In vitro and in vivo anti-schistosomal activity of the alkylphospholipid analog edelfosine.

Edward Yepes,Edward Yepes,Edward Yepes,E L Habib Dakir,Antonio Muro,Antonio Muro,Faustino Mollinedo,Faustino Mollinedo,Julio López-Abán,Julio López-Abán,Rubén E Varela-M,Rubén E Varela-M

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109431

Abstract

BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. Five species of Schistosoma are known to infect humans, out of which S. haematobium is the most prevalent, causing the chronic parasitic disease schistosomiasis that still represents a major problem of public health in many regions of the world and especially in tropical areas, leading to serious manifestations and mortality in developing countries. Since the 1970s, praziquantel (PZQ) is the drug of choice for the treatment of schistosomiasis, but concerns about relying on a single drug to treat millions of people, and the potential appearance of drug resistance, make identification of alternative schistosomiasis chemotherapies a high priority. Alkylphospholipid analogs (APLs), together with their prototypic molecule edelfosine (EDLF), are a family of synthetic antineoplastic compounds that show additional pharmacological actions, including antiparasitic activities against several protozoan parasites.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe found APLs ranked edelfosine> perifosine> erucylphosphocholine> miltefosine for their in vitro schistosomicidal activity against adult S. mansoni worms. Edelfosine accumulated mainly in the worm tegument, and led to tegumental alterations, membrane permeabilization, motility impairment, blockade of male-female pairing as well as induction of apoptosis-like processes in cells in the close vicinity to the tegument. Edelfosine oral treatment also showed in vivo schistosomicidal activity and decreased significantly the egg burden in the liver, a key event in schistosomiasis.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data show that edelfosine is the most potent APL in killing S. mansoni adult worms in vitro. Edelfosine schistosomicidal activity seems to depend on its action on the tegumental structure, leading to tegumental damage, membrane permeabilization and apoptosis-like cell death. Oral administration of edelfosine diminished worm and egg burdens in S. mansoni-infected CD1 mice. Here we report that edelfosine showed promising antischistosomal properties in vitro and in vivo.

Highlights

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, being a major problem of public health
By testing parasite viability using the MTT assay after 168 h incubation, we found that edelfosine was the most active APL in killing S. mansoni adult worms, being effective at 20 mM, whereas miltefosine was inactive even at the highest concentration used (80 mM) (Figure 2)
Incubations with 1 and 5 mM edelfosine resulted in effects on motor activity and tegumental alterations (Table 1), indicating that S. mansoni adult forms were very sensitive to edelfosine treatment

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, being a major problem of public health. Schistosomiasis is acquired by contact with freshwater contaminated with cercariae larvae, which actively penetrate mammal skin and transform into the schistosomula phase, migrating toward the lungs and re-entering the venous circulation [1] Both male and female schistosome parasites achieve sexual maturity in the bloodstream, sexual reproduction occurs with the deposition of hundreds to thousands of eggs per day. Five species of Schistosoma are known to infect humans, out of which S. haematobium is the most prevalent, causing the chronic parasitic disease schistosomiasis that still represents a major problem of public health in many regions of the world and especially in tropical areas, leading to serious manifestations and mortality in developing countries. Alkylphospholipid analogs (APLs), together with their prototypic molecule edelfosine (EDLF), are a family of synthetic antineoplastic compounds that show additional pharmacological actions, including antiparasitic activities against several protozoan parasites

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Conclusion