Trypanosoma cruzi infection and endothelin-1 cooperatively activate pathogenic inflammatory pathways in cardiomyocytes.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, induces multiple responses in the heart, a critical organ of infection and pathology in the host. Among diverse factors, eicosanoids and the vasoactive peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we found that T. cruzi infection in mice induces myocardial gene expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox2) and thromboxane synthase (Tbxas1) as well as endothelin-1 (Edn1) and atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa). T. cruzi infection and ET-1 cooperatively activated the Ca(2+)/calcineurin (Cn)/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway in atrial myocytes, leading to COX-2 protein expression and increased eicosanoid (prostaglandins E(2) and F(2α), thromboxane A(2)) release. Moreover, T. cruzi infection of ET-1-stimulated cardiomyocytes resulted in significantly enhanced production of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a prognostic marker for impairment in cardiac function of chagasic patients. Our findings support an important role for the Ca(2+)/Cn/NFAT cascade in T. cruzi-mediated myocardial production of inflammatory mediators and may help define novel therapeutic targets.

Introduction

Chagas' disease, caused by the infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, constitutes the major cause of infectious heart disease in Latin America. It is estimated that 10 million people are infected with T. cruzi in the Central and South America, 100–120 million are at potential risk of infection and around 50,000 new cases occur each year [1]. In humans, an acute phase displays frequently as a non-apparent form with a few or no symptoms. Thereafter, the patients enter into an asymptomatic, indeterminate stage, which lasts throughout life in the majority of infected subjects. The remaining 20–30% of chronically infected individuals develop cardiac or digestive complications, typically years or decades after infection. Chronic cardiomyopathy is the most common and severe manifestation of human Chagas' disease, causing congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities, which often lead to stroke and sudden death. This type of dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with chronic inflammation and fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy and thrombo-embolic events [2].

Compromised microcirculation, caused by T. cruzi infection, involves endothelial alterations, vasospasm, reduced blood flow and focal ischemia [3]. Cardiovascular production of vasoactive mediators has been implicated in the pathogenesis of the vasculopathy seen in chagasic heart disease [4]. Among other vasculitis-promoting factors, T. cruzi infection triggers myocardial overexpression and increased plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in mice and chronic chagasic patients, which correlate with heart dysfunction [5], [6]. A bulk of evidence supports the participation of this vasoactive peptide, produced by myocardial and endothelial cells among others, in Chagas' disease pathogenesis [4], [5], [7], [8]–[10]. ET-1 activity may result in vascular injury, cardiac remodeling and enhanced liberation of inflammatory agents [11].

Endothelin-1 is involved in different signaling pathways that include increase in intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) and ERK1/2 activation leading to expression of cyclin D1 and inflammation-linked genes, all of them contributing to T. cruzi-mediated cardiac pathology [12], [13]. Moreover, ET-1 has been shown to induce cell hypertrophy in primary cultures of rat cardiomyocytes through a calcineurin (Cn)/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-dependent mechanism [14], [15]. The NFAT family includes four ‘classical’ members displaying a high degree of homology: NFATc1-4, each of which is expressed in heart tissue [16]. NFAT exists in a highly phosphorylated form in the cytoplasm, which translocates into the nucleus upon dephosphorylation by the phosphatase Cn in response to increases in [Ca2+]i, where it binds to enhancer elements of downstream genes leading to transcriptional activation [17].

One of the NFAT target genes associated with inflammation is cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in prostanoid biosynthesis [18]–[20]. ET-1 is able to stimulate protein expression of COX-2 and prostacyclin release in cardiomyocytes [21]. In addition, experimental murine infection with T. cruzi has been shown to raise the number of cardiac cells positive for COX-1 and COX-2, as well as the circulating levels of cyclooxygenase metabolites [22], [23]. Both host- and parasite-derived prostaglandins (PG) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) are key regulators of pathogenesis during T. cruzi infection [24]. Remarkably, ET-1 stimulation of cardiac myocytes also results in NFATc4-dependent up-regulation of hypertrophy response genes such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) [25], [26], potential markers of myocardial compromise in Chagas' disease [27], [28].

Although ET-1 and eicosanoids have been proposed to play a role in Chagas' disease pathogenesis, the link between them has not yet been addressed. Thus, we have examined the regulation of Cox2 expression and activity by the combined effect of ET-1 and T. cruzi infection of cardiomyocytes. Our results show that induction of Cox2 expression by ET-1 plus T. cruzi in HL-1 atrial myocytes requires activation of the Ca2+/Cn/NFAT pathway. NFAT is translocated to the nucleus upon stimulation with the peptide and subsequent infection where it binds to NFAT response elements in the promoter region of Cox2 that are essential for transcriptional induction of the gene. Moreover, trypomastigote infection of ET-1-pre-treated HL-1 cardiomyocytes significantly enhanced production of eicosanoids and ANP by these cells. These findings demonstrate the participation of NFAT in [T. cruzi+ET-1]-mediated induction of genes involved in the pathogenesis of chronic Chagas' heart disease.

Materials and Methods

Ethics statement

This study was carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations of Spanish Legislation and the European Council Directive from the Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes. All mice were maintained under pathogen-free conditions in the animal facility at the Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Madrid, Spain). The animal protocol was approved by the Comité de Ética de la Investigación de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Animals had free access to food and water and were handled in compliance with European codes of practice. Mice were euthanized in a CO2 chamber, and all efforts were made to minimize suffering.

Cell culture, primary cardiomyocytes and infection

Mouse HL-1 cardiomyocytes were plated onto gelatin/fibronectin pre-coated flasks and cultured in Claycomb medium (Sigma-Aldrich) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 µg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM L-glutamine as previously described [29]. Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from BALB/c mice and cultured according to standard protocols [30]. HL-1 and primary cardiomyocytes were seeded in 6- (5×105/well) or 24- (1×105/well) well plates and infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes (cell∶parasite ratio 1∶5), Y strain, routinely propagated in Vero cells. In some experiments, cell cultures were starved for 18 h and then treated with recombinant murine interferon-γ (25 U/ml IFN-γ, R&D Systems), 1 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Sigma-Aldrich) or 0.3 nM ET-1 (Sigma-Aldrich) for 2 h before infection. Endotoxin level in the ET-1 batch was <1 EU/mg, as determined using a Limulus amoebocyte lysate analysis kit (Whittaker Bioproducts). Plates were rinsed to remove free parasites and further incubated in complete medium at 37°C, 5% CO2 for the indicated times.

In vivo infection

Young adult (6- to 8-wk-old) C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories. For infection experiments, 2×103 blood trypomastigotes (Y strain) per mouse were inoculated by intraperitoneal injection as described [31], keeping a group of non-infected mice. Age-matched BALB/c mice were infected in parallel. Parasitemia levels were checked every 2 days by direct inspection and counting parasites in a 5 µl drop of tail vein blood. Weekly during one month post-infection, groups of 3 mice were euthanized in a CO2 chamber, and blood and various tissues were collected. Samples were processed for RNA or histological analysis.

RNA isolation, reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Total RNA was extracted from HL-1 cells and mouse heart tissue by using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. First-strand cDNA was prepared by incubation of 1 µg of total RNA with murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase and random hexamer oligonucleotides (Bio-Rad Laboratories) at 40°C for 45 min. Then, 5 µl of the reaction products was amplified by PCR with 1.25 U of Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen). PCR amplification consisted of 94°C for 45 s for denaturation, 60°C for 45 s for annealing, and 72°C for 45 s for extension, performed for 30 cycles. The sense and antisense primers used for murine Cox2 were: 5′-tcctcctggaacatggactc-3′ and 5′-gctcggcttccagtattgag-3′, respectively [32]. Aliquots of 10 µl of the PCR products were electrophoresed in a 1.6% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide.

Real-time PCR of infected heart tissue

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis was performed using the High Capacity cDNA Archive Kit (Applied Biosystems), and amplification of different murine genes (Cox2, Cox1, Tbxas1, Nppa, Edn1 and ribosomal 18S) was performed in triplicate with the use of TaqMan MGB probes and the TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (Life Technologies) on an ABI Prism 7900 HT instrument (Applied Biosystems), as reported previously [31]. Quantification of gene expression was calculated using the comparative threshold cycle (Ct) method, normalized to the ribosomal 18S control and efficiency of the RT reaction (relative quantity, 2−ΔΔC T).

Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of heart

Cardiac tissues from mice were placed after been cut in two pieces in 10% neutral buffered formalin for at least 4 h at room temperature followed by overnight incubation in 70% ethanol. Samples were them embedded in paraffin (Tissue Embedding Station Leica EG1160), and 5-µm tissue sections were prepared using a motorized Microtome Leica RM2155. Samples were deparaffinized and rehydrated using a Tissue Processing Station Leica TP1020. Slides were stained using the Masson's trichrome staining and mounted permanently in Eukkitt's quick hardening mounting system medium (Biochemika, Fluka Analytical). The sections were analyzed in a Leica DMD 108 microscope (Leica Microsystems, Germany). For immunohistochemical studies, myocardial sections were deparaffinized by routine procedures and analyzed using anti-murine COX-2 rabbit polyclonal antibody (Abcam) and biotinylated swine antiserum to rabbit immunoglobulin (Dako), following a procedure previously described [33].

Immunoblot analysis

Immunoblotting was carried out as described elsewhere [19]. Cardiac cells were disrupted and solubilized extracts (20 µg) were separated in 6% (only for analysis of NFAT translocation to the nucleus) or 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, and transferred to nitrocellulose filters. After blocking for 2 h with 5% non-fat dried milk in Tris-buffered saline containing 0.1% Tween-20, the membranes were probed 2 h at 37°C with murine monoclonal antibodies against COX-2 (diluted 1∶250 in blocking buffer, BD Biosciences), α-tubulin (1∶1000, Sigma-Aldrich), and with rabbit polyclonal antibodies against NFAT (c1 to c4 isoforms, 1∶200, Santa Cruz Biotechnology), prostaglandin E synthase-2 (microsomal, 1∶500), thromboxane synthase (1∶500, Cayman) and prostaglandin F synthase/AK31C3 (1∶2,000, ProSci). The filters were washed and incubated with the corresponding secondary antibody linked to horseradish peroxidase at 1∶10,000 dilution, and the stained bands were visualized by a chemiluminescent peroxide substrate (Amersham Pharmacia).

Plasmid constructs

Cox2 promoter constructs spanning from −1796 (P2-1900-LUC) and −170 (P2-274-LUC) to +104 bp relative to the transcription start site of the human Cox2 gene and the P2-274-LUC plasmid with binding sites for NFAT, or AP-1, or both mutated were described [19]. The pSH102CD418 expression vector derives from pBJ5 and encodes an NFATc1 deletion mutant (1–418) that functions as a dominant negative for all NFAT isoforms [34].

Transfection and luciferase assays

HL-1 cells were transfected by Lipofectamine (Invitrogen) as described [19]. Briefly, exponential growing cells (2×105/well) cultured in 24-well plates were incubated for 3 h at 37°C with a mixture of 0.5–1 µg of the corresponding reporter plasmid and Lipofectamine-containing Opti-MEM (Invitrogen). The total amount of DNA in each transfection was kept constant by using the empty expression vectors. Complete medium was then added to cells and incubated at 37°C for additional 16 h. Transfected cells were exposed to different stimuli (0.3 nM ET-1, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate -PMA- plus A23187 calcium ionophore -Ion-, Sigma-Aldrich) and/or T. cruzi-infected as indicated. In some experiments, FK506 (100 ng/ml, Sandoz Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was added for 1 h. Then, cells were harvested and lysed. Luciferase activity was determined by using a luciferase assay system (Promega) with a luminometer Monolight 2010 (Analytical Luminescence). Transfection experiments were performed in triplicate. Data of luciferase activity are presented as fold induction (observed experimental relative luciferase units (RLU)/basal RLU in absence of any stimulus). Results were normalized for extract protein concentrations measured with a Bradford assay kit (Pierce, Thermo Fisher Scientific).

Intracellular calcium measurements

Agonist-induced changes in [Ca2+]i were detected using the Ca2+-sensitive dye Fura-2/AM as described [35]. Briefly, cell monolayers at 80% confluence were trypsinized, washed and then loaded with 1 µM Fura-2/AM under continuous stirring for 30 min at 37°C. The cells (2×106/ml) were exposed to 0.3 nM ET-1 and/or infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes (cell∶parasite ratio 1∶5), and placed in an Aminco Bowman Series 2 spectrofluorometer (Thermo). Uninfected cultures were used as controls. At the indicated times, the fluorescence signal of Fura-2 was recorded, with excitation and emission at 340 and 510 nm, respectively.

Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA)

Nuclear extracts were prepared from ET-1-treated and/or T. cruzi-infected HL-1 cells as described [36] with minor modifications. Purity of fractions was proven by analyzing cytoplasmic and nuclear marker proteins including α-tubulin (cytoplasmic), and topoisomerase IIβ and c-jun (nuclear). In brief, 5 µg of nuclear protein was incubated with 1 µg of poly(dI–dC) DNA carrier in DNA binding buffer (10% (wt/vol) polyvinylethanol, 12.5% (vol/vol) glycerol, 50 mM Tris, pH 8, 2.5 mM dithiothreitol, 2.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) for 30 min at 4°C. Then, 105 counts per minute (c.p.m.) (108 c.p.m./µg) of the 32P-labeled double-stranded oligonucleotide (2 µg) were added, and the reaction was incubated at room temperature for 30 min. A synthetic oligonucleotide containing the NFAT consensus sequence 5′-gggtggggtggggaaagccgaggcgga-3′ (nucleotides −98 to −73) in the rat Cox-2 promoter was used as probe/competitor in EMSAs. For competition experiments, a 50-fold molar excess of unlabeled oligonucleotide was added before the addition of the probe. Supershift assays were performed by incubating nuclear extracts with either normal rabbit IgG or anti-NFATc4 antibody for 15 min at 4°C before the addition of the probe. DNA-protein complexes were resolved by electrophoresis in 4% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels and were subjected to autoradiography.

Measurements of metabolites

For eicosanoid measurements, HL-1 cells were maintained for 12 h in culture medium supplemented with 0.5% fetal calf serum, then pre-treated or not with 10 µM indomethacin (Sigma-Aldrich) or 10 µM NS-398 (Alexis) for 1 h, and further stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h. After treatment, cardiomyocytes were infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 24 h. At that time, media supernatants were collected and analysed for PGE2, PGF2α and TXB2 by ELISA (Cayman) according to manufacturer's specifications. In addition, eicosanoid levels were determined by ELISA in the sera from both uninfected and T. cruzi-infected C57BL/6 mice at 21 days of infection.

For ANP measurements, 24-h supernatants from ET-1-stimulated and/or T. cruzi-infected HL-1 cells, as well as serum specimens from both uninfected and T. cruzi-infected mice, were analyzed by ELISA (Kamiya Biomedical) following the instructions of the supplier.

For ET-1 measurements, the sera from uninfected and T. cruzi-infected mice were analyzed by ELISA (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals), according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed by using GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. Arithmetics means and standard error of the means (s.e.m.) were calculated. Significant differences among groups were made by using the one-way analysis of variance test followed by Tukey's test. A difference between groups of P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces the expression of markers of cardiac damage and eicosanoid enzymes in the heart

As shown in previous works from our group [30], [37], C57BL/6 mice proved susceptible to infection with the Y strain of T. cruzi, albeit less severely than BALB/c mice, and survived acute infection (Figure 1A,B). Intense myocardial parasitism and inflammatory pathology were observed at 21 days of infection, together with enhanced COX-2 expression revealed by immunohistochemistry in both cardiomyocytes and heart-infiltrating leukocytes (Figure 1C). Accordingly, T. cruzi-infected C57BL/6 mice showed an augmented (up to 100 fold) expression of myocardial Cox2 mRNA (Figure 1D) coincident with the highest parasite burden in the heart and maximum severity of myocarditis [30]. In addition, we detected a parallel increase (up to 15 fold) in the expression of the TXS gene (Tbxas1). However, no effect was observed on the expression of Cox1 mRNA (data not shown). Overall, results similar to those above were found in T. cruzi-infected BALB/c mice. Moreover, mRNA levels of ET-1 (Edn1) and ANP (Nppa), a prognostic marker for impairment in cardiac function of chagasic patients [28], were up-regulated in heart tissue of infected C57BL/6 mice (Figure 1D). Upon infection, ET-1 increased in the two mouse genetic backgrounds. This enhanced mRNA expression in the heart of infected animals was accompanied by elevated serum levels of both peptides and circulating eicosanoids (TXB2 and PGF2α) (Figure 1E). It is important to note that observed values from BALB/c and C57BL/6 animals cannot be directly compared to each other, since data are normalized to non-infected values that can differ between both mouse strains.

Figure 1

Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces Cox2, Tbxas1, Edn1 and Nppa in infected heart tissue.

(A and B) C57BL/6 (black circles) and BALB/c (white circles) mice were infected with 2×103 blood-trypomastigote forms of the Y strain. (A) Parasitemia expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (s.e.m.) of the number of parasites per 5 µl of blood. (B) Percent of mice survival. Results are representative of 2 independent experiments, each performed with 6 mice per group. (C) Tissue inflammation, parasitism and COX-2 expression in heart from uninfected (left panels) and T. cruzi-infected (21 days post-infection, right panels) mice. Representative results of histological analysis (Mason's trichrome staining) of cardiac tissue specimens from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice (top and center panels, respectively) are shown. Bars = 100 µm. Bottom panels display representative results of COX-2 immunostaining (IS) in the hearts from C57BL/6 mice. Original magnification for microphotographs ×400. (D) Cox2 (COX-2), Tbxas1 (TXS), Edn1 (ET-1) and Nppa (ANP) gene expression in the heart during the acute phase of infection in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. RNA from heart tissue at different days post-infection was used to perform RT-PCR with specific probes, and normalized to ribosomal 18S RNA as described in ‘Materials and Methods’. Values are expressed as means ± s.e.m. from 3 independent infections, each performed with 3 mice per group. *P<0.05. (E) Levels of circulating peptides (ET-1 and ANP) and eicosanoids (PGF2α and TxB2) in the sera of uninfected (black bars) and T. cruzi-infected (grey bars) C57BL/6 mice. Mouse sera were collected before and after 21 days of infection, and were assayed in triplicate by capture ELISA for ANP (top panel), ET-1 (central panel), PGF2α and TxB2 (bottom panel). Each bar represents the mean values for groups of 6 mice ± s.e.m. Similar results were obtained in two additional experiments. * P<0.05; ** P<0.01.

Trypanosoma cruzi- and endothelin-1-regulated Cox2 expression in mouse cardiomyocytes

The observed Cox2 mRNA expression in infected heart could come from infected cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and/or infiltrating leukocytes. Hence, we tested whether cardiomyocytes up-regulate Cox2 upon T. cruzi infection in vitro. A strong induction of COX-2 protein expression was observed in neonatal cardiomyocyte primary cultures infected with T. cruzi, comparable to that induced by a well-known pro-inflammatory stimulus as LPS plus IFNγ (Figure 2A). To better examine the molecular regulatory mechanism of gene expression of this inducible enzyme by infection, we used the terminally differentiated murine HL-1 cardiomyocyte cell line infected with T. cruzi. Although some reports have described an impaired inflammatory ability of HL-1 cells to express NO synthase-2 or to activate NF-κB [38], others find the opposite [39]. Nonetheless, in our hands these cells retain contractile and phenotypic characteristics of the adult cardiomyocytes and they are much better suitable for transfection experiments than immature cardiac myocytes, as it has been described [40]. After 3 h of parasite infection, Cox2 mRNA could not be detected. Similarly, a very weak Cox2 induction was also noted in cardiomyocytes cultured in the presence of 0.3 nM ET-1. However, when ET-1-pre-treated HL-1 cells were infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes ([T. cruzi+ET-1]), a strong increase in Cox2 mRNA expression was detected (Figure 2B). These findings were confirmed by analysing COX-2 protein (Figure 2C).

Figure 2

Trypanosoma cruzi infection of endothelin-1-pre-treated HL-1 cardiomyocytes induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

(A) COX-2 protein expression in primary BALB/c cardiac myocytes infected with T. cruzi. Neonatal mouse heart cells were isolated and ex vivo infected with Y strain trypomastigotes (cell∶parasite ratio 1∶5) for 24 h. To obtain a positive control, the cells were incubated with 25 U/ml recombinant IFN-γ plus 1 µg/ml LPS. Uninfected cells (Mock) were used as controls. The levels of COX-2 and β-actin proteins were analysed by immunoblotting as described under ‘Materials and methods’. (B) Effects of ET-1 pre-treatment and T. cruzi infection of HL-1 cardiomyocytes on Cox2 mRNA expression. HL-1 atrial muscle cells were stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h, and/or infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes (cell∶parasite ratio 1∶5) for 3 h, and the levels of Cox2 mRNA were assessed by reverse transcription and PCR; Actb (β-actin) was used as a loading marker. (C) Effects of ET-1 pre-treatment and T. cruzi infection of HL-1 cardiomyocytes on COX-2 protein expression. HL-1 atrial muscle cells were stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h, and/or infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 3 h, and the levels of COX-2 and α-tubulin proteins were analysed by immunoblotting. (D) Effects of ET-1 pre-treatment and T. cruzi infection of HL-1 cardiomyocytes on the inducibility of the Cox2 promoter. Cells were transiently transfected with the P2-1900-Cox-2-LUC reporter construct, and then stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h, and/or infected with trypomastigotes for 3 h. For some experiments, FK506 (100 ng/ml) was added to [T. cruzi+ET-1]-activated cardiomyocytes. PMA+Ion was used as a standard stimulus. Luciferase activity is expressed as fold induction relative to the transfection with empty expression vector. Data are the means ± s.e.m. of three independent experiments, each performed in triplicate. *P<0.05. (E) Involvement of NFAT in Cox2 induction by T. cruzi plus ET-1. HL-1 cells were transiently transfected with the P2-1900-Cox-2-LUC reporter construct, with the P2-274-Cox-2 promoter construct, or with the same construct containing distal and/or proximal NFAT sites (dNFAT and pNFAT, respectively), and/or actvated protein-1 (AP-1) site mutated (indicated by X). For some experiments, the cells were transiently co-transfected with the P2-274-Cox-2-LUC reporter plasmid along with a dominant-negative version of NFAT (dn-NFAT). Three hours later, the cells were stimulated with ET-1 (0.3 nM) for 2 h and infected with T. cruzi parasites for 3 h. Luciferase activity is expressed as percentage of induction (mean ± s.e.m.) relative to that achieved in P2-1900-Cox-2-LUC transfected cells. One out of three separate experiments performed is shown. *P<0.05; ** P<0.001 (respect to the P2-274 construct).

The above results suggested that the combined effect of T. cruzi infection and ET-1 treatment on Cox2 expression was taking place at the transcriptional level. To confirm this, HL-1 cardiac cells were transfected with a Cox2 promoter/luciferase construct spanning from nucleotide −1796 to +104 bp relative to the human Cox2 gene transcription start site (P2-1900-Cox-2-LUC). As shown in Figure 2D, . cruzi plus ET-1 (0.3 nM) induced a four-fold increment (P<0.05) in luciferase activity in transiently transfected cells compared to untreated controls. In contrast, T. cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes and ET-1-stimulated uninfected cells showed very little increase. Interestingly, addition of the Cn inhibitor FK506 (100 ng/ml) significantly attenuated [T. cruzi+ET-1]-mediated induction of Cox2 promoter.

Transcriptional regulation of the Cox2 promoter by the combined effect of Trypanosoma cruzi and endothelin-1

To map the Cox2 promoter region responsible for [T. cruzi+ET-1] inducibility, we used several Cox2 promoter deletion/mutation constructs. Deletion up to −170 (P2-1900 to P2-274) of the Cox2 promoter region did not significantly affect [T. cruzi+ET-1] inducibility (Figure 2E). Given the relevance of the region spanning from nucleotides −170 to −46 for the recorded induction of the Cox2 promoter, we next determined the contribution of the known transcription factor sites present in this region [19] to the overall transcriptional regulation of [T. cruzi+ET-1]-dependent Cox2 expression. Transfection experiments showed that mutation of the dNFAT (P2-274 dNFAT mut) or pNFAT (P2-274 pNFAT mut) sites resulted in a 65 and a 60% loss in the [T. cruzi+ET-1]-induced Cox2 promoter activity, respectively, whereas double mutation of both NFAT (P2-274 p- and dNFAT mut) sites drastically reduced this activation. Conversely, mutagenesis of the AP-1-like site (P2-274 AP-1 mut) present in this region did not significantly diminish the inducibility of the Cox2 promoter by [T. cruzi+ET-1]. To further confirm the central role of NFAT activation in the transcriptional regulation mediated by T. cruzi in ET-1-stimulated HL-1 cells, we co-transfected a dominant-negative version of NFAT (dnNFAT), previously described to abolish NFAT-dependent promoter activity [19], together with the P2-274-Cox-2-LUC plasmid. Interestingly, expression of dnNFAT abrogated [T. cruzi+ET-1]-induced transcription of the reporter (Figure 2E), supporting the hypothesis of the involvement of NFAT signaling in the regulation of Cox2 gene expression by the cooperation between ET-1 and T. cruzi infection in cardiomyocytes.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to activation of the Ca2+/Calcineurin/NFAT intracellular signaling pathway in endothelin-1-treated cardiomyocytes

T. cruzi trypomastigote invasion of cardiac myocytes triggers a transient [Ca2+]i elevation [41]. Similarly, upon the addition of trypomastigotes to HL-1 cells, we observed a transient [Ca2+]i response associated to a considerable, sustained increase in [Ca2+]i during the invasion process (Figure 3A). Comparable outcome, although with higher [Ca2+]i levels, was obtained in T. cruzi-infected HL-1 cells pre-treated with 0.3 nM ET-1.

Figure 3

Activation of the Ca2+/Calcineurin/NFAT intracellular signaling pathway in endothelin-1-stimulated and Trypanosoma cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes.

(A) HL-1 cells, exposed or not to 0.3 nM ET-1, were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2/M and changes in [Ca2+]i upon T. cruzi infection were recorded. Uninfected cells were used as a control. Arrows indicate the time (min) when either culture medium (M) or T. cruzi trypomastigotes (T) was added. The results presented are representative of three independent experiments. (B) ET-1 stimulated and T. cruzi-infected HL-1 cardiomyocytes were disrupted and the protein expression of the four NFAT isoforms (c1 to c4) was analysed by immunoblotting. Alpha-tubulin protein levels were determined as a control of loading. (C) HL-1 cells were incubated for 2 h with ET-1 (0.3 nM) and subsequently infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 3 h. For some experiments, FK506 (100 ng/ml) was added 1 h before stimulation. Fractionated extracts from both untreated and treated cells were analysed by immunoblotting with an antiserum to NFATc4. The phosphorylated cytosolic (P-NFATc4) or dephosphorylated nuclear (NFATc4) forms of the factor are indicated. Cyto, cytosolic extracts; Nucl, nuclear extracts. (D) Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) analysis to determine NFATc4 binding to the NFAT sites of the Cox2 gene (Cox-2 NFAT). HL-1 myocytes were stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h and/or infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 3 h. For some experiments, FK506 (100 ng/ml) was added 1 h before stimulation. Mock-treated cells were considered as controls. PMA (15 ng/ml) supplemented with 1 µM Ion was used as a standard stimulus. Nuclear extracts were analysed by EMSA using a Cox-2 NFAT radiolabeled probe. A 50-fold molar excess of unlabeled Cox-2 NFAT oligonucleotide (T. cruzi+ET-1+Cox-2 NFAT) was added to determine specific binding. NFATc4 antibody or normal rabbit IgG was added to the extracts before incubation with the probe. Arrows indicate specific supershifted complexes. This is representative of at least three independent experiments.

In HL-1 cells, basal expression of several isoforms of NFAT proteins (c1, c3 and c4) was detected by immunoblot analysis. Interestingly, stimulation with T. cruzi plus ET-1 induced a remarkable increase in the expression of NFATc4 and to a lesser extent, NFATc1 and NFATc3 (Figure 3B). Moreover, NFATc4 was present in the cytoplasm of untreated cardiac cells, but upon parasite infection of ET-1-stimulated cardiomyocytes, it was translocated into the nucleus. Pre-treatment with FK506 (100 ng/ml), a Cn inhibitor, prevented this translocation, thereby resulting in an accumulation of cytoplasmic NFATc4 protein (Figure 3C). To a much lesser extent, we also observed NFATc1 and NFATc3 migration to the nucleus (data not shown). Together, the above results indicate the activation of the NFATc4 isoform by [T. cruzi+ET-1] through a Ca2+/Cn signaling process.

To analyse NFATc4 binding to the NFAT sequences of the Cox2 promoter, we performed EMSAs with nuclear extracts of atrial HL-1 myocytes (Figure 3D). PMA (15 ng/ml) supplemented with Ion (1 µM) was used as a control stimulus. The NFAT oligonucleotide probe from Cox2 promoter specifically bound nuclear proteins from [T. cruzi+ET-1]- and [PMA+Ion]-treated HL-1 cells, which was efficiently competed with a 50-fold molar excess of cold oligonucleotide (Cox-2-NFAT). These inducible complexes were severely diminished in nuclear extracts from cells stimulated with T. cruzi plus ET-1 in the presence of FK506. No NFAT binding could be demonstrated in response to ET-1 stimulation in the absence of parasites or T. cruzi infection alone. To determine unambiguously the presence of the NFATc4 protein in the complexes, we performed super shifting with an NFATc4-specific antibody. This antibody clearly displaced the migration of the bound probe, allowing the formation of more retarded complexes likely constituted by DNA/NFAT/antibody (Figure 3D). As the NFATc4-specific antibody completely supershifted the complex, it is indicative that c4, but no other NFAT isoform, is bound to Cox2 promoter DNA in detectable amount. As a negative control, normal rabbit IgG was used. Taken together, these data suggest the binding of NFATc4 to the corresponding sites within the Cox2 promoter in response to T. cruzi infection of ET-1-pre-treated HL-1 cells.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection of endothelin-1-treated HL-1 cardiomyocytes enhances the production of eicosanoids and atrial natriuretic peptide

To assess whether [T. cruzi+ET-1]-mediated induction of Cox2 expression was associated with an increase in its enzymatic activity, eicosanoid release by HL-1 cells was measured. Compared to mock-treated cells, stimulation of myocytes with 0.3 nM ET-1, or trypomastigote infection over a 24-h period, or the combination of both, induced a significant production of COX metabolites, mainly TXB2, the stable metabolite of TXA2, and prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and PGF2α. Particularly, a striking increase of TXB2 levels, significantly higher than those obtained with T. cruzi and ET-1 separately, was detected in response to [T. cruzi+ET-1] (Figure 4A). Likewise, induction of the Ca2+/Cn/NFAT/COX-2 pathway and eicosanoid production were also achieved in ET-1-primed HL-1 cells exposed to a parasite lysate preparation, thereby suggesting that cardiac cell invasion by trypomastigotes is not absolutely required to produce the cooperative effect with the peptide (not shown). TXB2, PGE2 and PGF2α synthesis was drastically reduced in the cells incubated with indomethacin (10 µM), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug known to inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymatic activity, or with a COX-2-selective inhibitor (NS398, 10 µM), indicating the important involvement of COX-2 in eicosanoid production upon ET-1 stimulation and T. cruzi infection of HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Treatment of HL-1 cells with COX inhibitors or Cn antagonist had no significant effect on cardiomyocyte-T. cruzi association and did not affect the capacity of the parasites to transform into amastigotes and multiply intracellularly (not shown). Furthermore, analyses for microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2 (mPGES-2), prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) and thromboxane synthase (TXS), enzymes that convert the COX product PGH2 to PGE2, PGF2α and TXA2, respectively, revealed that [T. cruzi+ET-1] also induced the expression of TXS and PGFS proteins in atrial HL-1 myocytes (Figure 4B).

Figure 4

Production of eicosanoids and atrial natriuretic peptide by endothelin-1-stimulated and Trypanosoma cruzi-infected HL-1 cardiac cells.

(A) Cardiomyocytes were serum-starved for 12 h, then incubated for 1 h in the presence of cyclooxygenase inhibitors (10 µM indomethacin -Indo- or 10 µM NS-398) and further stimulated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h. After treatment, the cells were infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 24 h. HL-1 myocytes infected with the parasite or stimulated with ET-1 alone were included in the assay. Culture supernatants were collected and analysed for PGE2, PGF2α and TxB2 (TxA2 stable metabolite) by ELISA (Cayman). The results represent means ± s.e.m. of three individual experiments assayed in triplicate. *P<0.05 and **P<0.001 compared with mock-treated cells; # P<0.05 and ## P<0.001 compared with NS-398- and Indo-treated cells, respectively. (B) Effects of T. cruzi infection and ET-1 stimulation on the expression of prostanoid terminal synthases in HL-1 cardiac cells. Myocytes were incubated with 0.3 nM ET-1 for 2 h and/or infected with T. cruzi trypomastigotes for 3 h. Uninfected and mock-treated cells were used as controls. Immunoblot analysis of the protein expression of prostanoid terminal synthases (mPGES-2, PGFS and TXS) after exposure to stimulus and/or parasite is shown. Alpha-tubulin was used as loading control. The results presented are representative of three independent experiments with similar outcome. (C) HL-1 cells were treated with ET-1 (0.3 nM) for 2 h and/or T. cruzi-infected for 24 h and supernatants were collected. Uninfected and mock-treated cells were used as controls. ANP release (mean ± s.e.m.) was analyzed using an ELISA kit (Kamiya Biomedical) following the manufacturer's instructions. The results are representative of three independent experiments performed in quadruplicate. Statistically significant differences are indicated (*P<0.05, compared with mock; # P<0.05, [T. cruzi+ET-1]-activated cells versus T. cruzi-infected myocytes).

In addition, stimulation with ET-1 promoted a three-fold increased (P<0.05) release of ANP. Compared to that observed in mock-treated controls, T. cruzi also up-regulated ANP levels in the supernatants of 24-h-infected cells, which were significantly augmented by the cooperative action of [T. cruzi+ET-1] (Figure 4C).

Discussion

Trypanosoma cruzi induces multiple responses in the heart, a critical organ of infection and pathology in the host. We herein demonstrated that Cox2 mRNA and protein are induced in mouse heart tissue during T. cruzi infection correlating with cardiac parasite load and myocarditis. This up-regulation was also associated to induction of TXS and of two markers of heart dysfunction previously implicated in Chagas' disease pathogenesis, such as ET-1 and ANP [7], [10], [27]. Up-regulation of Cox2 mRNA and protein in myocardial tissue of infected C57BL/6 mice is consistent with a previous report [22] that revealed increased COX-2 protein expression in the heart of infected BALB/c mice. Moreover, several evidences have suggested a role of cyclooxoygenase-derived eicosanoids in the cardiopathogenesis of Chagas' disease (revised in [42], [43]).

Using adult HL-1 atrial myocytes, we further demonstrated that cooperation between T. cruzi and ET-1 stimulated Cox2 mRNA and protein expression leading to the release of eicosanoids. ET-1 seems to be mainly implicated in the establishment of chagasic cardiomyopathy rather than in the control of infection. Previous studies on T. cruzi-infected ET-1 null mice have highlighted the pathogenic role of cardiac myocyte-derived ET-1 in Chagas' heart disease, but these animals did not display higher parasitemia nor lower survival rate than infected wild-type mice [8]. In chagasic heart dysfunction, locally produced ET-1 acts on cardiac myocytes in both an autocrine and/or paracrine manner and chronically induces muscle injury [5], [7]. In addition, exposure of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes to ET-1 has been shown to result in higher COX-2 and prostacyclin formation [21], [44]. In our study, ET-1 induced a dose-dependent increase (not shown) in COX-2 activity and eicosanoid biosynthesis in HL-1 cells subsequently infected with T. cruzi. To mimic the pathological microenvironment characteristic of T. cruzi-mediated cardiomyopathy, a 0.3 nM ET-1 concentration, close to that detected in the circulation of infected mice and patients exhibiting cardiac involvement [5], [6], was selected for pre-treatment of cardiomyocytes.

Trypanosoma cruzi invasion of HL-1 cells increased [Ca2+]i, similar to previous report on primary cardiomyocytes [41]. Furthermore, ET-1 induces Ca2+ release in cardiac myofibers [45]. Alterations in [Ca2+]i regulation are frequently recorded in Chagas' disease. In cardiomyocytes from chagasic patients there is a dysregulation of the diastolic [Ca2+]i, while Ca2+ channel blockers display therapeutic potential against chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy [46], [47]. It has been largely established the requirement for sustained increases, including Ca2+ oscillation frequency, in [Ca2+]i to mediate Cn activation and the nuclear translocation of NFAT [48]. Few studies so far have addressed the impact of T. cruzi infection on the Cn/NFAT pathway in host cells. NFAT has been identified as an important element in innate immunity to T. cruzi and also involved in parasite immune evasion [49], [50]. The Ca2+/Cn/NFAT pathway has proven functional in adult mouse heart muscle cells and ET-1 has been shown to activate this signaling route in HL-1 atrial myocytes [51], [52]. Noticeably, NFAT proteins have been described as key molecules for the regulation of Cox2 gene transcription in many different cell types [19], [53]–[55]. Our present report constitutes the first demonstration that the cooperative effect of ET-1 and T. cruzi infection transcriptionally controls Cox2 expression through activation of the Cn/NFATc4 signaling cascade in cardiomyocytes. Particularly, the two NFAT binding sites in the Cox2 promoter appear to be critical for the observed induction. Mutation of any of these sites strongly diminished Cox2 transcription raised by T. cruzi infection of ET-1-stimulated cardiomyocytes, and dominant negative NFAT prevented that stimulation.

Interestingly, this Cn/NFAT pathway has a pivotal role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy [26]. In this regard, we found that ET-1 plus T. cruzi infection leads to enhanced production of the pro-hypertrophic ANP, a prognostic factor for impairment in cardiac function of chagasic patients [28]. Augmented ANP was previously observed in atrial muscle cells upon ET-1 stimulation [56] and, during T. cruzi infection, ET-1 and ANP seem to be important late factors in myocardial remodeling and hypertrophy [10], [27]. Increased ANP production is somehow linked to the myocardial regulatory pathway induced by [T. cruzi+ET-1]. Thus, PGE2 and PGF2α are known to promote ANP synthesis and release [57], [58], while Ca2+ influx is involved in ET-1-triggered ANP expression [59]. More interestingly, NFATc4 was found to regulate several hypertrophy-associated gene transcription in cardiomyocytes, including ANP [26], [58]. Taken the data together, it is likely that Ca2+ elevation, induced by [T. cruzi+ET-1], has led to NFATc4 activation, COX-2 induction and augmented ANP secretion by HL-1 cells.

A dual role of cyclooxygenase-derived eicosanoids in the course of Chagas' disease has been postulated (revised in [42], [43]). Morever, the same COX metabolites that mediate host survival during the acute phase may contribute to the progression of cardiac remodeling and heart damage in the chronic phase [60]. The mechanisms involved in the increased prostanoid production in parasite-infected hosts are not yet fully understood. Our findings indicate that the combined effect of ET-1 priming and T. cruzi infection mimics what likely takes place in the heart during infection, inducing eicosanoid-forming enzyme activity through the Ca2+/Cn/NFAT signaling pathway, and leading to enhanced release of prostanoids by atrial cardiomyocytes. Acutely infected mice display elevated PGF2α plasma levels, whereas PGE2 has been found to favor the development of cardiac fibrosis and functional deficits after infection by T. cruzi [23], [61]. TXA2, measured as the stable metabolite TXB2, is the main eicosanoid produced during chronic infection with T. cruzi and this pro-inflammatory agent could be responsible of several of the pathophysiological features of chagasic cardiomyopathy [23], [24]. TXA2 may exacerbate cardiomyocyte apoptosis, facilitate cytokine biosynthesis by monocytes, activate endothelial cells, and also promote platelet activation, aggregation and degranulation [62]. It is conceivable that the liberated TXA2 might play a role in a feedback loop for ET-1 expression/response, as efficient regulation of ET-1 by a TXA2 mimetic in rat heart smooth muscle cells has been documented [63]. Moreover, the released PGF2α could further induce COX-2 expression and activity, as occurs in carcinoma cells [64]. Enhanced levels of eicosanoids synthesized by [T. cruzi+ET-1]-activated HL-1 cells were down-regulated by addition of COX-2 inhibitors, indomethacin or NS398. In this regard, meloxicam or etoricoxib, two specific COX-2 inhibitors, minimized the amount of inflammation and fibrosis in the cardiac tissue of infected mice, whereas delayed treatment with aspirin, which blocks COX-1 and COX-2 indistinctly, improved cardiac dysfunction in a murine model of Chagas' heart disease [22], [60]. However, the potential benefits of COX inhibition for chronic chagasic patients are still unknown. Even though T. cruzi-derived TXA2 and PGF2α have been associated with pathogenesis [24], [43], no consistent evidence of parasite COX-2 and TXAS expression is available so far. As we detected overexpression of myocardial enzymes by using mouse-specific probes/antibodies and dampened eicosanoid production in cardiomyocytes treated with mammalian enzyme-specific inhibitors, our data mostly reflect the contribution of prostanoids secreted by host cells to Chagas' myocarditis.

In conclusion, we have demonstrated that eicosanoid-converting enzymes are expressed in the infected heart and also that cardiomyocytes respond to ET-1 and T. cruzi infection by induction of COX-2 through activation of the Ca2+/Cn/NFAT intracellular signaling pathway. The cooperation between T. cruzi and ET-1 also led to overproduction of eicosanoids and the pro-hypertrophic factor ANP. These results support an important role for NFAT in [T. cruzi+ET-1]-dependent induction of key agents of pathogenesis in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. Identification of the Ca2+/Cn/NFAT cascade as mediator of cardiovascular pathology in Chagas' disease advances our understanding of host-parasite relationship and may help define novel potential targets for therapeutic interventions to ameliorate or prevent cardiomyopathy during chronic T. cruzi infection.