The structure and function of Iristatin, a novel immunosuppressive tick salivary cystatin.

We present the crystal structure of Iristatin at 1.76 Å resolution. Purified recombinant Iristatin inhibited the proteolytic activity of cathepsins L and C and diminished IL-2, IL-4, IL-9, and IFN-γ production by different T-cell populations, IL-6 and IL-9 production by mast cells, and nitric oxide production by macrophages. Furthermore, Iristatin inhibited OVA antigen-induced CD4+ T-cell proliferation and leukocyte recruitment in vivo and in vitro. Our results indicate that Iristatin affects wide range of anti-tick immune responses in the vertebrate host and may be exploitable as an immunotherapeutic.
PMID: 30747251 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS - February 12, 2019 Category: Cytology Authors: Kotál J, Stergiou N, Buša M, Chlastáková A, Beránková Z, Řezáčová P, Langhansová H, Schwarz A, Calvo E, Kopecký J, Mareš M, Schmitt E, Chmelař J, Kotsyfakis M Tags: Cell Mol Life Sci Source Type: research