<i>Brugia malayi</i> microfilariae adhere to human vascular endothelial cells in a C3-dependent manner



Schroeder, Jan-Hendrik, McCarthy, David, Szestak, Tadge, Cook, Darren A, Taylor, Mark J, Craig, Alister G ORCID: 0000-0003-0914-6164, Lawson, Charlotte and Lawrence, Rachel A
(2017) <i>Brugia malayi</i> microfilariae adhere to human vascular endothelial cells in a C3-dependent manner. PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES, 11 (5). e0005592-.

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Abstract

Brugia malayi causes the human tropical disease, lymphatic filariasis. Microfilariae (Mf) of this nematode live in the bloodstream and are ingested by a feeding mosquito vector. Interestingly, in a remarkable co-evolutionary adaptation, Mf appearance in the peripheral blood follows a circadian periodicity and reaches a peak when the mosquito is most likely to feed. For the remaining hours, the majority of Mf sequester in the lung capillaries. This circadian phenomenon has been widely reported and is likely to maximise parasite fitness and optimise transmission potential. However, the mechanism of Mf sequestration in the lungs remains largely unresolved. In this study, we demonstrate that B. malayi Mf can, directly adhere to vascular endothelial cells under static conditions and under flow conditions, they can bind at high (but not low) flow rates. High flow rates are more likely to be experienced diurnally. Furthermore, a non-periodic nematode adheres less efficiently to endothelial cells. Strikingly C3, the central component of complement, plays a crucial role in the adherence interaction. These novel results show that microfilariae have the ability to bind to endothelial cells, which may explain their sequestration in the lungs, and this binding is increased in the presence of inflammatory mediators.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Endothelial Cells, Animals, Humans, Brugia malayi, Cell Adhesion, Complement C3, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 07 Feb 2019 09:57
Last Modified: 11 Oct 2023 11:37
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005592
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005592
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3032413