, amastigotes were not killed by TLF at any pH. These findings correlated with binding experiments, revealing that labeled TLF binds specifically to the surface of metacyclic promastigotes, but not to amastigotes. Metacyclic promastigotes of L. major deficient in the synthesis of surface glycoconjugates LPG and/or PPG (lpg1- and lpg5A-/lpg5B- respectively whose absence mimics the amastigote surface, were resistant to TLF-mediated lysis. We propose that TLF binds to the outer surface glycoconjugates of metacyclic promastigotes, whereupon it kills the parasite in acidic phagosome of phagocytes. We hypothesize that resistance to TLF requires shedding of the surface glycoconjugates, which occurs several hours after phagocytosis by immune cells, creating a relatively short-lived but effective window for TLF to act against Leishmania.

Leishmanial apolipoprotein A-I expression: a possible strategy used by the parasite to evade the host’s immune response

Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) represents the main component of the Trypanosome lytic factor (TLF) which contributes to the host innate immunity against Trypanosoma and Leishmania. These parasites use complex and multiple strategies such as molecular mimicry to evade or subvert the host immune system. Previous studies have highlighted the adaptation mechanisms of TLF-resistant Trypanosoma species. These data might support the hypothesis that Leishmania parasites (amastigote forms in macrophages) might express apo A-I to bypass and escape from TLF action as a component of the host innate immune responses. The anti-inflammatory property of apo A-I is another mechanism that supports our idea that apo A-I may play a role in Leishmania parasites allowing them to bypass the host innate immune system.

Heme-deficient metabolism and impaired cellular differentiation as an evolutionary trade-off for human infectivity in Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Resistance to African trypanosomes in humans relies on targeting of a trypanosome lytic factor 1 (TLF1) to trypanosome haptoglobin-hemoglobin receptor (HpHbR). While TLF1 avoidance by the inactivation of the HpHbR contributes to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense human infectivity, the evolutionary trade-off of this adaptation is unknown. Both T. b. gambiense with inactive HpHbR, as well as a genetically engineered T.b.brucei HpHbR knock-out show only trace levels of intracellular heme and lack the downstream hemoprotein activities, thereby providing an extraordinary example of aerobic parasite proliferation in the absence of heme. We further show that HpHbR facilitates the developmental progression by inducing PAD-1 expression that is associated with the formation of cell cycle-arrested stumpy forms in T. b.brucei . Accordingly, T. b. gambiense was found to be poorly competent for slender-to-stumpy differentiation unless a functional HpHbR receptor derived from T. b. brucei was genetically restored.

Interplay of the Trypanosome Lytic Factor and innate immune cells in the resolution of cutaneous Leishmania infection

Trypanosome Lytic Factor (TLF) is a primate-specific high-density lipoprotein complex that contains APOL1, the lytic component. Human TLF confers sterile immunity to many animal-infective extracellular Trypanosoma Ssp, which have been extensively investigated. Here, we have dissected the underappreciated role of TLF and neutrophils against intracellular Leishmania in intradermal infection. Our data show that mice producing human or baboon TLF have reduced parasite burdens when infected intradermally with metacyclic promastigotes of L. major. This TLF-mediated reduction in parasite burden was lost in neutrophil-depleted TLF mice, suggesting that early recruitment of neutrophils is required for TLF-mediated killing of L. major. Neutrophils and macrophages are the predominant phagocytes recruited to the site of infection. Our data show that acidification of the macrophage phagosome is essential for TLF-mediated lysis of metacyclic promastigotes. In vitro we find that only metacyclic promastigotes co-incubated with TLF in an acidic milieu were lysed. However, amastigotes were not killed by TLF at any pH. These findings correlated with binding experiments, revealing that labeled TLF binds specifically to the surface of metacyclic promastigotes, but not to amastigotes. During differentiation to the amastigote stage, the parasites shed their surface glycoconjugates. Metacyclic promastigotes of L. major deficient in the synthesis of surface glycoconjugates (lpg1- and lpg5A-/lpg5B-) were partially resistant to TLF lysis. We propose that TLF binds to the outer surface glycoconjugates of metacyclic promastigotes, whereupon APOL1 forms a pH-gated ion channel in the plasma membrane, resulting in osmotic lysis. We hypothesize that resistance to TLF requires shedding of the surface glycoconjugates, which occurs upon phagocytosis by immune cells.Author SummaryLeishmaniasis is a common term used for disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Depending on the parasite species and the clinical outcome of the disease, leishmaniasis can be divided into cutaneous, muco-cutaneous and visceral. Of the three, cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form, which is usually characterized by a localized lesion due to the infection of immune cells, primarily macrophages of the dermis and local lymph nodes. Sometimes, infected individuals can remain asymptomatic and do not show visible lesions. Moreover, the time between the infection and appearance of lesions are also variable and range from a few weeks to months and a few years in some cases. This subclinical stage of leishmaniasis depends on a variety of factors: parasite virulence, infectious dose, and host immune response. Therefore, it is important to understand the host-parasite interaction and its role in the clinical outcome of the disease. Here, we analyze the interaction between a cutaneous strain of Leishmania and a host innate immune factor called Trypanosome Lytic Factor (TLF). TLF is a type of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) complex that circulates in our plasma. TLF kills extracellular African Trypanosomes by lysing the parasites. The lytic ability of TLF is due to the primate specific protein APOL1 that forms pH gated ion channels. APOL1 inserts into biological membranes at acidic pH and forms a closed ion-channel that opens when the membrane associated APOL1 is exposed to neutral pH.Using transgenic mice producing primate TLF, we show both human and baboon TLFs ameliorate cutaneous Leishmania major infection. The reduction in parasite burden correlated with: 1. infectious dose of metacyclic promastigotes and 2. the concentration of circulating TLF in mouse plasma. The early recruitment of neutrophils at the site of infection was required for the reduction of parasite burden by TLF. Macrophages, another major cell that phagocytoses metacyclic promastigotes at the site of infection require an acidified phagosome for TLF mediated killing of L. major. The acidification step is also essential for TLF mediated lysis of axenic metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania in vitro. The susceptibility of metacyclic promastigotes to TLF mediated lysis is governed by the surface glycoconjugates of Leishmania. We find that surface glycoconjugate deficient Leishmania are resistant to TLF mediated killing. Based on these data, we conclude that the shedding of surface glycoconjugates while transitioning from metacyclic promastigotes to amastigotes results in parasite resistance to TLF mediated lysis. Whether TLF is effective at killing metacyclic promastigotes of other experimentally tractable Leishmania sp. such as L. infantum, and L. donovani, which have slightly different surface glycoconjugate structures is yet to be tested. Our data raise the possibility that TLF can have lytic activity against a broad range of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites with surface glycoconjugates that transit through intracellular acidic compartments.

A co-evolutionary arms race: trypanosomes shaping the human genome, humans shaping the trypanosome genome

SUMMARYTrypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of African sleeping sickness in humans and one of several pathogens that cause the related veterinary disease Nagana. A complex co-evolution has occurred between these parasites and primates that led to the emergence of trypanosome-specific defences and counter-measures. The first line of defence in humans and several other catarrhine primates is the trypanolytic protein apolipoprotein-L1 (APOL1) found within two serum protein complexes, trypanosome lytic factor 1 and 2 (TLF-1 and TLF-2). Two sub-species of T. brucei have evolved specific mechanisms to overcome this innate resistance, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. In T. b. rhodesiense, the presence of the serum resistance associated (SRA) gene, a truncated variable surface glycoprotein (VSG), is sufficient to confer resistance to lysis. The resistance mechanism of T. b. gambiense is more complex, involving multiple components: reduction in binding affinity of a receptor for TLF, increased cysteine protease activity and the presence of the truncated VSG, T. b. gambiense-specific glycoprotein (TgsGP). In a striking example of co-evolution, evidence is emerging that primates are responding to challenge by T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense, with several populations of humans and primates displaying resistance to infection by these two sub-species.

Endosomal Localization of the Serum Resistance-Associated Protein in African Trypanosomes Confers Human Infectivity

ABSTRACT Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is the causative agent of human African sleeping sickness. While the closely related subspecies T. brucei brucei is highly susceptible to lysis by a subclass of human high-density lipoproteins (HDL) called trypanosome lytic factor (TLF), T. brucei rhodesiense is resistant and therefore able to establish acute and fatal infections in humans. This resistance is due to expression of the serum resistance-associated (SRA) gene, a member of the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene family. Although much has been done to establish the role of SRA in human serum resistance, the specific molecular mechanism of SRA-mediated resistance remains a mystery. Thus, we report the trafficking and steady-state localization of SRA in order to provide more insight into the mechanism of SRA-mediated resistance. We show that SRA traffics to the flagellar pocket of bloodstream-form T. brucei organisms, where it localizes transiently before being endocytosed to its steady-state localization in endosomes, and we demonstrate that the critical point of colocalization between SRA and TLF occurs intracellularly.