Identification and functional characterisation of a Schistosoma japonicum insulin-like peptide

Previous studies have shown that insulin receptors in schistosomes, triggered by host insulin, play an important role in parasite growth, development and fecundity by regulating glucose metabolism. However, limited information is available on the recently identified endogenous insulin-like peptide (ILP) in blood flukes.

We isolated ILPs from Schistosoma japonicum (SjILP) and S. recognised (SmILP) and present results of their molecular and structural analysis. SjILP shares 63% amino acid identity with SmILP, but only 18% identity with human insulin. There is high cross immunological reactivity between the S. japonicum and S. mansoni ILPs as observed in western blots using an anti-SjILP polyclonal antibody. ADP binding/hydrolysis ability was observed in both SjILP and SmILP, but not in human insulin, suggesting a parasite-specific role for ILP compared with host insulin. Protein binding assays using the Octet-RED system showed SjILP binds S. japonicum IRs (SjIR1 and SjIR2) strongly. An anti-phospho antibody against extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) recognised a 44-kDa target band in an extract of adult worms after stimulation by rSjILP in vitro, suggesting an important role for SjILP in activating SjIRs and in regulating downstream signal transduction. Immunolocalisation showed SjILP is located on the tegument and the underlying musculature, similar to that observed for SjIR1, but it is also present throughout the parenchyma of males and in the vitelline cells of females, the same locations as SjIR2 described in an earlier published study of ours. The same localisation of SjILP and the SjIRs is suggestive of an interaction between the insulin-like peptide and the IRs. In addition to binding host insulin, schistosomes also can express their own endogenous ILPs, which can activate the parasite insulin signal pathway, thereby playing a critical role in worm growth, development and fertility.

These findings shed new light on ILPs in schistosomes, providing further insight into the distinct and specialised functions of SjIR1 and 2 in S. japonicum and their interaction with host insulin.