Human granzyme B binds Plasmodium falciparum Hsp70-x and mediates antiplasmodial activity in vitro

Cell surface-bound human Hsp70 (hHsp70) sensitises tumour cells to the cytolytic attack of natural killer (NK) cells through the mediation of apoptosis-inducing serine protease, granzyme B (GrB). hHsp70 is thought to recruit NK cells to the immunological synapse via the extracellularly exposed 14 amino acid sequence, TKDNNLLGRFELSG, known as the TKD motif of Hsp70. Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells (RBCs) habour both hHsp70 and an exported parasite Hsp70 termed PfHsp70-x. Both PfHsp70-x and hHsp70 share conserved TKD motifs. The role of PfHsp70-x in facilitating GrB uptake in malaria parasite-infected RBCs remains unknown, but hHsp70 enables a perforin-independent uptake of GrB into tumour cells. In the current study, we comparatively investigated the direct binding of GrB to either PfHsp70-x or hHsp70 in vitro. Using ELISA, slot blot assay and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, we demonstrated a direct interaction of GrB with hHsp70 and PfHsp70-x. SPR analysis revealed a higher affinity of GrB for PfHsp70-x than hHsp70. In addition, we established that the TKD motif of PfHsp70-x directly interacts with GrB. The data further suggest that the C-terminal EEVN motif of PfHsp70-x augments the affinity of PfHsp70-x for GrB but is not a prerequisite for the binding. A potent antiplasmodial activity (IC(50) of 0.5 µM) of GrB could be demonstrated. These findings suggest that the uptake of GrB by parasite-infected RBCs might be mediated by both hHsp70 and PfHsp70-x. The combined activity of both proteins could account for the antiplasmodial activity of GrB at the blood stage. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12192-023-01339-8.