Differential expression of B1-containing transcripts in Leishmania-exposed macrophages

When the parasitic protozoan Leishmania infect host macrophage cells, establishment of the infection requires alteration in the expression of genes in both the parasite and the host cells. In the early phase of infection of macrophages in vitro, Leishmania exposure affects the expression of a group of mouse macrophage genes containing the repetitive transposable element designated B1 sequence. In Leishmania-exposed macrophages compared with unexposed macrophages, small (approximately 0.5 kilobase) B1-containing RNAs (small B1-RNAs) are down-regulated, and large (1-4 kilobases) B1-containing RNAs (large B1-RNA) are up-regulated. The down-regulation of small B1-RNAs precedes the up-regulation of large B1-RNAs in Leishmania-exposed macrophages. These differential B1-containing gene expressions in Leishmania-exposed macrophages were verified using individual small-B1-RNA and large B1-RNA. The differential expressions of the B1-containing RNAs at the early phase of Leishmania-macrophage interaction may associate the establishment of the leishmanial infection.