Trichomonas Vaginalis Induces Apoptosis via ROS and ER Stress Through ER-mitochondria Crosstalk in Human Cervical Epithelial Cells

Abstract Background: Human trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in apoptosis induction by T. vaginalis in human cervical epithelial SiHa cellsMethods: We evaluated the cytotoxicity, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ER stress response, and Bcl-2 family protein expressions using LDH assay, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, JC-1 dye staining, and western blotting.Results: T. vaginalis induced LDH-dependent cytotoxicity, mitochondrial ROS production, and apoptosis in SiHa cells, parasite burden- and infection time-dependently. T. vaginalis also induced ER stress response and mitochondrial dysfunction, such as MMP depolarization and imbalance in levels of Bcl-2 family proteins, in SiHa cells in a parasite burden- and infection time-dependent manner. Pretreatment with N-Acetyl cysteine (ROS scavenger) or 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA, ER stress inhibitor) significantly alleviated apoptosis, ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ER stress response in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggested that SiHa cell apoptosis is affected by ROS and ER stress after T. gondii infection. In addition, T. vaginalis induced ASK1 and JNK phosphorylation in SiHa cells, however 4-PBA or SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) pretreatment significantly attenuated ASK1/JNK phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and ER stress response in SiHa cells, dose-dependently.Conclusions: T. vaginalis induces mitochondrial apoptosis via ROS and parasite-mediated ER stress via the IRE1/ASK1/JNK/Mcl-1 pathways, and also induces ER stress response directly and mitochondrial ROS-dependently in human cervical epithelial SiHa cells, thus, T. vaginalis induces apoptosis via ROS and ER stress through ER-mitochondria crosstalk in human cervical epithelial cells. These results expand our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of human trichomoniasis.