Profiles of LncRNAs expression in Schistosoma mansoni during intra- mammalian development

Abstract

Background Schistosomes infect over 200 million people, resulting in chronic disease and hundreds of thousands of deaths. It is believed that the complexity of the differentiation and developmental programs observed among the different developmental stages and in the environments where the parasite lives are influenced by the regulation of gene expression. In this scenario, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) would be key molecules. Recently, our research group identified a set of 170 new lncRNAs in Schistosoma mansoni, and 15 were experimentally analyzed. Continuing this investigation, we evaluated the expression of 47 of these lncRNAs in S. mansoni developmental stages, as well as in liver samples of a murine schistosomiasis model. Methods We experimentally analyze 47 S. mansoni lncRNAs, and the validated ones had their expression analyzed using RT-qPCR in samples of the definitive-host-related developmental stages of the worm: cercariae, schistosomula 3.5 h, adult worms, and eggs; as well as in liver samples of BALB/c mice infected (100 cercariae) and uninfected, collected 9 weeks post-infection. Putative target protein-coding genes expression and Gene Ontology were collected in WormBase Parasite. Results We demonstrate that 25 of the 47 lncRNAs analyzed were primarily expressed in adult worms. 20 of these also show to be differentially expressed among the developmental stages evaluated, demonstrating that these molecules probably play a role in stage-specific gene expression. We also detect the expression of 22 S. mansoni-specific lncRNAs host liver samples, suggesting the action in the host-pathogen relationship. Finally, we describe lncRNA–protein coding gene correlations that identify lncRNAs with prospective roles in gene regulation. Conclusions Our results show clear differential expression patterns of lncRNAs in host-dependent development stages of S. mansoni and ascribe potential functional roles in development based on predicted intracellular interactions as well as potential for being biomarkers.

Chromatin structure around long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes inSchistosoma mansonigonads

“…In Schistosoma mansoni, lncRNA have been shown to affect pairing status, survival, and reproduction in adult worms, making them potential therapeutic targets (Silveira et al, 2023). Additionally, lncRNAs have been identified in different developmental stages of S. mansoni, suggesting their involvement in stage-specific gene expression and potential as biomarkers (Rocha et al, 2022). Furthermore, the expression patterns of lncRNAs in S. mansoni have been characterized at the singlecell level, revealing tissue-specific expression and regulated expression programs (Morales-Vicente et al, 2022).…”

“…These differentially expressed lncRNAs belong to coexpression network modules related to male metabolism, and they are also differentially expressed in unpaired females compared with paired females and their ovaries, respectively (Amaral et al, 2020). Re-analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing data from adult S. mansoni identified the expression patterns of lncRNAs in different cell types including specific lncRNAs in the gonads (Rocha et al, 2022). Given the stage-and cell specific expression of lncRNA and its sensitivity to an epigenetic stressor (Amaral et al, 2020), we hypothesized that lncRNA gene function could be influenced by chromatin structure around their genes.…”