TGF-β Homologues : TGH Family

The Transforming Growth Factor-β family is well-represented across all metazoan animals including nematodes, trematodes and platyhelminths. This schematic illustrates some of the TGF-β family members so far described, superimposed on a phylogenetic tree published by the International Helminth Genomes Consortium (2019, Nature Genetics 51:163-174). Also available to download as PDF.

 

1           Arnold, C.P., Benham-Pyle, B.W., Lange, J.J., Wood, C.J. and Sanchez Alvarado, A. (2019). Wnt and TGFβ coordinate growth and patterning to regulate size-dependent behaviour. Nature 572(7771): 655-659.  PMC6872711   10.1038/s41586-019-1478-7.

2           Brand, A.M., Varghese, G., Majewski, W. and Hawdon, J.M. (2005). Identification of a DAF-7 ortholog from the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum. International Journal for Parasitology 35: 1489-1498. 

3           Chaimon, S., Phuphisut, O., Reamtong, O., Ampawong, S., Fongsodsri, K., Chantree, P., Thanongsaksrikul, J., Malaithong, P., Sreesai, S., Maleewong, W., Sadaow, L., Martviset, P. and Adisakwattana, P. (2024). Molecular and biological characterization of transforming growth factor-βhomolog derived from Trichinella spiralis. Sci Rep 14(1): 31229.  PMC11682454   10.1038/s41598-024-82599-x. 

4           Crook, M., Thompson, F.J., Grant, W.N. and Viney, M.E. (2005). daf-7 and the development of Strongyloides ratti and Parastongyloides trichosuri. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 139: 213-223. 

5           Freitas, T., Jung, E. and Pearce, E.J. (2007). TGF-β signaling controls embryo development in the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. PLOS Pathogens 3: e52. 

6           Freitas, T.C. and Arasu, P. (2005). Cloning and characterisation of genes encoding two transforming growth factor-β-like ligands from the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum. International Journal for Parasitology 35(14): 1477-1487. 

7           Gomez-Escobar, N., Gregory, W.F. and Maizels, R.M. (2000). Identification of Bm-tgh-2, a filarial nematode homolog  of C.elegans daf-7 and human TGF-β, expressed in  microfilarial and adult stages of Brugia malayi. Infection and Immunity 68: 6402-6410. 

8           Gomez-Escobar, N., Lewis, E. and Maizels, R.M. (1998). A novel member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily from the filarial nematodes Brugia malayi  and B.pahangi. Experimental Parasitology 88: 200-209. 

9           Gumienny, T.L. and Savage-Dunn, C. (2013). TGF-β signaling in C. elegans. WormBook: 1-34.  PMC5081272   10.1895/wormbook.1.22.2. 

10        He, L., Liu, H., Zhang, B.Y., Li, F.F., Di, W.D., Wang, C.Q., Zhou, C.X., Liu, L., Li, T.T., Zhang, T., Fang, R. and Hu, M. (2020). A daf-7-related TGF-β ligand (Hc-tgh-2) shows important regulations on the development of Haemonchus contortus. Parasit Vectors 13(1): 326.  PMC7318536   10.1186/s13071-020-04196-x. 

11        Japa, O., Hodgkinson, J.E., Emes, R.D. and Flynn, R.J. (2015). TGF-β superfamily members from the helminth Fasciola hepatica show intrinsic effects on viability and development. Vet Res 46: 29. PMC4354977   10.1186/s13567-015-0167-2. 

12        Japa, O., Prakhammin, K. and Flynn, R.J. (2022). Identification and expression of a transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) homologue in the tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica. Parasitol Res 121(12): 3547-3559.    10.1007/s00436-022-07679-1. 

13        Liu, R., Zhao, Q.P., Ye, Q., Xiong, T., Tang, C.L., Dong, H.F. and Jiang, M.S. (2013). Cloning and characterization of a bone morphogenetic protein homologue of Schistosoma japonicum. Exp Parasitol 135(1): 64-71.    10.1016/j.exppara.2013.05.016. 

14        Massey, H.C., Castelletto, M.L., Bhopale, V.M., Schad, G.A. and Lok, J.B. (2005). Sst-tgh-1 from Strongyloides stercoralis encodes a proposed ortholog of daf-7 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 142(1): 116-120. 

15        McSorley, H.J., Grainger, J.R., Harcus, Y.M., Murray, J., Nisbet, A., Knox, D.P. and Maizels, R.M. (2010). daf-7-related TGF-β homologues from trichostrongyloid nematodes show contrasting life cycle expression patterns. Parasitology 137: 159-171.    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182009990321. 

16        Musah-Eroje, M., Hoyle, R.C., Japa, O., Hodgkinson, J.E., Haig, D.M. and Flynn, R.J. (2021). A host-independent role for Fasciola hepatica transforming growth factor-like molecule in parasite development. Int J Parasitol 51(6): 481-492.    10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.005. 

17        Nono, J.K., Lutz, M.B. and Brehm, K.R. (2020). Expansion of host regulatory T cells by secreted products of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis Front Immunol 11: 798.   10.3389/fimmu.2020.00798. 

18        Sulaiman, A.A., Zolnierczyk, K., Japa, O., Owen, J.P., Maddison, B.C., Emes, R.D., Hodgkinson, J.E., Gough, K.C. and Flynn, R.J. (2016). A trematode parasite derived growth factor binds and exerts influences on host immune functions via host cytokine receptor complexes. PLoS Pathog 12(11): e1005991.  PMC5091765   10.1371/journal.ppat.1005991.

19        Wu, D., Kong, X., Zhang, W. and Di, W. (2023). Reconstruction of the TGF-β signaling pathway of Fasciola gigantica. Parasitol Res 123(1): 51.    10.1007/s00436-023-08064-2.