Schistosome-derived omega-1 drives Th2 polarization by suppressing protein synthesis following internalization by the mannose receptor.

Omega-1, a glycosylated T2 ribonuclease (RNase) secreted by Schistosoma mansoni eggs and abundantly present in soluble egg antigen, has recently been shown to condition dendritic cells (DCs) to prime Th2 responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect remain unknown. We show in this study by site-directed mutagenesis of omega-1 that both the glycosylation and the RNase activity are essential to condition DCs for Th2 polarization. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that omega-1 is bound and internalized via its glycans by the mannose receptor (MR) and subsequently impairs protein synthesis by degrading both ribosomal and messenger RNA. These experiments reveal an unrecognized pathway involving MR and interference with protein synthesis that conditions DCs for Th2 priming.

Specific glycan elements determine differential binding of individual egg glycoproteins of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni by host C-type lectin receptors.

During infection with the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, glycan motifs present on glycoproteins of the parasite's eggs mediate immunomodulatory effects on the host. The recognition of these glycan motifs is primarily mediated by C-type lectin receptors on dendritic cells and other cells of the immune system. However, it is not yet known which individual glycoproteins interact with the different C-type lectin receptors, and which structural components are involved. Here we investigated the structural basis of the binding of two abundant egg antigens, kappa-5 and IPSE/a1, by the C-type lectin receptor dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin, macrophage galactose-type lectin and mannose receptor. In the natural soluble form, the secretory egg glycoprotein IPSE/a1 interacts with dendritic cells mainly via mannose receptors. Surprisingly, in plate-based assays mannose receptors preferentially bound to mannose conjugates, while in cell-based assays, IPSE/a1 is bound via the fucosylated Galb1-4(Fuca1-3)GlcNAc (LeX) motif on diantennary N-glycans. Kappa-5, in contrast, is bound by dendritic cells viaall three C-type lectin receptors studied and for a minor part also via other, non-C-type lectin receptors.Kappa-5 interacts with macrophage galactose-type lectins via the GalNAcb1-4GlcNAc antenna present on its triantennary N-glycans, as well as the GalNAcb1-4(Fuca1-3) GlcNAc antennae present on a minor N-glycan subset. Dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin binding of kappa-5 was mediated via the GalNAcb1-4(Fuca1-3)GlcNAc antennae, whereas binding of mannose receptors may involve either GalNAcb1-4(Fuca1-3)GlcNAc antennae or the fucosylated and xylosylated chitobiose core. This study provides a molecular and structural basis for future studies of the interaction between C-type lectin receptors and other soluble egg antigen glycoproteins and their effects on the host immune response.

Parasite glycans and antibody-mediated immune responses in Schistosoma infection.

Schistosome infections in humans are characterized by the development of chronic disease and high re-infection rates after treatment due to the slow development of immunity. It appears that anti-schistosome antibodies are at least partially mediating protective mechanisms. Efforts to develop a vaccine based on immunization with surface-exposed or secreted larval or worm proteins are ongoing. Schistosomes also express a large number of glycans as part of their glycoprotein and glycolipid repertoire, and antibody responses to those glycans are mounted by the infected host. This observation raises the question if glycans might also form novel vaccine targets for immune intervention in schistosomiasis. This review summarizes current knowledge of antibody responses and immunity in experimental and natural infections with Schistosoma, the expression profiles of schistosome glycans (the glycome), and antibody responses to individual antigenic glycan motifs. Future directions to study anti-glycan responses in schistosomiasis in more detail in order to address more precisely the possible role of glycans in antibody-mediated immunity are discussed.

Schistosoma mansoni egg glycoproteins and C-type lectins of host immune cells: molecular partners that shape immune responses.

Schistosome eggs and egg-derived molecules are potent immunomodulatory agents. There is increasing evidence that the interplay between egg glycoproteins and host C-type lectins plays an important role in shaping immune responses during schistosomiasis. As most experiments in this field so far have been performed using complex protein/glycoprotein mixtures or synthetic model glycoconjugates, it is still largely unclear which individual moieties of schistosome eggs are immunologically active. In this review we will discuss molecular aspects of Schistosoma mansoni egg glycoproteins, their interactions with C-type lectins, and the relevance to schistosome egg immunobiology.

Targeted glycoproteomic analysis reveals that kappa-5 is a major, uniquely glycosylated component of Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens.

Glycans present on glycoproteins from the eggs of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni are mediators of various immune responses of the human host, including T-cell modulation and granuloma formation, and they are the target of glycan-specific antibodies. Here we have analyzed the glycosylation of kappa-5, a major glycoprotein antigen from S. mansoni eggs using a targeted approach of lectin purification followed by mass spectrometry of glycopeptides as well as released glycans. We demonstrate that kappa-5 has four fully occupied N-glycosylation sites carrying unique triantennary glycans composed of a difucosylated and xylosylated core region, and immunogenic GalNAcß1-4GlcNAc (LDN) termini. Furthermore, we show that the kappa-5 specific IgE antibodies in sera of S. mansoni-infected individuals are directed against the core region of the kappa-5 glycans. Whereas two previously analyzed immunomodulatory egg glycoproteins, IPSE/alpha-1 and omega-1, both express diantennary N-glycans with a difucosylated core and one or two Galß1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc (Lewis X) antennae, the kappa-5 glycosylation appears unique among the major soluble egg antigens of S. mansoni. The distinct structural and antigenic properties of kappa-5 glycans suggest a specific role for kappa-5 in schistosome egg immunogenicity.

Structural characterization of glycans on omega-1, a major Schistosoma mansoni egg glycoprotein that drives Th2 responses.

Soluble egg antigens (SEA) of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni are among the strongest natural stimuli of Th2 responses. Omega-1, a major glycoprotein in SEA, initiates these characteristic Th2 responses through conditioning of dendritic cells (DCs). In view of the reported immunomodulatory potential of SEA glycans, we have investigated omega-1 glycosylation, using an approach combining mass spectrometric techniques and enzyme treatments at the glycopeptide level. We demonstrate that omega-1 has two fully occupied N-glycosylation sites, each mainly carrying core-difucosylated diantennary glycans with one or more Lewis X motifs in the antennae. Using a specific approach of nanoscale LC-MS(/MS) and MALDI-TOF(/TOF) MS in combination with exoglycosidase treatments of tryptic glycopeptides, we were able to provide a detailed, site-specific glycosylation analysis of a single, native S. mansoni glycoprotein. The obtained knowledge of the glycans present on omega-1 contributes to a full understanding of the mode of action of this immunomodulatory glycoprotein.