Proteomic analysis of serum samples of paracoccidioidomycosis patients with severe pulmonary sequel.

• Published in: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Amanda Ribeiro Dos Santos, Aline Dionizio, Mileni da Silva Fernandes, Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf, Beatriz Pereira, Débora de Fátima Almeida Donanzam, Sergio Marrone Ribeiro, Anamaria Mello Miranda Paniago, Ricardo de Souza Cavalcante, Rinaldo Poncio Mendes, James Venturini
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009714; https://doaj.org/article/f3e936d065af485eae5940c4c0ea23ae

Background Pulmonary sequelae (PS) in patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) typically include pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in PS of PCM is required for treatment and biomarker identification. Methodology/principal findings This non-concurrent cohort study included 29 patients with pulmonary PCM that were followed before and after treatment. From this group, 17 patients evolved to mild/ moderate PS and 12 evolved severe PS. Sera from patients were evaluated before treatment and at clinical cure, serological cure, and apparent cure. A nanoACQUITY UPLC-Xevo QT MS system and PLGS software were used to identify serum differentially expressed proteins, data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026906. Serum differentially expressed proteins were then categorized using Cytoscape software and the Reactome pathway database. Seventy-two differentially expressed serum proteins were identified in patients with severe PS compared with patients with mild/moderate PS. Most proteins altered in severe PS were involved in wound healing, inflammatory response, and oxygen transport pathways. Before treatment and at clinical cure, signaling proteins participating in wound healing, complement cascade, cholesterol transport and retinoid metabolism pathways were downregulated in patients with severe PS, whereas signaling proteins in gluconeogenesis and gas exchange pathways were upregulated. At serological cure, the pattern of protein expression reversed. At apparent cure pathways related with tissue repair (fibrosis) became downregulated, and pathway related oxygen transport became upregulated. Additionally, we identified 15 proteins as candidate biomarkers for severe PS. Conclusions/significance Development of severe PS is related to increased expression of proteins involved in glycolytic pathway and oxygen exchange), indicative of the greater cellular activity and replication associated with early dysregulation of wound healing and aberrant tissue repair. ...