Proteomic and deep sequencing analysis of extracellular vesicles isolated from adult male and female Schistosoma japonicum

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Sep 28;14(9):e0008618. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008618. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Schistosomes are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Unlike other trematode parasites, schistosomes (along with the Didymozoidae) have evolved separate sexes. Pairing of males and females is a prerequisite for female sexual development and subsequent egg production. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to play important roles in many biological processes. In the present study, we characterized EVs isolated from adult male and female Schistosoma japonicum. Proteomic analyses of the isolated EVs revealed that some proteins are significantly enriched in male or female EVs. RNA-sequencing analysis of a small RNA population associated with EVs identified 18 miRNAs enriched in male and female S. japonicum EVs. Among these, miR-750 was specifically enriched in female EVs. Additionally, the inhibition of miR-750 by a miRNA inhibitor led to decreased egg production in female schistosomes cultured in vitro. Collectively, our results suggest that miR-750 within female EV cargo may be involved in regulating ovary development and egg production in S. japonicum females.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extracellular Vesicles / genetics*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Ovum / drug effects
  • Ovum / growth & development
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Rabbits
  • Schistosoma japonicum / genetics
  • Schistosoma japonicum / growth & development*
  • Schistosomiasis / parasitology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Proteome
  • Protozoan Proteins

Grants and funding

This study was, in part or in whole, supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/) (Grants No. 31672550 and 31472187 for GC), National Key Research and Development Program of China (http://most.gov.cn/)(Grant No. 2017YFD0501306-3 for GC), and the Science & Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (http://www.caas.net.cn/) and by the excellence initiative of the Hessian Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Art (HMWK) supporting the LOEWE Centre DRUID (https://wissenschaft.hessen.de/wissenschaft/landesprogramm-loewe/loewe-staffeln/10-loewe-foerderstaffel). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.