The ability of Plasmodium falciparum–infected red blood cells (IRBCs) to bind to vascular endothelium, thus enabling sequestration in vital host organs, is an important pathogenic mechanism in malaria. Adhesion of P. falciparum IRBCs to platelets, which results in the formation of IRBC clumps, is another cytoadherence phenomenon that is associated with severe disease. Here, we have used in vitro cytoadherence assays to demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that P. falciparum IRBCs use the 32-kDa human protein gC1qR/HABP1/p32 as a receptor to bind to human brain microvascular endothelial cells. In addition, we show that P. falciparum IRBCs can also bind to gC1qR/HABP1/p32 on platelets to form clumps. Our study has thus identified a novel host receptor that is used for both adhesion to vascular endothelium and platelet-mediated clumping. Given the association of adhesion to vascular endothelium and platelet-mediated clumping with severe disease, adhesion to gC1qR/HABP1/p32 by P. falciparum IRBCs may play an important role in malaria pathogenesis.

Protein kinase C (PKC) is an important constituent of the signaling pathways involved in apoptosis. We report here that like staurosporine, withaferin A is a potent inhibitor of PKC. In Leishmania donovani, the inhibition of PKC by withaferin A causes depolarization of DW m and generates ROS inside cells. Loss of DW m leads to the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and subsequently activates caspase-like proteases and oligonucleosomal DNA cleavage. Moreover, in treated cells, oxidative DNA lesions facilitate the stabilization of topoisomerase I-mediated cleavable complexes, which also contribute to DNA fragmentation. However, withaferin A and staurosporine cannot induce cleavable complex formation in vitro with recombinant topoisomerase I nor with nuclear extracts from control cells. Taken together, our results indicate that inhibition of PKC by withaferin A is a central event for the induction of apoptosis and that the stabilization of topoisomerase I-DNA complex is necessary to amplify apoptotic process.

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Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is an environmental toxicant that induces male germ cell apoptosis. Curcumin and resveratrol are phytochemicals with cytoprotective and anti-oxidative properties. At the same time resveratrol is also a natural Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) antagonist. Our present study in isolated testicular germ cell population from adult male Wistar rats, highlighted the synergistic protective effect of curcumin and resveratrol against B(a)P induced p53 mediated germ cell apoptosis. Curcumin-resveratrol significantly prevented B(a)P induced decrease in sperm cell count and motility, as well as increased serum testosterone level. Curcumin-resveratrol co-treatment actively protected B(a)P induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. Curcumin-resveratrol co-treatment decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins like cleaved caspase 3, 8 and 9, cleaved PARP, Apaf1, FasL, tBid. Curcumin-resveratrol co-treatment decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio, mitochondria to cytosolic translocation of cytochrome c and activated the survival protein Akt. Curcumin-resveratrol decreased the expression of p53 dependent apoptotic genes like Fas, FasL, Bax, Bcl2, and Apaf1. B(a)P induced testicular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative stress were significantly ameliorated with curcumin and resveratrol. Curcumin-resveratrol co-treatment prevented B(a)P induced nuclear translocation of AhR and CYP1A1 (Cytochrome P4501A1) expression. The combinatorial treatment significantly inhibited B(a)P induced ERK 1/2, p38 MAPK and JNK 1/2 activation. B(a)P treatment increased the expression of p53 and its phosphorylation (p53 ser 15). Curcumin-resveratrol co-treatment significantly decreased p53 level and its phosphorylation (p53 ser 15). The study concludes that curcumin-resveratrol synergistically modulated MAPKs and p53, prevented oxidative stress, regulated the expression of pro and anti-apoptotic proteins as well as the proteins involved in B(a)P metabolism thus protected germ cells from B(a)P induced apoptosis.

Tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (Tdp1) is a member of phospholipase D superfamily, which cleaves a broad range of 3'-DNA adducts, the best characterized of which is the phosphodiester bond formed between DNA and topoisomerase IB. This study describes cloning and functional characterization of the enzyme, termed as LdTdp1 in the kinetoplastid parasite Leishmania donovani. Sequence analysis confirmed conservation of the active site motifs typical for all Tdp1 proteins. LdTdp1 activity was detected in the parasite nucleus as well as in the kinetoplast. The enzyme harbours a nuclear localization signal at its C-terminus. Overexpression of the active enzyme protected the parasites against topoisomerase IB inhibitor camptothecin (CPT) and oxidative agent H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity and its downregulation rendered the parasites hypersensitive to CPT. Trapping of mutant LdTdp1 on DNA takes place following CPT treatment in L. donovani cells. The expression level and associated activity of LdTdp1 were found to be higher in CPT-resistant L. donovani parasites. Altogether, this is the first report of Tdp1 from the kinetoplastid parasite L. donovani, which actively participates in topoisomerase I-mediated DNA damage repair process and thereby counteracts the cytotoxic effect of topoisomerase I inhibitors.