Extracellular vesicles from parasitic helminths contain specific excretory/secretory proteins and are internalized in intestinal host cells

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 9; p. e45974
• Main Authors: Marcilla, Antonio, Trelis, María, Cortés, Alba, Sotillo, Javier, Cantalapiedra, Fernando, Minguez, María Teresa, Valero, María Luz, Sánchez del Pino, Manuel Mateo, Muñoz-Antoli, Carla, Toledo, Rafael, Bernal, Dolores
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 24-09-2012; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cloning; Cryptococcus neoformans; Diagnosis; Diagnostic software; Diagnostic systems; Echinostoma; Echinostoma - physiology; Echinostoma - ultrastructure; Echinostomiasis - metabolism; Echinostomiasis - parasitology; Electron microscopy; Exosomes; Exosomes - metabolism; Extracellular vesicles; Fasciola hepatica; Fasciola hepatica - physiology; Fasciola hepatica - ultrastructure; Fascioliasis - metabolism; Fascioliasis - parasitology; Genetic aspects; Helminth Proteins - metabolism; Host-Parasite Interactions; Host-parasite relationships; Humans; Infections; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism; Intestinal Mucosa - parasitology; Intestine; Livestock; Medicine; Parasites; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Proteomics; Protozoa; Protozoan diseases; Rats; Rodents; Studies; Tropical diseases; Vesicles; Spain
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045974

The study of host-parasite interactions has increased considerably in the last decades, with many studies focusing on the identification of parasite molecules (i.e. surface or excretory/secretory proteins (ESP)) as potential targets for new specific treatments and/or diagnostic tools. In parallel, in the last few years there have been significant advances in the field of extracellular vesicles research. Among these vesicles, exosomes of endocytic origin, with a characteristic size ranging from 30-100 nm, carry several atypical secreted proteins in different organisms, including parasitic protozoa. Here, we present experimental evidence for the existence of exosome-like vesicles in parasitic helminths, specifically the trematodes Echinostoma caproni and Fasciola hepatica. These microvesicles are actively released by the parasites and are taken up by host cells. Trematode extracellular vesicles contain most of the proteins previously identified as components of ESP, as confirmed by proteomic, immunogold labeling and electron microscopy studies. In addition to parasitic proteins, we also identify host proteins in these structures. The existence of extracellular vesicles explains the secretion of atypical proteins in trematodes, and the demonstration of their uptake by host cells suggests an important role for these structures in host-parasite communication, as described for other infectious agents.