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Excretion of fluorescent substrates of mammalian multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) in the Schistosoma mansoni excretory system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2004

H. SATO
Affiliation:
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland present address: Department of Parasitology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan. Fax: +81 172 39 5045. E-mail: sato7dp4@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
J. R. KUSEL
Affiliation:
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland
J. THORNHILL
Affiliation:
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland
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Abstract

The protonephridium of platyhelminths including Schistosoma mansoni plays a pivotal role in their survival by excretion of metabolic wastes as well as xenobiotics, and can be revealed in the living adult parasite by certain fluorescent compounds which are concentrated in excretory tubules and collecting ducts. To determine the presence of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) as a possible transporter in protonephridial epithelium, adult schistosomes were exposed to a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, fluo-3 acetyloxymethyl ester, which is a potential substrate of mammalian MRP. Specific fluorescence related to fluo-3/Ca2+ chelate delineated the whole length of the protonephridial system. Simultaneously, a fluorescent substance was accumulated in the posterior part of collecting ducts and the excretory bladder. Similarly, when other fluorogenic substrates for mammalian MRP such as monoclorobimane, fluorescein diacetate, and 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate were applied to adult schistosomes, these fluorescent markers were observed in the excretory tubules through to the excretory bladder. The excretory system of mechanically-transformed schistosomula was not labelled with any of these 4 fluorescent markers. These findings suggest that the protonephridial epithelium of adult schistosomes, but not schistosomula, might express the homologue of the mammalian MRP transporting organic anionic conjugates with glutathione, glucuronate or sulphate as well as unconjugated amphiphilic organic anions.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Accumulation of fluorescent glutathione bimane (after incubation of parasites with monochlorobimane) in the protonephridium of adult male and female Schistosoma mansoni with its excretion from the nephridiopore. (a and c) Males, showing excretion of the fluorescent dye from the nephridiopore after accumulation in the excretory system. (b and d) Accumulation and excretion of the fluorescent dye from females. (e) Male, pre-incubated in 20 μM indomethacin, an inhibitor of mammalian MRP, showing absence of any accumulation of fluorescent dye in the protonephridium. (f and h) Males, with accumulation of the fluorescent dye in collecting ducts in the anterior end at 37 °C (f) but not at 4 °C (h). (g) Male incubated in monodansylcadaverine, a fluorescent dye not related to the transport mediated by MRP. Excretory bladder and collecting ducts can be seen in dark relief. Abbreviations: CD, collecting duct; EB, excretory bladder; ET, excretory tubules; EX, excreted fluorescent dye through the nephridiopore; NP, nephridiopore; and OS, oral sucker. Scale bar shown on (h)=750 μm for (a) and (c); 150 μm for (b) and (d); and 300 μm for (e)–(h).

Figure 1

Fig. 2. Accumulation of fluorescent dyes after incubation of parasites with fluo-3/AM (a–e) and CFDA (f and g) in the protonephridium of adult male and female Schistosoma mansoni. (a–c, g) Accumulation of fluorescence (fluo-3/Ca2+ chelate) delineating the whole length of the excretory system. Male (a–c) and female (g) adults are shown. (d) Male pre-treated with diamide (which depletes glutathione, and affects accumulation of glutathione bimane, but has no effect on fluo-3/Ca2+ chelate accumulation). (e) Males pre-treated with 10 μM carboxylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazine (CCCP), and a much reduced accumulation is seen as a fine and thin lining of the excretory tubules and collecting ducts. (f) Male exposed to 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA), showing accumulation of the fluorescent dye in the excretory system and its excretion from a nephridiopore. Abbreviations: CD, collecting duct; ET, excretory tubules; EX, excreted fluorescent dye through the nephridiopore; NP, nephridiopore; OS, oral sucker; and VS, ventral sucker.

Figure 2

Table 1. Fluorogenic substrates for mammalian MRP and P-gp examined to assess the interaction with the schistosome protonephridium

Figure 3

Table 2. Effects of Ca2+, GSH and ATP depletion upon excretion of fluo-3/Ca2+ chelate and GSH bimane in the protonephridium