The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes

Parasites of the Leishmania species have been observed to infect macrophages and thereby modulate the host microbicidal responses, resulting in a wide spectrum of diseases. A comprehensive experimental mapping of the relationship between the double-stranded RNA protein kinase R (PKR) and NF-κB pathw...

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Main Authors: Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini, Bianca Cristina Duarte Vivarini, Yuri Nunes Oliveira, Flavia Thiebaut, Evelize Folly das Chagas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press
Series:Parasitology
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100218/type/journal_article
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author Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini
Bianca Cristina Duarte Vivarini
Yuri Nunes Oliveira
Flavia Thiebaut
Evelize Folly das Chagas
author_facet Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini
Bianca Cristina Duarte Vivarini
Yuri Nunes Oliveira
Flavia Thiebaut
Evelize Folly das Chagas
author_sort Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini
collection DOAJ
description Parasites of the Leishmania species have been observed to infect macrophages and thereby modulate the host microbicidal responses, resulting in a wide spectrum of diseases. A comprehensive experimental mapping of the relationship between the double-stranded RNA protein kinase R (PKR) and NF-κB pathways in the outcome of the infection was conducted in an effort to improve the understanding of the biology associated with the parasites–host cell interaction. The results showed that in the absence of PKR and Type I Interferon (IFN) signalling, L. major infection was enhanced. The levels of PKR and gene promoter activation were evaluated. The results showed that infection did not induce PKR expression by inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT1 and subsequent binding in the PKR promoter. However, infection induced PKR phosphorylation but did not prevent subsequent signalling through this pathway. To address the role of activation of these signalling, the induction of PKR-dependent gene expression was examined. Activation of the classical p65/p50 dimer was found to be dependent on the PKR in the L. major infection, which was essential for the induction of iNOS, IFNβ and tumour necrosis factor expression. In addition, macrophages treated with nuclear factor-kB inhibitors were more susceptible to infection. Furthermore, translocation of the p65/p50 to the promoters of these genes increased in a PKR-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that macrophages retain their ability to induce important downstream effectors in PKR signalling. These effectors contribute to protection in pathogenesis, reducing parasite proliferation and regulating the inflammatory genes that, consequently, modulate the activation state of macrophages during infection.
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spelling doaj-art-c0264f0aefb145549b8a101db2f352c32025-08-20T03:28:43ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-816111410.1017/S0031182025100218The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genesÁislan de Carvalho Vivarini0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2629-257XBianca Cristina Duarte Vivarini1Yuri Nunes Oliveira2Flavia Thiebaut3Evelize Folly das Chagas4Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Specialized and General Surgery, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Specialized and General Surgery, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Specialized and General Surgery, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilDepartment of Specialized and General Surgery, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilParasites of the Leishmania species have been observed to infect macrophages and thereby modulate the host microbicidal responses, resulting in a wide spectrum of diseases. A comprehensive experimental mapping of the relationship between the double-stranded RNA protein kinase R (PKR) and NF-κB pathways in the outcome of the infection was conducted in an effort to improve the understanding of the biology associated with the parasites–host cell interaction. The results showed that in the absence of PKR and Type I Interferon (IFN) signalling, L. major infection was enhanced. The levels of PKR and gene promoter activation were evaluated. The results showed that infection did not induce PKR expression by inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT1 and subsequent binding in the PKR promoter. However, infection induced PKR phosphorylation but did not prevent subsequent signalling through this pathway. To address the role of activation of these signalling, the induction of PKR-dependent gene expression was examined. Activation of the classical p65/p50 dimer was found to be dependent on the PKR in the L. major infection, which was essential for the induction of iNOS, IFNβ and tumour necrosis factor expression. In addition, macrophages treated with nuclear factor-kB inhibitors were more susceptible to infection. Furthermore, translocation of the p65/p50 to the promoters of these genes increased in a PKR-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that macrophages retain their ability to induce important downstream effectors in PKR signalling. These effectors contribute to protection in pathogenesis, reducing parasite proliferation and regulating the inflammatory genes that, consequently, modulate the activation state of macrophages during infection.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100218/type/journal_articleLeishmania majormacrophageNF-κBPKR
spellingShingle Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini
Bianca Cristina Duarte Vivarini
Yuri Nunes Oliveira
Flavia Thiebaut
Evelize Folly das Chagas
The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
Parasitology
Leishmania major
macrophage
NF-κB
PKR
title The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
title_full The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
title_fullStr The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
title_full_unstemmed The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
title_short The dsRNA-dependent kinase (PKR) inhibits the growth of Leishmania major via NF-κB-mediated genes
title_sort dsrna dependent kinase pkr inhibits the growth of leishmania major via nf κb mediated genes
topic Leishmania major
macrophage
NF-κB
PKR
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025100218/type/journal_article
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