The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei

Background: Trypanosoma brucei is a blood-borne, protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals. The current chemotherapy relies on only a handful of drugs that display undesirable toxicity, poor efficacy and drug-resistance. In this study, we explored t...

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Main Authors: Hazel Xinyu Koh, Htay Mon Aye, Kevin S. W. Tan, Cynthia Y. He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shared Science Publishers OG 2015-07-01
Series:Microbial Cell
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Online Access:http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/the-lysosomotropic-drug-leuleu-ome-induces-lysosome-disruption-and-autophagy-independent-cell-death-in-trypanosoma-brucei/
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author Hazel Xinyu Koh
Htay Mon Aye
Kevin S. W. Tan
Cynthia Y. He
author_facet Hazel Xinyu Koh
Htay Mon Aye
Kevin S. W. Tan
Cynthia Y. He
author_sort Hazel Xinyu Koh
collection DOAJ
description Background: Trypanosoma brucei is a blood-borne, protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals. The current chemotherapy relies on only a handful of drugs that display undesirable toxicity, poor efficacy and drug-resistance. In this study, we explored the use of lysosomotropic drugs to induce bloodstream form T. brucei cell death via lysosome destabilization. Methods: We measured drug concentrations that inhibit cell proliferation by 50% (IC50) for several compounds, chosen based on their lysosomotropic effects previously reported in Plasmodium falciparum. The lysosomal effects and cell death induced by L-leucyl-L-leucyl methyl ester (LeuLeu-OMe) were further analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analyses of different lysosomal markers. The effect of autophagy in LeuLeu-OMe-induced lysosome destabilization and cytotoxicity was also investigated in control and autophagy-deficient cells. Results: LeuLeu-OMe was selected for detailed analyses due to its strong inhibitory profile against T. brucei with minimal toxicity to human cell lines in vitro. Time-dependent immunofluorescence studies confirmed an effect of LeuLeu-OMe on the lysosome. LeuLeu-OMe-induced cytotoxicity was also found to be dependent on the acidic pH of the lysosome. Although an increase in autophagosomes was observed upon LeuLeu-OMe treatment, autophagy was not required for the cell death induced by LeuLeu-OMe. Necrosis appeared to be the main cause of cell death upon LeuLeu-OMe treatment. Conclusions: LeuLeu-OMe is a lysosomotropic agent capable of destabilizing lysosomes and causing necrotic cell death in bloodstream form of T. brucei.
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spelling doaj-art-d4f78e7fa55241c392deaf91ddacd07f2025-08-20T02:57:39ZengShared Science Publishers OGMicrobial Cell2311-26382015-07-012828829810.15698/mic2015.08.217123455678The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma bruceiHazel Xinyu Koh0Htay Mon Aye1Kevin S. W. Tan2Cynthia Y. He3Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore.Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore.Background: Trypanosoma brucei is a blood-borne, protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in animals. The current chemotherapy relies on only a handful of drugs that display undesirable toxicity, poor efficacy and drug-resistance. In this study, we explored the use of lysosomotropic drugs to induce bloodstream form T. brucei cell death via lysosome destabilization. Methods: We measured drug concentrations that inhibit cell proliferation by 50% (IC50) for several compounds, chosen based on their lysosomotropic effects previously reported in Plasmodium falciparum. The lysosomal effects and cell death induced by L-leucyl-L-leucyl methyl ester (LeuLeu-OMe) were further analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analyses of different lysosomal markers. The effect of autophagy in LeuLeu-OMe-induced lysosome destabilization and cytotoxicity was also investigated in control and autophagy-deficient cells. Results: LeuLeu-OMe was selected for detailed analyses due to its strong inhibitory profile against T. brucei with minimal toxicity to human cell lines in vitro. Time-dependent immunofluorescence studies confirmed an effect of LeuLeu-OMe on the lysosome. LeuLeu-OMe-induced cytotoxicity was also found to be dependent on the acidic pH of the lysosome. Although an increase in autophagosomes was observed upon LeuLeu-OMe treatment, autophagy was not required for the cell death induced by LeuLeu-OMe. Necrosis appeared to be the main cause of cell death upon LeuLeu-OMe treatment. Conclusions: LeuLeu-OMe is a lysosomotropic agent capable of destabilizing lysosomes and causing necrotic cell death in bloodstream form of T. brucei.http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/the-lysosomotropic-drug-leuleu-ome-induces-lysosome-disruption-and-autophagy-independent-cell-death-in-trypanosoma-brucei/Trypanosoma bruceiLeuLeu-OMelysosomelysosomotropicnecrosisautophagy
spellingShingle Hazel Xinyu Koh
Htay Mon Aye
Kevin S. W. Tan
Cynthia Y. He
The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
Microbial Cell
Trypanosoma brucei
LeuLeu-OMe
lysosome
lysosomotropic
necrosis
autophagy
title The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
title_full The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
title_fullStr The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
title_full_unstemmed The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
title_short The lysosomotropic drug LeuLeu-OMe induces lysosome disruption and autophagy-independent cell death in Trypanosoma brucei
title_sort lysosomotropic drug leuleu ome induces lysosome disruption and autophagy independent cell death in trypanosoma brucei
topic Trypanosoma brucei
LeuLeu-OMe
lysosome
lysosomotropic
necrosis
autophagy
url http://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/the-lysosomotropic-drug-leuleu-ome-induces-lysosome-disruption-and-autophagy-independent-cell-death-in-trypanosoma-brucei/
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