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Small molecule-based inhibition of MEK1/2 proteins dampens inflammatory responses to malaria, reduces parasite load, and mitigates pathogenic outcomes.

ABSTRACT: Malaria infections cause several systemic and severe single- or multi-organ pathologies, killing hundreds of thousands of people annually. Considering the existing widespread resistance of malaria parasites to anti-parasitic drugs and their high propensity to develop drug resistance, alternative strategies are required to manage malaria infections. Because malaria is a host immune response-driven disease, one approach is based on gaining a detailed understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that modulate malaria-induced innate and adaptive immune responses. Here, using a mouse cerebral malaria model and small-molecule inhibitors, we demonstrate that inhibiting MEK1/2, the upstream kinases of ERK1/2 signaling, alters multifactorial components of the innate and adaptive immune responses, controls parasitemia, and blocks pathogenesis. Specifically, MEK1/2 inhibitor treatment up-regulated B1 cell expansion, IgM production, phagocytic receptor expression, and phagocytic activity, enhancing parasite clearance by macrophages and neutrophils. Further, the MEK1/2 inhibitor treatment down-regulated pathogenic pro-inflammatory and helper T cell 1 (Th1) responses and up-regulated beneficial anti-inflammatory cytokine responses and Th2 responses. These inhibitor effects resulted in reduced granzyme B expression by T cells, chemokine and intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression in the brain, and chemokine receptor expression by both myeloid and T cells. These bimodal effects of the MEK1/2 inhibitor treatment on immune responses contributed to decreased parasite biomass, organ inflammation, and immune cell recruitment, preventing tissue damage and death. In summary, we have identified several previously unrecognized immune regulatory processes through which a MEK1/2 inhibitor approach controls malaria parasitemia and mitigates pathogenic effects on host organs.

SUBMITTER: Wu X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5566520 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Small molecule-based inhibition of MEK1/2 proteins dampens inflammatory responses to malaria, reduces parasite load, and mitigates pathogenic outcomes.

Wu Xianzhu X Dayanand Kiran K KK Thylur Ramesh P RP Norbury Christopher C CC Gowda D Channe DC

The Journal of biological chemistry 20170705 33

Malaria infections cause several systemic and severe single- or multi-organ pathologies, killing hundreds of thousands of people annually. Considering the existing widespread resistance of malaria parasites to anti-parasitic drugs and their high propensity to develop drug resistance, alternative strategies are required to manage malaria infections. Because malaria is a host immune response-driven disease, one approach is based on gaining a detailed understanding of the molecular and cellular pro ...[more]

PMID: 28679535

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Project description:BackgroundIn individuals living in malaria-endemic regions, parasitaemia thresholds for the onset of clinical symptoms vary with transmission intensity. The mechanisms that mediate this relationship are however, unclear. Since inflammatory responses to parasite infection contribute to the clinical manifestation of malaria, this study investigated inflammatory cytokine responses in children with malaria from areas of different transmission intensities (ranging from low to high).MethodsBlood samples were obtained from children confirmed with malaria at community hospitals in three areas with differing transmission intensities. Cytokine levels were assessed using the Luminex®-based magnetic bead array system, and levels were compared across sites using appropriate statistical tests. The relative contributions of age, gender, parasitaemia and transmission intensity on cytokine levels were investigated using multivariate regression analysis.ResultsParasite density increased with increasing transmission intensity in children presenting to hospital with symptomatic malaria, indicating that the parasitaemia threshold for clinical malaria increases with increasing transmission intensity. Furthermore, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12, decreased with increasing transmission intensity, and correlated significantly with parasitaemia levels in the low transmission area but not in high transmission areas. Similarly, levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-7, IL-10 and IL-13, decreased with increasing transmission intensity, with IL-10 showing strong correlation with parasitaemia levels in the low transmission area. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that transmission intensity was a stronger predictor of cytokine levels than age, gender and parasitaemia.ConclusionTaken together, the data demonstrate a strong relationship between the prevailing transmission intensity, parasitaemia levels and the magnitude of inflammatory responses induced during clinical malaria.

Dataset Information

Small molecule-based inhibition of MEK1/2 proteins dampens inflammatory responses to malaria, reduces parasite load, and mitigates pathogenic outcomes.

Publications

Small molecule-based inhibition of MEK1/2 proteins dampens inflammatory responses to malaria, reduces parasite load, and mitigates pathogenic outcomes.

Similar Datasets

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