Alpha-terthienyl increases filamentous actin of Entamoeba histolytica

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology 2022-11, Vol.252, p.111512-111512, Article 111512
• Main Authors: Herrera-Martínez, Mayra, Hernández-Ramírez, Verónica Ivonne, Montaño, Sarita, Chávez-Munguía, Bibiana, Hernández-Carlos, Beatriz, Talamás-Rohana, Patricia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actin; Actin Cytoskeleton - drug effects; Actin Cytoskeleton - metabolism; Actins - drug effects; Actins - metabolism; Adenophyllum aurantium; alpha-terthienyl; Animals; antagonists; Asteraceae; cell viability; confocal microscopy; Cytoskeleton; dose response; electron microscopy; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba histolytica - metabolism; fluorometry; microfilaments; parasitology; polymerization; reactive oxygen species; Rho-GTP; ROCK; tetrazolium; trophozoites; Trophozoites - drug effects; Trophozoites - metabolism
• ISSN: 0166-6851; 1872-9428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111512

This study aimed to know if alpha terthienyl (α-T) affects E. histolytica viability and to analyze its effect on the actin cytoskeleton. Trophozoites of E. histolytica HM1-IMSS were treated with α-T, then, cell viability and morphology were evaluated using tetrazolium salts and scanning electron microscopy, respectively; while actin filaments (F-actin) were stained with rhodamine-phalloidin, observed by confocal microscopy and quantified by fluorometry. Data showed that α-T inhibited cell viability of trophozoites (IC50, 19.43 µg / mL), affected the cell morphology, and increased the F-actin in a dose-dependent manner. Production of reactive oxygen species and RhoA-GTP levels remained normal in α-T-treated amebas. Two inhibitors that affect the organization of the trophozoites cytoskeleton, one that interacts directly with actin, Cytochalasin D (CD), and one that affects the Rho signaling pathway by inhibiting the downstream effector Rock, Y27632, were tested. Y27632 did not affect the increase of polymerized actin observed with α-T, this compound partially ameliorates the potent disrupting effects of CD on actin filaments. Docking results suggest that α-T could be an antagonist of CD for the same interaction zone in actin, however, more studies are needed to define the action mechanism of this compound. [Display omitted] •Alpha-terphienyl decreased cell viability and affected the cell morphology of Entamoeba histolytica.•Alpha-terphienyl increases the amount of filamentous actin in Entamoeba histolytica.•Alpha-terphienyl could be an antagonist of CD for the same interaction zone in actin.