Analysis of expression of FLI1 and MMP1 in American cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania braziliensis infection

作者：Almeida, Lucas; Silva, Juliana A.; Andrade, Viviane M.; Machado, Paulo; Jamieson, Sarra E.; Carvalho, Edgar M.; Blackwell, Jenefer M.; Castellucci, Lea C.^*

来源：Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2017, 49: 212-220.

DOI：10.1016/j.meegid.2017.01.018

• Leishmaniasis
• FLI1
• MMP1
• IL-6
• Cutaneous lesions
• Macrophages

FLI1 (Friend leukemia virus integration 1) and IL6 (interleukin 6; IL-6) are associated with Leishmania braziliensis susceptibility. Cutaneous lesions show exaggerated matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1). In other skin diseases, FLI1 promoter methylation reduces FLI1 expression, and low FLI1 down-regulates MMP1. IL-6 increases FLI1 expression. We hypothesized that epigenetic regulation of FLI1 in cutaneous leishmaniasis, together with IL-6, might determine MMP1 expression. While generally low (<10%), percent FLI1 promoter methylation was lower (P= 0.001) in lesion biopsies than normal skin. Contrary to expectation, a strong positive correlation occurred between FLI1 methylation and gene expression in lesions (r = 0.98, P = 0.0005) and in IL-6-treated L. braziliensis-infected macrophages (r= 0.99, P = 0.0004). In silico analysis of the FLI1 promoter revealed co-occurring active H3K27ac and repressive DNA methylation marks to enhance gene expression. FLI1 expressionwas enhanced between 3 and 24 hour post infection in untreated (P= 0.0002) and IL-6-treated (P= 0.028) macrophages. MMP1 was enhanced in lesion biopsies (P= 0.0002), induced (P= 0.007) in infected macrophages, but strongly inhibited by IL-6. No correlations occurred between FLI1 and MMP1 expression in lesions or infected macrophages (with/without IL-6). We conclude that MMP1 is regulated by factors other than FLI1, and that the influence of IL-6 on MMP1 was independent of its effect on FLI1.

• 出版日期2017-4
• 单位河北医科大学