Extracellular Vesicles from <i>Naegleria fowleri</i> Induce IL-8 Response in THP-1 Macrophage
Sakaorat Lertjuthaporn,
Jinjuta Somkird,
Kittima Lekmanee,
Anyapat Atipimonpat,
Kasama Sukapirom,
Hathai Sawasdipokin,
Supathra Tiewcharoen,
Kovit Pattanapanyasat,
Ladawan Khowawisetsut
Affiliations
Sakaorat Lertjuthaporn
Center for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand
Jinjuta Somkird
Graduate Program in Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Kittima Lekmanee
Center of Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Anyapat Atipimonpat
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
Kasama Sukapirom
Center of Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Hathai Sawasdipokin
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Supathra Tiewcharoen
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Kovit Pattanapanyasat
Center of Excellence for Microparticle and Exosome in Diseases, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Ladawan Khowawisetsut
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from pathogenic protozoans play crucial roles in host–parasite communication and disease pathogenesis. Naegleria fowleri is a free-living protozoan causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a fatal disease in the central nervous system. This study aims to explore the roles of N. fowleri-derived EVs (Nf-EVs) in host–pathogen interactions using the THP-1 cell line as a model. The Nf-EVs were isolated from the N. fowleri trophozoite culture supernatant using sequential centrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The functional roles of Nf-EVs in the apoptosis and immune response induction of THP-1 monocytes and macrophages were examined by flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, and ELISA. Results showed that Nf-EVs displayed vesicles with bilayer membrane structure approximately 130–170 nm in diameter. The Nf-EVs can be internalized by macrophages and induce macrophage responses by induction of the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, HLA-DR, and CD169 and the production of cytokine IL-8. However, Nf-EVs did not affect the apoptosis of macrophages. These findings illustrate the potential role of Nf-EVs in mediating the host immune cell activation and disease pathogenesis.
