Abstract

Background: Adult Schistosoma mansoni parasites inhabit the hepatic portal system of the vertebrate host, their deposited eggs causing granulomatous pathology in both the intestines and liver. In the intestines, egg secretions drive inflammatory processes involved in extravasation to the gut lumen. Methods: Here, we investigate parasite-host interactions in a mouse model during the acute phase of a patent infection at 5 and 7 weeks, using parallel histological and proteomic analysis of paraffin-embedded ileal tissues. Results: Histology at week 7 showed infected animals had more inflammation and longer villi than at week 5, as well as more Goblet cells reflecting enhanced mucus production. LC-MS/MS analysis of deparaffinized ileal sections, subjected to in-solution tryptic digestion, revealed a total of 1615 protein groups. Differentially abundant proteins were found early at week 5, coinciding with the onset of egg deposition. A contrasting scenario, dominated by upregulation of protein components from the innate and adaptive immune systems, was seen at week 7; at this point, egg migration and excretion are underway. Among the proteins were mast cell proteases, fibrinogens, arginase-1, and molecules associated with extracellular matrix remodeling. Conclusions: Our findings reflect intestinal proteome changes likely participating in S. mansoni egg passage from the vascular bed to the intestinal lumen.

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