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Maternal infection with Schistosoma japonicum induces a profibrotic response in neonates.

ABSTRACT: The global burden of schistosomiasis is significant, with fibrosis a major associated morbidity and the primary cause of mortality. We have previously shown that schistosomiasis during pregnancy upregulates proinflammatory cytokines in the cord blood. In this study, we extend these findings to include a large panel of fibrosis-associated markers. We developed a multiplex bead-based assay to measure the levels of 35 proteins associated with fibrosis. Cord blood from 109 neonates born to mothers residing in an area of Schistosoma japonicum endemicity was assessed for these molecules. Ten mediators were elevated in the cord blood from schistosome-infected pregnancies, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), tumor growth factor ?1 (TGF-?1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), procollagen I carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), amino-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (ICTP), collagen VI, desmosine, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and TIMP-4. Many of these were also positively correlated with preterm birth (PICP, ICTP, MMP-2, TGF-?1, desmosine, CTGF, TIMP-1). In addition, birth weight was 168 g lower for infants with detectable levels of CTGF than for those with CTGF levels below the level of detection. Maternal schistosomiasis results in upregulation of fibrosis-associated proteins in the cord blood of the neonate, a subset of which are also associated with adverse birth outcomes. As the first report of fibrosis-associated molecules altered in the newborn of infected mothers, this study has broad implications for the health of the fetus, stretching from gestation to adulthood.

SUBMITTER: McDonald EA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3911825 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Maternal infection with Schistosoma japonicum induces a profibrotic response in neonates.

McDonald Emily A EA Cheng Ling L Jarilla Blanca B Sagliba Marianne J MJ Gonzal Annaliza A Amoylen Amabelle J AJ Olveda Remigio R Acosta Luz L Baylink David D White Eric S ES Friedman Jennifer F JF Kurtis Jonathan D JD

Infection and immunity 20131028 1

The global burden of schistosomiasis is significant, with fibrosis a major associated morbidity and the primary cause of mortality. We have previously shown that schistosomiasis during pregnancy upregulates proinflammatory cytokines in the cord blood. In this study, we extend these findings to include a large panel of fibrosis-associated markers. We developed a multiplex bead-based assay to measure the levels of 35 proteins associated with fibrosis. Cord blood from 109 neonates born to mothers r ...[more]

PMID: 24166958

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Project description:In areas endemic to schistosomiasis, fetal exposure to schistosome antigens prime the offspring before potential natural infection. Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment for Schistosoma japonicum infection in pregnant women has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. Our objectives were to evaluate whether maternal PZQ treatment modifies the process of in utero sensitization to schistosome antigens potentially impacting later risk of infection, as well as immune response to S. japonicum. We enrolled 295 children at age six, born to mothers with S. japonicum infection who participated in a randomized control trial of PZQ versus placebo given at 12-16 weeks gestation in Leyte, The Philippines. At enrollment, we assessed and treated current S. japonicum infection and measured serum cytokines. During a follow-up visit four weeks later, we assessed peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine production in response to soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) or soluble egg antigen (SEA). Associations between maternal treatment group and the child's S. japonicum infection status and immunologic responses were determined using multivariate linear regression analysis. PZQ treatment during pregnancy did not impact the prevalence (P = 0.12) or intensity (P = 0.59) of natural S. japonicum infection among children at age six. Among children with infection at enrollment (12.5%) there were no significant serum cytokine concentration differences between maternal treatment groups. Among children with infection at enrollment, IL-1 production by PBMCs stimulated with SEA was higher (P = 0.03) in the maternal PZQ group compared to placebo. Among children without infection, PBMCs stimulated with SEA produced greater IL-12 (P = 0.03) and with SWAP produced less IL-4 (P = 0.01) in the maternal PZQ group compared to placebo. Several cytokines produced by PBMCs in response to SWAP and SEA were significantly higher in children with S. japonicum infection irrespective of maternal treatment: IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13. We report that maternal PZQ treatment for S. japonicum shifted the PBMC immune response to a more inflammatory signature but had no impact on their offspring's likelihood of infection or serum cytokines at age six, further supporting the safe use of PZQ in pregnant women. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00486863.

Project description:In China, bovines are believed to be the most common animal source of human schistosomiasis infections, though little is known about what factors promote bovine infections. The current body of literature features inconsistent, and sometimes contradictory results, and to date, few studies have looked beyond physical characteristics to identify the broader environmental conditions that predict bovine schistosomiasis. Because schistosomiasis is a sanitation-related, water-borne disease transmitted by many animals, we hypothesised that several environmental factors - such as the lack of improved sanitation systems, or participation in agricultural production that is water-intensive - could promote schistosomiasis infection in bovines. Using data collected as part of a repeat cross-sectional study conducted in rural villages in Sichuan, China from 2007 to 2016, we used a Random Forests, machine learning approach to identify the best physical and environmental predictors of bovine Schistosoma japonicum infection. Candidate predictors included: (i) physical/biological characteristics of bovines, (ii) human sources of environmental schistosomes, (iii) socio-economic indicators, (iv) animal reservoirs, and (v) agricultural practices. The density of bovines in a village and agricultural practices such as the area of rice and dry summer crops planted, and the use of night soil as an agricultural fertilizer, were among the top predictors of bovine S. japonicum infection in all collection years. Additionally, human infection prevalence, pig ownership and bovine age were found to be strong predictors of bovine infection in at least 1 year. Our findings highlight that presumptively treating bovines in villages with high bovine density or human infection prevalence may help to interrupt transmission. Furthermore, village-level predictors were stronger predictors of bovine infection than household-level predictors, suggesting future investigations may need to apply a broad ecological lens to identify potential underlying sources of persistent transmission.

Project description:BackgroundSchistosomiasis japonica remains a significant public health problem in China and Southeast Asian countries. The most typical and serious outcome of the chronic oriental schistosomiasis is the progressive granuloma and fibrosis in the host liver, which has been a major medical challenge. However, the molecular mechanism underling the hepatic pathogenesis is still not clear.Methodology and principal findingsUsing microarrays, we quantified the temporal gene expression profiles in the liver of Schistosoma japonicum-infected BALB/c mice at 15, 30, and 45 day post infection (dpi) with that from uninfected mice as controls. Gene expression alternation associated with liver damage was observed in the initial phase of infection (dpi 15), which became more magnificent with the onset of egg-laying. Up-regulated genes were dominantly associated with inflammatory infiltration, whereas down-regulated genes primarily led to the hepatic functional disorders. Simultaneously, microRNA profiles from the same samples were decoded by Solexa sequencing. More than 130 miRNAs were differentially expressed in murine liver during S. japonicum infection. MiRNAs significantly dysregulated in the mid-phase of infection (dpi 30), such as mmu-miR-146b and mmu-miR-155, may relate to the regulation of hepatic inflammatory responses, whereas miRNAs exhibiting a peak expression in the late phase of infection (dpi 45), such as mmu-miR-223, mmu-miR-146a/b, mmu-miR-155, mmu-miR-34c, mmu-miR-199, and mmu-miR-134, may represent a molecular signature of the development of schistosomal hepatopathy. Further, a dynamic miRNA-gene co-expression network in the progression of infection was constructed.Conclusions and significanceThis study presents a global view of dynamic expression of both mRNA and miRNA transcripts in murine liver during S. japonicum infection, and highlights that miRNAs may play a variety of regulatory roles in balancing the immune responses during the development of hepatic pathology. The data provide robust information for further researches on the pathogenesis and molecular events of hepatopathy induced by schistosome eggs.

Dataset Information

Maternal infection with Schistosoma japonicum induces a profibrotic response in neonates.

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Maternal infection with Schistosoma japonicum induces a profibrotic response in neonates.

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