Entamoeba histolytica-induced Activation of Caspase-4 Regulates Gasdermin D Cleavage to Mediate IL-1β Secretion in Macrophages

dc.contributor.advisorChadee, Kris
dc.contributor.authorWang, Shanshan
dc.contributor.committeememberMcCafferty, Donna-Marie
dc.contributor.committeememberDeVinney, Rebekah
dc.date2022-06
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-02T16:21:33Z
dc.date.available2022-05-02T16:21:33Z
dc.date.issued2022-04
dc.description.abstractThe parasite Entamoeba histolytica (Eh) is named for its capability to lyse healthy host tissues. A hallmark of Eh invasion in the gut is acute intestinal inflammation dominated by the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Eh in direct contact with macrophages activates caspase-1 by the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex in a Gal-lectin and EhCP-A5-dependent manner, resulting in the maturation and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory mode of lytic programmed cell death, is essential for host defence and other danger signals. Eh activates caspase-4/1 in macrophage that cleaved GSDMD, the executioner of cell pyroptosis, leading to the insertion of N-terminal effector domain into the cell membrane, driving both pore formation and IL-1β secretion without causing significant cell death. In this study, I interrogated the requirements and molecular mechanism for Eh-induced caspase-4 activation in cleaving GSDMD and in initiating a robust pro-inflammatory response. The noncanonical caspase-4 is considered inextricably connected to the NLRP3 inflammasome, however, the concise mechanism of this interaction remains unclear. To determine if Eh-induced activation of caspase-4 interacted with the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome to regulate GSDMD-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine release, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of CASP4/1, ASC, NLRP3, GSDMD THP-1 cells were utilized. In the absence of caspase-1, caspase-4 activation was significantly upregulated and enhanced GSDMD pore formation to trigger robust IL-1β secretion as quantified by HEK-BlueTM reporter cell. The fundamental function of pyroptosis is to trigger vigorous inflammatory responses to defend against pathogens. However, excessive and prolonged pyroptosis can lead to severe inflammatory diseases or immunological conditions, including sepsis and autoimmune disorders. The most outstanding finding of this work revealed that Eh did not trigger extensive cell pyroptosis for robust IL-1β secretion, rather Eh induced “hyperactivated macrophages” that led to caspase-4 dependent GSDMD cleavage and IL-1β release. This was in marked contrast to the positive control, LPS + Nigericin that induced high expression of caspase-1, enhanced GSDMD cleavage, IL-1β secretion, and massive pyroptotic cell death. Edman degradation and in vitro caspase cleavage assays showed that caspase-4 cleaved GSDMD at the same position as caspase-1 (human) to form pores in the plasma membrane. This work sheds new light on the functional role of caspase-4 in regulating GSDMD pore forming activity in innate host defenses against Eh.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWang, S. (2022). Entamoeba histolytica-induced activation of caspase-4 regulates Gasdermin D cleavage to mediate IL-1β secretion in macrophages (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39714
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/114594
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyCumming School of Medicineen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectGasderminen_US
dc.subjectcaspaseen_US
dc.subjectparasiteen_US
dc.subjectmacropahgeen_US
dc.subjectEntamoba histolyticaen_US
dc.subjectinnate immunityen_US
dc.subjectinflammationen_US
dc.subjectamebiasisen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Healthen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationMicrobiologyen_US
dc.subject.classificationParasitologyen_US
dc.subject.classificationHealth Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationImmunologyen_US
dc.titleEntamoeba histolytica-induced Activation of Caspase-4 Regulates Gasdermin D Cleavage to Mediate IL-1β Secretion in Macrophagesen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMedicine – Microbiology & Infectious Diseasesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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