MicroRNAs in Taenia solium Neurocysticercosis: Insights as Promising Agents in Host-Parasite Interaction and Their Potential as Biomarkers.

Renzo Gutierrez-Loli,Cristina Guerra-Giraldez,Oscar G Sevillano-Quispe,Miguel A Orrego,Luis Herrera-Arrasco

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.01905

Renzo Gutierrez-Loli, Cristina Guerra-Giraldez + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01905

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Although, several miRNAs have been identified in parasitic helminths, there is little information about their identification and function in Taenia. Furthermore, the impact of miRNAs in neurocysticercosis, the brain infection caused by larvae of Taenia solium is still unknown. During chronic infection, T. solium may activate numerous mechanisms aimed to modulate host immune responses. Helminthic miRNAs might also have effects on host mRNA expression and thus play an important role regulating host-parasite interactions. Also, the diagnosis of this disease is difficult and it usually requires neuroimaging and confirmatory serology. Since miRNAs are stable when released, they can be detected in body fluids and therefore have potential to diagnose infection, determine parasite burden, and ascertain effectiveness of treatment or disease progression, for instance. This review discusses the potential roles of miRNAs in T. solium infection, including regulation of host-parasite relationships and their eventual use as diagnostic or disease biomarkers. Additionally, we summarize the bioinformatics resources available for identification of T. solium miRNAs and prediction of their targets.

Highlights

Over the last decade, miRNAs have emerged as important factors in several biological processes, functioning as powerful post-transcriptional regulators
MiRNAs secreted by parasitic helminths and detected in their hosts’ blood represent promising candidates as biomarkers to diagnose infection (Cheng et al, 2013; Hoy et al, 2014; Tritten et al, 2014; Quintana et al, 2015)
A role in host-parasite interactions, in immune modulation, has been strongly suggested for miRNAs secreted by the nematode Heligmosomoides (Buck et al, 2014) and the trematodes Fasciola (Fromm et al, 2017) and Schistosoma (Zhu et al, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

MiRNAs have emerged as important factors in several biological processes, functioning as powerful post-transcriptional regulators. The chronic nature of the infection in NCC implicates a wide variety of host and parasite biological processes and interactions.

Results

Conclusion