Caenorhabditis elegans neuropeptide NLP-27 enhances neurodegeneration and paralysis in an opioid-like manner during fungal infection
Maria Pop,
Anna-Lena Klemke,
Lena Seidler,
Nicole Wernet,
Pietrina Loredana Steudel,
Vanessa Baust,
Elke Wohlmann,
Reinhard Fischer
Affiliations
Maria Pop
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Anna-Lena Klemke
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Lena Seidler
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Nicole Wernet
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Pietrina Loredana Steudel
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Vanessa Baust
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Elke Wohlmann
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Reinhard Fischer
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Institute for Applied Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Corresponding author
Summary: The nervous system of metazoans is involved in host-pathogen interactions to control immune activation. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this includes sleep induction, mediated by neuropeptide-like proteins (NLPs), which increases the chance of survival after wounding. Here we analyzed the role of NLP-27 in the infection of C. elegans with the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys flagrans. Early responses of C. elegans were the upregulation of nlp-27, the induction of paralysis (sleep), and neurodegeneration of the mechanosensing PVD (Posterior Ventral Process D) neurons. Deletion of nlp-27 reduced neurodegeneration during fungal attack. Induction of nlp-27 was independent of the MAP kinase PMK-1, and expression of nlp-27 in the hypodermis was sufficient to induce paralysis, although NLP-27 was also upregulated in head neurons. NLP-27 contains the pentapeptide YGGYG sequence known to bind the human μ- and κ-type opioid receptors suggesting NLP-27 or peptides thereof act on opioid receptors. The opioid receptor antagonist naloxone shortened the paralysis time like overexpression of NLP-27.
