Efeito da infecção por HPV nas vias de sinalização por toll like receptors / Effects of HPV infection on TLR signaling pathway

As oncoproteínas E6 e E7 do Papilomavírus Humano (HPV) estão envolvidas na desregulação do sistema imune inato, provocando alterações na expressão dos receptores do tipo Toll (TLR). Considerando-se a função da via de sinalização iniciada por TLR, haveria uma vantagem para o vírus capaz de manipular a resposta desta via de modo que possa persistir nas células sem ser detectado pelo sistema imune ou ainda modulando essa resposta e criando um ambiente mais propício à manutenção da infecção. No entanto, muitos dos mecanismos que levam à eliminação da infecção ou persistência do HPV ainda são pouco conhecidos. O objetivo principal desse trabalho é investigar o papel das vias de TLR no processo de carcinogênese mediado por HPV. Inicialmente, foi analisada a expressão de genes da via de TLR em linhagens de tumores cervicais e em células expressando as oncoproteínas virais. Foram identificados vários genes diferencialmente expressos entre linhagens de células tumorais e queratinócitos normais, incluindo moléculas adaptadoras da via de TLR e genes associados à via da MAP quinase, ativação de NFkappaB e resposta imune antiviral. Cerca de 90% destes genes foram regulados negativamente. Entre eles, destacamos HMGB1, que apesar de possuir menos RNAm nas células tumorais possui um nível proteico muito maior, além de ter-se mostrado de grande importância para a viabilidade e proliferação das células tumorais, conforme demonstrado através de experimentos de supressão gênica. Em conjunto, os nossos dados indicam que E6 e E7 de HPVs de alto risco inibem proteínas da via de sinalização de TLR

Previous studies have shown that E6 and E7 HPV oncoproteins are involved in innate immune system dysregulation, causing alterations on Toll-like receptors (TLR) expression. Considering TLR pathway function, it would be advantageous for a virus to manipulate the response of this pathway so it can persist in cells without being detected by the immune system or to modulate this response to create a better environment for persistence of infection. However, many of the mechanisms leading to HPV infection clearance or persistence are still unknown and matter of active investigation. We analyzed in cervical cancer cell lines expression of genes from TLR pathway; several were differentially expressed between tumor cells lines and normal keratinocytes, including TLR adaptors molecules and genes associated with MAP kinase pathway, NFkappaB activation and antiviral immune response. About 90% of these genes were down regulated. Among them, we selected HMGB1 for further characterization due to its interference with tumor cell viability and proliferation. Altogether, our data indicate that high risk HPV E6 and E7 can inhibit TLR signaling pathway

TLR and IMD signaling pathways from Caligus rogercresseyi (Crustacea: Copepoda): in silico gene expression and SNPs discovery.

The Toll and IMD signaling pathways represent one of the first lines of innate immune defense in invertebrates like Drosophila. However, for crustaceans like Caligus rogercresseyi, there is very little genomic information and, consequently, understanding of immune mechanisms. Massive sequencing data obtained for three developmental stages of C. rogercresseyi were used to evaluate in silico the expression patterns and presence of SNPs variants in genes involved in the Toll and IMD pathways. Through RNA-seq analysis, which used 20 contigs corresponding to relevant genes of the Toll and IMD pathways, an overexpression of genes linked to the Toll pathway, such as toll3 and Dorsal, were observed in the copepod stage. For the chalimus and adult stages, overexpression of genes in both pathways, such as Akirin and Tollip and IAP and Toll9, respectively, were observed. On the other hand, PCA statistical analysis inferred that in the chalimus and adult stages, the immune response mechanism was more developed, as evidenced by a relation between these two stages and the genes of both pathways. Moreover, 136 SNPs were identified for 20 contigs in genes of the Toll and IMD pathways. This study provides transcriptomic information about the immune response mechanisms of Caligus, thus providing a foundation for the development of new control strategies through blocking the innate immune response.