Hypoxia and collagen deposition in the kidneys infected with Acanthamoeba sp

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 28096 - 13
• Main Authors: Kot, Karolina, Grabowska, Marta, Tarnowski, Maciej, Kupnicka, Patrycja, Tomasiak, Patrycja, Kosik-Bogacka, Danuta, Łanocha-Arendarczyk, Natalia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 15-11-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326/417; 631/326/417/2546; Acanthamoeba; Acanthamoeba sp; Angiogenesis; Collagen; CYBB protein; HIFs; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hypoxia; Immune response; Immunomodulation; Kidneys; multidisciplinary; Opportunist infection; Parasites; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); TGF-β; Transforming growth factor-b; Angiogenesis; TGF-β; Kidneys; sp; Collagen; HIFs
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79848-4

Acanthamoeba
spp. are facultative, opportunistic pathogens that are found in diverse environments. In the hosts, they lead to multi-organ disease. Recent studies reported that they may induce changes in the kidneys of hosts. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of
Acanthamoeba
sp. on hypoxia and collagen deposition in the kidneys of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice infected with
Acanthamoeba
sp. The results strongly suggest that
Acanthamoeba
sp. induces hypoxia in mice with normal and reduced immune response by increasing gene and/or protein expression of HIF1α as well as HIF2α. Additionally, the activation of these factors is probably induced via NOX2/ROS. Hypoxia promotes vessel formation, and we found that angiogenesis occurs in the kidneys of mice infected with the parasite regardless of their immunological status. The proangiogenic factors released in hypoxic conditions cause modulation and inflammation in the kidney cells, which in turn leads to collagen deposition via TGF-β. This work reveals mechanisms occurring in the hosts infected with
Acanthamoeba
sp., highlights as well as supports the relevance of pathophysiology in the kidneys in hosts with systematic acanthamoebiasis.