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Enlisting the <i>Ixodes scapularis</i> Embryonic ISE6 Cell Line to Investigate the Neuronal Basis of Tick—Pathogen Interactions
oleh: Lourdes Mateos-Hernández, Natália Pipová, Eléonore Allain, Céline Henry, Clotilde Rouxel, Anne-Claire Lagrée, Nadia Haddad, Henri-Jean Boulouis, James J. Valdés, Pilar Alberdi, José de la Fuente, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Ladislav Šimo
Format: | Article |
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Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2021-01-01 |
Deskripsi
Neuropeptides are small signaling molecules expressed in the tick central nervous system, i.e., the synganglion. The neuronal-like <i>Ixodes scapularis</i> embryonic cell line, ISE6, is an effective tool frequently used for examining tick–pathogen interactions. We detected 37 neuropeptide transcripts in the <i>I. scapularis</i> ISE6 cell line using in silico methods, and six of these neuropeptide genes were used for experimental validation. Among these six neuropeptide genes, the tachykinin-related peptide (TRP) of ISE6 cells varied in transcript expression depending on the infection strain of the tick-borne pathogen, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i>. The immunocytochemistry of TRP revealed cytoplasmic expression in a prominent ISE6 cell subpopulation. The presence of TRP was also confirmed in <i>A. phagocytophilum</i>-infected ISE6 cells. The in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry of TRP of <i>I. scapularis</i> synganglion revealed expression in distinct neuronal cells. In addition, TRP immunoreaction was detected in axons exiting the synganglion via peripheral nerves as well as in hemal nerve-associated lateral segmental organs. The characterization of a complete <i>Ixodes</i> neuropeptidome in ISE6 cells may serve as an effective in vitro tool to study how tick-borne pathogens interact with synganglion components that are vital to tick physiology. Therefore, our current study is a potential stepping stone for in vivo experiments to further examine the neuronal basis of tick–pathogen interactions.