Eimeria falciformis extracellular vesicles differentially express host cell lncRNAs

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Molecular Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate host intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) during protozoan infections.
• Apicomplexan Eimeria falciformis sporozoite extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry virulence factors that influence host immune responses and pro-inflammatory gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bioactivity of Eimeria falciformis EVs on host IECs.
• To identify host RNA expression changes, particularly lncRNAs, induced by E. falciformis EVs.
• To explore the potential of differentially expressed lncRNAs as diagnostic markers for Eimeria infections.

Main Methods:

• Interaction of E. falciformis sporozoites with inactivated host cells.
• Isolation and purification of parasite EVs via ultracentrifugation and density gradient medium.
• RNA sequencing, functional annotation, and quantitative PCR to analyze dose-dependent effects of EVs on host cell RNA.

Main Results:

• E. falciformis EVs induced mRNA, circRNA, and lncRNA expression in mouse IECs.
• Significant differential expression of 309 lncRNAs (157 upregulated, 152 downregulated) was observed.
• Differentially expressed lncRNAs were linked to immune signaling pathways (FoxO, NF-κB, MAPK, TGF-β), cytokines, and pyroptosis.

Conclusions:

• E. falciformis EVs significantly alter host cell RNA expression profiles in IECs.
• Differentially expressed lncRNAs represent potential diagnostic biomarkers for Eimeria infections.
• EV-mediated modulation of host RNA highlights a novel mechanism of parasite-host interaction.