Proteomic profile associated with cell death induced by androgens in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci: proposed interactome

J Helminthol. 2019 Sep;93(5):539-547. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X18000706. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Abstract

Androgens have been shown to exert a cysticidal effect upon Taenia crassiceps, an experimental model of cysticercosis. To further inquire into this matter, the Taenia crassiceps model was used to evaluate the expression of several proteins after testosterone (T4) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in vitro treatment. Under 2-D proteomic maps, parasite extracts were resolved into approximately 130 proteins distributed in a molecular weight range of 10-250 kDa and isoelectrical point range of 3-10. The resultant proteomic pattern was analysed, and significant changes were observed in response to T4 and DHT. Based on our experience with electrophoretic patterns and proteomic maps of cytoskeletal proteins, alteration in the expression of isoforms of actin, tubulin and paramyosin and of other proteins was assessed. Considering that androgens may exert their biological activity in taeniids through the non-specific progesterone receptor membrane component (PGRMC), we harnessed bioinformatics to propose the identity of androgen-regulated proteins and establish their hypothetical physiological role in the parasites. These analyses yield a possible explanation of how androgens exert their cysticidal effects through changes in the expression of proteins involved in cytoskeletal rearrangement, dynamic vesicular traffic and transduction of intracellular signals.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Androgens / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Death*
  • Computational Biology
  • Cysticercosis / pathology
  • Cysticercus / drug effects
  • Cysticercus / physiology
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / genetics
  • Dihydrotestosterone / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Proteome*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics
  • Taenia / drug effects*
  • Taenia / physiology*
  • Testosterone / pharmacology
  • Tropomyosin / genetics
  • Tubulin / genetics

Substances

  • Actins
  • Androgens
  • Proteome
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Tropomyosin
  • Tubulin
  • Dihydrotestosterone
  • Testosterone