1
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Glass E, Robinson SL, Rosowski EE. Zebrafish use conserved CLR and TLR signaling pathways to respond to fungal PAMPs in zymosan. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600417. [PMID: 38979385 PMCID: PMC11230284 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are used by hosts to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in microorganisms and to initiate innate immune responses. While PRRs exist across invertebrate and vertebrate species, the functional homology of many of these receptors is still unclear. In this study, we investigate the innate immune response of zebrafish larvae to zymosan, a β-glucan-containing particle derived from fungal cell walls. Macrophages and neutrophils robustly respond to zymosan and are required for zymosan-induced activation of the NF-κB transcription factor. Full activation of NF-κB in response to zymosan depends on Card9/Syk and Myd88, conserved CLR and TLR adaptor proteins, respectively. Two putative CLRs, Clec4c and Sclra, are both required for maximal sensing of zymosan and NF-κB activation. Altogether, we identify conserved PRRs and PRR signaling pathways in larval zebrafish that promote recognition of fungal PAMPs. These results inform modeling of human fungal infections in zebrafish and increase our knowledge of the evolution and conservation of PRR pathways in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Glass
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
| | - Stephan L. Robinson
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
- School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC
| | - Emily E. Rosowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
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2
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Goli SH, Lim JY, Basaran-Akgul N, Templeton SP. Adiponectin pathway activation dampens inflammation and enhances alveolar macrophage fungal killing via LC3-associated phagocytosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600373. [PMID: 38979340 PMCID: PMC11230297 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Although innate immunity is critical for antifungal host defense against the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, potentially damaging inflammation must be controlled. Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine produced mainly in adipose tissue that exerts anti-inflammatory effects in adipose-distal tissues such as the lung. We observed 100% mortality and increased fungal burden and inflammation in neutropenic mice with invasive aspergillosis (IA) that lack APN or the APN receptors AdipoR1 or AdipoR2. Alveolar macrophages (AMs), early immune sentinels that detect and respond to lung infection, express both receptors, and APN-/- AMs exhibited an inflammatory/M1 phenotype that was associated with decreased fungal killing. Pharmacological stimulation of AMs with AdipoR agonist AdipoRon partially rescued deficient killing in APN-/- AMs that was dependent on both receptors. Finally, APN-enhanced fungal killing was associated with increased activation of the non-canonical LC3 pathway of autophagy. Thus, our study identifies a novel role for APN in LC3-mediated killing of A.fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Harshini Goli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
| | - Joo-Yeon Lim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
| | - Nese Basaran-Akgul
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
| | - Steven P. Templeton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
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3
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Winer BY, Settle AH, Yakimov AM, Jeronimo C, Lazarov T, Tipping M, Saoi M, Sawh A, Sepp ALL, Galiano M, Perry JSA, Wong YY, Geissmann F, Cross J, Zhou T, Kam LC, Pasolli HA, Hohl T, Cyster JG, Weiner OD, Huse M. Plasma membrane abundance dictates phagocytic capacity and functional cross-talk in myeloid cells. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadl2388. [PMID: 38848343 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adl2388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Professional phagocytes like neutrophils and macrophages tightly control what they consume, how much they consume, and when they move after cargo uptake. We show that plasma membrane abundance is a key arbiter of these cellular behaviors. Neutrophils and macrophages lacking the G protein subunit Gβ4 exhibited profound plasma membrane expansion, accompanied by marked reduction in plasma membrane tension. These biophysical changes promoted the phagocytosis of bacteria, fungus, apoptotic corpses, and cancer cells. We also found that Gβ4-deficient neutrophils are defective in the normal inhibition of migration following cargo uptake. Sphingolipid synthesis played a central role in these phenotypes by driving plasma membrane accumulation in cells lacking Gβ4. In Gβ4 knockout mice, neutrophils not only exhibited enhanced phagocytosis of inhaled fungal conidia in the lung but also increased trafficking of engulfed pathogens to other organs. Together, these results reveal an unexpected, biophysical control mechanism central to myeloid functional decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Y Winer
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander H Settle
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Carlos Jeronimo
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tomi Lazarov
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Murray Tipping
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Saoi
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anna-Liisa L Sepp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Galiano
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin S A Perry
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yung Yu Wong
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Frederic Geissmann
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin Cross
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ting Zhou
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- SKI Stem Cell Research Facility, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lance C Kam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - H Amalia Pasolli
- Electron Microscopy Resource Center, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tobias Hohl
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason G Cyster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Orion D Weiner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Morgan Huse
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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4
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Desai JV, Zarakas MA, Wishart AL, Roschewski M, Aufiero MA, Donkó Á, Wigerblad G, Shlezinger N, Plate M, James MR, Lim JK, Uzel G, Bergerson JR, Fuss I, Cramer RA, Franco LM, Clark ES, Khan WN, Yamanaka D, Chamilos G, El-Benna J, Kaplan MJ, Staudt LM, Leto TL, Holland SM, Wilson WH, Hohl TM, Lionakis MS. BTK drives neutrophil activation for sterilizing antifungal immunity. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e176142. [PMID: 38696257 PMCID: PMC11178547 DOI: 10.1172/jci176142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a previously-unappreciated role for Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in fungal immune surveillance against aspergillosis, an unforeseen complication of BTK inhibitors (BTKi) used for treating B-cell lymphoid malignancies. We studied BTK-dependent fungal responses in neutrophils from diverse populations, including healthy donors, BTKi-treated patients, and X-linked agammaglobulinemia patients. Upon fungal exposure, BTK was activated in human neutrophils in a TLR2-, Dectin-1-, and FcγR-dependent manner, triggering the oxidative burst. BTK inhibition selectively impeded neutrophil-mediated damage to Aspergillus hyphae, primary granule release, and the fungus-induced oxidative burst by abrogating NADPH oxidase subunit p40phox and GTPase RAC2 activation. Moreover, neutrophil-specific Btk deletion in mice enhanced aspergillosis susceptibility by impairing neutrophil function, not recruitment or lifespan. Conversely, GM-CSF partially mitigated these deficits by enhancing p47phox activation. Our findings underline the crucial role of BTK signaling in neutrophils for antifungal immunity and provide a rationale for GM-CSF use to offset these deficits in susceptible patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigar V Desai
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Marissa A Zarakas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Andrew L Wishart
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Mark Roschewski
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Mariano A Aufiero
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States of America
| | - Ágnes Donkó
- Molecular Defenses Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Gustaf Wigerblad
- Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Neta Shlezinger
- Infectious Diseases, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States of America
| | - Markus Plate
- Infectious Diseases, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States of America
| | - Matthew R James
- Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States of America
| | - Jean K Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - Gulbu Uzel
- Immunopathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Jenna Re Bergerson
- Primary Immune Deficiency Clinic, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Ivan Fuss
- Mucosal Immunity Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Robert A Cramer
- Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, United States of America
| | - Luis M Franco
- Functional Immunogenomics Section, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Emily S Clark
- Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States of America
| | - Wasif N Khan
- Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, United States of America
| | - Daisuke Yamanaka
- Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Jamel El-Benna
- Center for Research on Inflammation, City University of Paris, INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Paris, France
| | - Mariana J Kaplan
- Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Louis M Staudt
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Thomas L Leto
- Molecular Defenses Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Steven M Holland
- Immunopathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Wyndham H Wilson
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Infectious Diseases, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, United States of America
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, LCIM, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, United States of America
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5
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Desai JV, Lionakis MS. Evaluation of murine renal phagocyte-fungal interactions using intravital confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:102781. [PMID: 38113143 PMCID: PMC10770751 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid phagocytes are essential for antifungal host defense during systemic candidiasis. Here, we present a protocol for assessing phagocyte-fungal interactions in vivo in the kidney, the primary target organ of the murine systemic candidiasis model. We describe steps for intravital confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. We also detail a kidney tissue dissociation procedure to obtain highly pure functional phagocytes for utilization in downstream ex vivo fungal uptake and killing assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigar V Desai
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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6
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Lee JS, Kim C. Role of CARD9 in Cell- and Organ-Specific Immune Responses in Various Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2598. [PMID: 38473845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9) is an intracellular adaptor protein that is abundantly expressed in cells of the myeloid lineage, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. CARD9 plays a critical role in host immunity against infections caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. A CARD9 deficiency impairs the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as well as migration and infiltration, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections. However, CARD9 signaling varies depending on the pathogen causing the infection. Furthermore, different studies have reported altered CARD9-mediated signaling even with the same pathogen. Therefore, this review focuses on and elucidates the current literature on varied CARD9 signaling in response to various infectious stimuli in humans and experimental mice models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Seok Lee
- Laboratory of Leukocyte Signaling Research, Department of Pharmacology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
- BK21, Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaekyun Kim
- Laboratory of Leukocyte Signaling Research, Department of Pharmacology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
- BK21, Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
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7
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Tanner CD, Rosowski EE. Macrophages inhibit extracellular hyphal growth of A. fumigatus through Rac2 GTPase signaling. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0038023. [PMID: 38168666 PMCID: PMC10863406 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00380-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages act as a first line of defense against pathogens. Against Aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus with pathogenic potential in immunocompromised patients, macrophages can phagocytose fungal spores and inhibit spore germination to prevent the development of tissue-invasive hyphae. However, the cellular pathways that macrophages use to accomplish these tasks and any roles macrophages have later in infection against invasive forms of fungi are still not fully known. Rac-family Rho GTPases are signaling hubs for multiple cellular functions in leukocytes, including cell migration, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and transcriptional activation. We therefore aimed to further characterize the function of macrophages against A. fumigatus in an in vivo vertebrate infection model by live imaging of the macrophage behavior in A. fumigatus-infected rac2 mutant zebrafish larvae. While Rac2-deficient zebrafish larvae are susceptible to A. fumigatus infection, Rac2 deficiency does not impair macrophage migration to the infection site, interaction with and phagocytosis of spores, spore trafficking to acidified compartments, or spore killing. However, we reveal a role for Rac2 in macrophage-mediated inhibition of spore germination and control of invasive hyphae. Re-expression of Rac2 under a macrophage-specific promoter rescues the survival of A. fumigatus-infected rac2 mutant larvae through increased control of germination and hyphal growth. Altogether, we describe a new role for macrophages against extracellular hyphal growth of A. fumigatus and report that the function of the Rac2 Rho GTPase in macrophages is required for this function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D. Tanner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Emily E. Rosowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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8
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Mills KAM, Westermann F, Espinosa V, Rosiek E, Desai JV, Aufiero MA, Guo Y, Mitchell KA, Tuzlak S, De Feo D, Lionakis MS, Rivera A, Becher B, Hohl TM. GM-CSF-mediated epithelial-immune cell crosstalk orchestrates pulmonary immunity to Aspergillus fumigatus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.574062. [PMID: 38260364 PMCID: PMC10802277 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.574062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus causes life-threatening mold pneumonia in immune compromised patients, particularly in those with quantitative or qualitative defects in neutrophils. While innate immune cell crosstalk licenses neutrophil antifungal activity in the lung, the role of epithelial cells in this process is unknown. Here, we find that that surfactant protein C (SPC)-expressing lung epithelial cells integrate infection-induced IL-1 and type III interferon signaling to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) preferentially at local sites of fungal infection and neutrophil influx. Using in vivo models that distinguish the role of GM-CSF during acute infection from its homeostatic function in alveolar macrophage survival and surfactant catabolism, we demonstrate that epithelial-derived GM-CSF increases the accumulation and fungicidal activity of GM-CSF-responsive neutrophils, with the latter being essential for host survival. Our findings establish SPC + epithelial cells as a central player in regulating the quality and strength of neutrophil-dependent immunity against inhaled mold pathogens. HIGHLIGHTS GM-CSF is essential for host defense against A. fumigatus in the lung IL-1 and IFN-λ promote GM-CSF production by lung epithelial cells in parallelEpithelial cell-derived GM-CSF increases neutrophil accumulation and fungal killing capacityEpithelial cells preferentially upregulate GM-CSF in local sites of inflammation. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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9
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James MR, Aufiero MA, Vesely EM, Dhingra S, Liu KW, Hohl TM, Cramer RA. Aspergillus fumigatus cytochrome c impacts conidial survival during sterilizing immunity. mSphere 2023; 8:e0030523. [PMID: 37823656 PMCID: PMC10871163 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00305-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus can cause a life-threatening infection known as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), which is marked by fungus-attributable mortality rates of 20%-30%. Individuals at risk for IPA harbor genetic mutations or incur pharmacologic defects that impair myeloid cell numbers and/or function, exemplified by bone marrow transplant recipients, patients that receive corticosteroid therapy, or patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). However, treatments for Aspergillus infections remain limited, and resistance to the few existing drug classes is emerging. Recently, the World Health Organization classified A. fumigatus as a critical priority fungal pathogen. Our cell death research identifies an important aspect of fungal biology that impacts susceptibility to leukocyte killing. Furthering our understanding of mechanisms that mediate the outcome of fungal-leukocyte interactions will increase our understanding of both the underlying fungal biology governing cell death and innate immune evasion strategies utilized during mammalian infection pathogenesis. Consequently, our studies are a critical step toward leveraging these mechanisms for novel therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. James
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Mariano A. Aufiero
- Louis V Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elisa M. Vesely
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Sourabh Dhingra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Ko-Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Tobias M. Hohl
- Louis V Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, New York, New York, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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10
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Aufiero MA, Shlezinger N, Gjonbalaj M, Mills KAM, Ballabio A, Hohl TM. Dectin-1/CARD9 induction of the TFEB and TFE3 gene network is dispensable for phagocyte anti- Aspergillus activity in the lung. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0021723. [PMID: 37861312 PMCID: PMC10652993 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00217-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid phagocytes of the respiratory immune system, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages, are essential for immunity to Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common etiologic agent of mold pneumonia worldwide. Following the engulfment of A. fumigatus conidia, fusion of the phagosome with the lysosome is a critical process for killing conidia. TFEB and TFE3 are transcription factors that regulate lysosomal biogenesis under stress and are activated by inflammatory stimuli in macrophages, but it is unknown whether TFEB and TFE3 contribute to anti-Aspergillus immunity during infection. We found that lung neutrophils express TFEB and TFE3, and their target genes were upregulated during A. fumigatus lung infection. In addition, A. fumigatus infection induced nuclear accumulation of TFEB and TFE3 in macrophages in a process regulated by Dectin-1 and CARD9. Genetic deletion of Tfeb and Tfe3 impaired macrophage killing of A. fumigatus conidia. However, in a murine immune-competent Aspergillus infection model with genetic deficiency of Tfeb and Tfe3 in hematopoietic cells, we surprisingly found that lung myeloid phagocytes had no defects in conidial phagocytosis or killing. Loss of TFEB and TFE3 did not impact murine survival or clearance of A. fumigatus from the lungs. Our findings indicate that myeloid phagocytes activate TFEB and TFE3 in response to A. fumigatus, and while this pathway promotes macrophage fungicidal activity in vitro, genetic loss can be functionally compensated in the lung, resulting in no measurable defect in fungal control and host survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A. Aufiero
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Neta Shlezinger
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mergim Gjonbalaj
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, New York, New York, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kathleen A. M. Mills
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea Ballabio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Tobias M. Hohl
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, New York, New York, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, New York, USA
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11
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Lee CK, Oliveira LVN, Akalin A, Specht CA, Lourenco D, Gomez CL, Ramirez-Ortiz ZG, Wang JP, Levitz SM. Dysregulated pulmonary inflammatory responses exacerbate the outcome of secondary aspergillosis following influenza. mBio 2023; 14:e0163323. [PMID: 37681974 PMCID: PMC10653922 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01633-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Severe influenza is a risk factor for fatal invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; however, the mechanistic basis for the lethality is unclear. Utilizing an influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) model, we found that mice infected with influenza A virus followed by Aspergillus fumigatus had 100% mortality when superinfected during the early stages of influenza but survived at later stages. While superinfected mice had dysregulated pulmonary inflammatory responses compared to controls, they had neither increased inflammation nor extensive fungal growth. Although influenza-infected mice had dampened neutrophil recruitment to the lungs following subsequent challenge with A. fumigatus, influenza did not affect the ability of neutrophils to clear the fungi. Our data suggest that the lethality seen in our model of IAPA is multifactorial with dysregulated inflammation being a greater contributor than uncontrollable microbial growth. If confirmed in humans, our findings provide a rationale for clinical studies of adjuvant anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of IAPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrono K. Lee
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lorena V. N. Oliveira
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ali Akalin
- Department of Pathology, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charles A. Specht
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Diana Lourenco
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christina L. Gomez
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zaida G. Ramirez-Ortiz
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer P. Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Winer BY, Settle AH, Yakimov AM, Jeronimo C, Lazarov T, Tipping M, Saoi M, Sawh A, Sepp ALL, Galiano M, Wong YY, Perry JSA, Geissmann F, Cross J, Zhou T, Kam LC, Pasoli HA, Hohl T, Cyster JG, Weiner OD, Huse M. Plasma membrane abundance dictates phagocytic capacity and functional crosstalk in myeloid cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.12.556572. [PMID: 37745515 PMCID: PMC10515848 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.556572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Professional phagocytes like neutrophils and macrophages tightly control what they eat, how much they eat, and when they move after eating. We show that plasma membrane abundance is a key arbiter of these cellular behaviors. Neutrophils and macrophages lacking the G-protein subunit Gb4 exhibit profound plasma membrane expansion due to enhanced production of sphingolipids. This increased membrane allocation dramatically enhances phagocytosis of bacteria, fungus, apoptotic corpses, and cancer cells. Gb4 deficient neutrophils are also defective in the normal inhibition of migration following cargo uptake. In Gb4 knockout mice, myeloid cells exhibit enhanced phagocytosis of inhaled fungal conidia in the lung but also increased trafficking of engulfed pathogens to other organs. These results reveal an unexpected, biophysical control mechanism lying at the heart of myeloid functional decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Y Winer
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander H Settle
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Carlos Jeronimo
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Tomi Lazarov
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Murray Tipping
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Saoi
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Anna-Liisa L Sepp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Galiano
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Yung Yu Wong
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin S A Perry
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Frederic Geissmann
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin Cross
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Ting Zhou
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Lance C Kam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Hilda Amalia Pasoli
- Electron Microscopy Resource Center, The Rockefeller University; New York, NY, USA
| | - Tobias Hohl
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason G Cyster
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Orion D Weiner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco; San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Morgan Huse
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; New York, NY, USA
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13
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King J, Dambuza IM, Reid DM, Yuecel R, Brown GD, Warris A. Detailed characterisation of invasive aspergillosis in a murine model of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease shows new insights in infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus versus Aspergillus nidulans. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1241770. [PMID: 37724291 PMCID: PMC10505440 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1241770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most prevalent infectious complication in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Yet, understanding of fungal pathogenesis in the CGD host remains limited, particularly with regards to A. nidulans infection. Methods We have used a murine model of X-linked CGD to investigate how the pathogenesis of IA varies between A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, comparing infection in both X-linked CGD (gp91-/-) mice and their parent C57BL/6 (WT) mice. A 14-colour flow cytometry panel was used to assess the cell dynamics over the course of infection, with parallel assessment of pulmonary cytokine production and lung histology. Results We observed a lack of association between pulmonary pathology and infection outcome in gp91-/- mice, with no significant mortality in A. nidulans infected mice. An overwhelming and persistent neutrophil recruitment and IL-1 release in gp91-/- mice following both A. fumigatus and A. nidulans infection was observed, with divergent macrophage, dendritic cell and eosinophil responses and distinct cytokine profiles between the two infections. Conclusion We have provided an in-depth characterisation of the immune response to pulmonary aspergillosis in an X-linked CGD murine model. This provides the first description of distinct pulmonary inflammatory environments in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans infection in X-linked CGD and identifies several new avenues for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill King
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Department of General Paediatrics, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Ivy M. Dambuza
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Delyth M. Reid
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Raif Yuecel
- Exeter Centre for Cytometrics, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- Iain Fraser Cytometry Centre, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon D. Brown
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Adilia Warris
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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14
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Lee CK, Oliveira LVN, Akalin A, Specht CA, Lourenco D, Gomez CL, Ramirez-Ortiz ZG, Wang JP, Levitz SM. Dysregulated Pulmonary Inflammatory Responses Exacerbate the Outcome of Secondary Aspergillosis Following Influenza. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.27.546808. [PMID: 37425745 PMCID: PMC10326983 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.27.546808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation of airborne conidia of the ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus commonly occurs but invasive aspergillosis is rare except in profoundly immunocompromised persons. Severe influenza predisposes patients to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis by mechanisms that are poorly defined. Using a post-influenza aspergillosis model, we found that superinfected mice had 100% mortality when challenged with A. fumigatus conidia on days 2 and 5 (early stages) of influenza A virus infection but 100% survival when challenged on days 8 and 14 (late stages). Influenza-infected mice superinfected with A. fumigatus had increased levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines IL-6, TNFα, IFNβ, IL-12p70, IL-1α, IL-1β, CXCL1, G-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES and MCP-1. Surprisingly, on histopathological analysis, superinfected mice did not have greater lung inflammation compared with mice infected with influenza alone. Mice infected with influenza had dampened neutrophil recruitment to the lungs following subsequent challenge with A. fumigatus , but only if the fungal challenge was executed during the early stages of influenza infection. However, influenza infection did not have a major effect on neutrophil phagocytosis and killing of A. fumigatus conidia. Moreover, minimal germination of conidia was seen on histopathology even in the superinfected mice. Taken together, our data suggest that the high mortality rate seen in mice during the early stages of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis is multifactorial, with a greater contribution from dysregulated inflammation than microbial growth. Importance Severe influenza is a risk factor for fatal invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; however, the mechanistic basis for the lethality is unclear. Utilizing an influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) model, we found that mice infected with influenza A virus followed by A. fumigatus had 100% mortality when superinfected during the early stages of influenza but survived at later stages. While superinfected mice had dysregulated pulmonary inflammatory responses compared to controls, they had neither increased inflammation nor extensive fungal growth. Although influenza-infected mice had dampened neutrophil recruitment to the lungs following subsequent challenge with A. fumigatus , influenza did not affect the ability of neutrophils to clear the fungi. Our data suggest that the lethality seen in our model IAPA is multifactorial with dysregulated inflammation being a greater contributor than uncontrollable microbial growth. If confirmed in humans, our findings provide a rationale for clinical studies of adjuvant anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of IAPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrono K. Lee
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Lorena V. N. Oliveira
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ali Akalin
- Department of Pathology, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Charles A. Specht
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Diana Lourenco
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Christina L. Gomez
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Zaida G. Ramirez-Ortiz
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer P. Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- Department of Medicine, The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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15
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Desai JV, Kumar D, Freiwald T, Chauss D, Johnson MD, Abers MS, Steinbrink JM, Perfect JR, Alexander B, Matzaraki V, Snarr BD, Zarakas MA, Oikonomou V, Silva LM, Shivarathri R, Beltran E, Demontel LN, Wang L, Lim JK, Launder D, Conti HR, Swamydas M, McClain MT, Moutsopoulos NM, Kazemian M, Netea MG, Kumar V, Köhl J, Kemper C, Afzali B, Lionakis MS. C5a-licensed phagocytes drive sterilizing immunity during systemic fungal infection. Cell 2023; 186:2802-2822.e22. [PMID: 37220746 PMCID: PMC10330337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Systemic candidiasis is a common, high-mortality, nosocomial fungal infection. Unexpectedly, it has emerged as a complication of anti-complement C5-targeted monoclonal antibody treatment, indicating a critical niche for C5 in antifungal immunity. We identified transcription of complement system genes as the top biological pathway induced in candidemic patients and as predictive of candidemia. Mechanistically, C5a-C5aR1 promoted fungal clearance and host survival in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis by stimulating phagocyte effector function and ERK- and AKT-dependent survival in infected tissues. C5ar1 ablation rewired macrophage metabolism downstream of mTOR, promoting their apoptosis and enhancing mortality through kidney injury. Besides hepatocyte-derived C5, local C5 produced intrinsically by phagocytes provided a key substrate for antifungal protection. Lower serum C5a concentrations or a C5 polymorphism that decreases leukocyte C5 expression correlated independently with poor patient outcomes. Thus, local, phagocyte-derived C5 production licenses phagocyte antimicrobial function and confers innate protection during systemic fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jigar V Desai
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dhaneshwar Kumar
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Tilo Freiwald
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Chauss
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Michael S Abers
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Julie M Steinbrink
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John R Perfect
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Barbara Alexander
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Vasiliki Matzaraki
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Brendan D Snarr
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marissa A Zarakas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vasileios Oikonomou
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lakmali M Silva
- Oral Immunity and Infection Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Raju Shivarathri
- Center for Discovery & Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, USA
| | - Emily Beltran
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luciana Negro Demontel
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Luopin Wang
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jean K Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dylan Launder
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Heather R Conti
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Muthulekha Swamydas
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Micah T McClain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Niki M Moutsopoulos
- Oral Immunity and Infection Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Majid Kazemian
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Köhl
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Claudia Kemper
- Complement and Inflammation Research Section, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Behdad Afzali
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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16
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Aufiero MA, Shlezinger N, Gjonbalaj M, Mills KA, Ballabio A, Hohl TM. Dectin-1/CARD9-induction of the TFEB and TFE3 gene network is dispensable for phagocyte anti- Aspergillus activity in the lung. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544785. [PMID: 37398416 PMCID: PMC10312688 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Myeloid phagocytes of the respiratory immune system, such as neutrophils, monocytes, and alveolar macrophages, are essential for immunity to Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common etiologic agent of mold pneumonia worldwide. Following engulfment of A. fumigatus conidia, fusion of the phagosome with the lysosome, is a critical process for killing conidia. TFEB and TFE3 are transcription factors that regulate lysosomal biogenesis under stress and are activated by inflammatory stimuli in macrophages, but it is unknown whether TFEB and TFE3 contribute to anti-Aspergillus immunity during infection. We found that lung neutrophils express TFEB and TFE3, and their target genes were upregulated during A. fumigatus lung infection. Additionally, A. fumigatus infection induced nuclear accumulation of TFEB and TFE3 in macrophages in a process regulated by Dectin-1 and CARD9 signaling. Genetic deletion of Tfeb and Tfe3 impaired macrophage killing of A. fumigatus conidia. However, in a murine immune competent Aspergillus infection model with genetic deficiency of Tfeb and Tfe3 in hematopoietic cells, we surprisingly found that lung myeloid phagocytes had no defects in conidial phagocytosis or killing. Loss of TFEB and TFE3 did not impact murine survival or clearance of A. fumigatus from the lungs. Our findings indicate that myeloid phagocytes activate TFEB and TFE3 in response to A. fumigatus, and while this pathway promotes macrophage fungicidal activity in vitro, genetic loss can be functionally compensated at the portal of infection in the lung, resulting in no measurable defect in fungal control and host survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A. Aufiero
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neta Shlezinger
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mergim Gjonbalaj
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen A.M. Mills
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Ballabio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tobias M. Hohl
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, NY, USA
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17
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James MR, Aufiero MA, Vesely EM, Dhingra S, Liu KW, Hohl TM, Cramer RA. Aspergillus fumigatus cytochrome c impacts conidial survival during sterilizing immunity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.07.544103. [PMID: 37333187 PMCID: PMC10274773 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.07.544103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening infection caused by species in the ubiquitous fungal genus Aspergillus . While leukocyte-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical for the clearance of fungal conidia from the lung and resistance to IPA, the processes that govern ROS-dependent fungal cell death remain poorly defined. Using a flow cytometric approach that monitors two independent cell death markers, an endogenous histone H2A:mRFP nuclear integrity reporter and Sytox Blue cell impermeable (live/dead) stain, we observed that loss of A. fumigatus cytochrome c ( cycA ) results in reduced susceptibility to cell death from hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) treatment. Consistent with these observations in vitro , loss of cycA confers resistance to both NADPH-oxidase -dependent and -independent killing by host leukocytes. Fungal ROS resistance is partly mediated in part by Bir1, a homolog to survivin in humans, as Bir1 overexpression results in decreased ROS-induced conidial cell death and reduced killing by innate immune cells in vivo . We further report that overexpression of the Bir1 N-terminal BIR domain in A. fumigatus conidia results in altered expression of metabolic genes that functionally converge on mitochondrial function and cytochrome c ( cycA ) activity. Together, these studies demonstrate that cycA in A. fumigatus contributes to cell death responses that are induced by exogenous H 2 O 2 and by host leukocytes. Importance Aspergillus fumigatus can cause a life-threatening infection known as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), which is marked by fungus-attributable mortality rates of 20%-30%. Individuals at risk of IPA harbor genetic mutations or incur pharmacologic defects that impair myeloid cell numbers and/or function, exemplified by bone marrow transplant recipients, patients that receive corticosteroid therapy, or patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD). However, treatments for Aspergillus infections remains limited, and resistance to the few existing drug classes is emerging. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified A. fumigatus as a critical priority fungal pathogen. Our research identifies an important aspect of fungal biology that impacts susceptibility to leukocyte killing. Furthering our understanding of mechanisms that mediate the outcome of fungal-leukocyte interactions will increase our understanding of both the underlying fungal biology governing cell death and innate immune evasion strategies utilized during mammalian infection pathogenesis. Consequently, our studies are a critical step toward leveraging these mechanisms for novel therapeutic advances.
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18
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Yoshikawa FSY, Wakatsuki M, Yoshida K, Yabe R, Torigoe S, Yamasaki S, Barber GN, Saijo S. Dectin-1/IL-15 Pathway Affords Protection against Extrapulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus Infection by Regulating Natural Killer Cell Survival. J Innate Immun 2023; 15:397-411. [PMID: 36657412 PMCID: PMC10015709 DOI: 10.1159/000527188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous, yet potentially pathogenic, mold. The immune system employs innate receptors, such as dectin-1, to recognize fungal pathogens, but the immunological networks that afford protection are poorly explored. Here, we investigated the role of dectin-1 in anti-A. fumigatus response in an experimental model of acute invasive aspergillosis. Mice lacking dectin-1 presented enhanced signs of inflammation, with increased production of inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil infiltration, quickly succumbing to the infection. Curiously, resistance did not require T/B lymphocytes or IL-17. Instead, the main effector function of dectin-1 was the preservation of the NK cell population in the kidneys by the provision of the cytokine IL-15. While the depletion of NK cells impaired host defense in wild-type mice, IL-15 administration restored antifungal responses in dectin-1-deficient mice. Our results uncover a new effector mechanism for dectin-1 in anti-Aspergillus defense, adding an alternative approach to understand the pathophysiology of this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio S Y Yoshikawa
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan,
| | - Maki Wakatsuki
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kosuke Yoshida
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rikio Yabe
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shota Torigoe
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sho Yamasaki
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Division of Molecular Design, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Glen N Barber
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Shinobu Saijo
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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19
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Liu KW, Grau MS, Jones JT, Wang X, Vesely EM, James MR, Gutierrez-Perez C, Cramer RA, Obar JJ. Postinfluenza Environment Reduces Aspergillus fumigatus Conidium Clearance and Facilitates Invasive Aspergillosis In Vivo. mBio 2022; 13:e0285422. [PMID: 36377895 PMCID: PMC9765436 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02854-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a human fungal pathogen that is most often avirulent in immunecompetent individuals because the innate immune system is efficient at eliminating fungal conidia. However, recent clinical observations have shown that severe influenza A virus (IAV) infection can lead to secondary A. fumigatus infections with high mortality. Little is currently known about how IAV infection alters the innate antifungal immune response. Here, we established a murine model of IAV-induced A. fumigatus (IAV-Af) superinfection by inoculating mice with IAV followed 6 days later by A. fumigatus conidia challenge. We observed increased mortality in the IAV-Af-superinfected mice compared to mice challenged with either IAV or A. fumigatus alone. A. fumigatus conidia were able to germinate and establish a biofilm in the lungs of the IAV-Af superinfection group, which was not seen following fungal challenge alone. While we did not observe any differences in inflammatory cell recruitment in the IAV-Af superinfection group compared to single-infection controls, we observed defects in Aspergillus conidial uptake and killing by both neutrophils and monocytes after IAV infection. pHrodo Green zymosan bioparticle (pHrodo-zymosan) and CM-H2DCFDA [5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate] staining, indicators of phagolysosome maturation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively, revealed that the fungal killing defect was due in part to reduced phagolysosome maturation. Collectively, our data demonstrate that the ability of neutrophils and monocytes to kill and clear Aspergillus conidia is strongly reduced in the pulmonary environment of an IAV-infected lung, which leads to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and increased overall mortality in our mouse model, recapitulating what is observed clinically in humans. IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus (IAV) is a common respiratory virus that causes seasonal illness in humans, but can cause pandemics and severe infection in certain patients. Since the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strains, there has been an increase in clinical reports of IAV-infected patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) developing secondary pulmonary aspergillosis. These cases of flu-Aspergillus superinfections are associated with worse clinical outcomes than secondary bacterial infections in the setting of IAV. To date, we have a limited understanding of the cause(s) of secondary fungal infections in immunocompetent hosts. IAV-induced modulation of cytokine production and innate immune cellular function generates a unique immune environment in the lung, which could make the host vulnerable to a secondary fungal infection. Our work shows that defects in phagolysosome maturation in neutrophils and monocytes after IAV infection impair the ability of these cells to kill A. fumigatus, thus leading to increased fungal germination and growth and subsequent invasive aspergillosis. Our work lays a foundation for future mechanistic studies examining the exact immune modulatory events occurring in the respiratory tract after viral infection leading to secondary fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko-Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Madeleine S. Grau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Jane T. Jones
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Elisa M. Vesely
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Matthew R. James
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Cecilia Gutierrez-Perez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Robert A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Joshua J. Obar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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20
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A Fungal Sterylglucosidase at the Intersection of Virulence, Host Immunity, and Therapeutic Development. mBio 2022; 13:e0242522. [PMID: 36255237 PMCID: PMC9765442 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02425-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human fungal infections (mycoses) cause significant morbidity and mortality in high-risk populations. Contemporary antifungal therapies rely heavily on three classes of antifungal drugs, and to date, no fungal vaccine is in clinical use for invasive mycosis. A major gap in knowledge related to fungal vaccine development is identifying lasting mechanisms of protective immunity in immunocompromised individuals. Recent studies in Cryptococcus neoformans and now Aspergillus fumigatus have identified a fungal sterylglucosidase essential for pathogenesis and virulence in murine models of mycoses. Fungal strains deficient in this sterylglucosidase can surprisingly also induce substantial immune-mediated protection against subsequent challenge with wild-type strains in multiple immunocompromised murine models of mycoses. Here, I discuss the implications and future directions of these exciting and impactful results.
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21
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de Carvalho Patricio BF, da Silva Lopes Pereira JO, Sarcinelli MA, de Moraes BPT, Rocha HVA, Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque CF. Could the Lung Be a Gateway for Amphotericin B to Attack the Army of Fungi? Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2707. [PMID: 36559201 PMCID: PMC9784761 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Aspergillus, Pneumocystis, and Cryptococcus are opportunistic fungi and may cause severe lung disease. They can develop mechanisms to evade the host immune system and colonize or cause lung disease. Current fungal infection treatments constitute a few classes of antifungal drugs with significant fungi resistance development. Amphotericin B (AmB) has a broad-spectrum antifungal effect with a low incidence of resistance. However, AmB is a highly lipophilic antifungal with low solubility and permeability and is unstable in light, heat, and oxygen. Due to the difficulty of achieving adequate concentrations of AmB in the lung by intravenous administration and seeking to minimize adverse effects, nebulized AmB has been used. The pulmonary pathway has advantages such as its rapid onset of action, low metabolic activity at the site of action, ability to avoid first-pass hepatic metabolism, lower risk of adverse effects, and thin thickness of the alveolar epithelium. This paper presented different strategies for pulmonary AmB delivery, detailing the potential of nanoformulation and hoping to foster research in the field. Our finds indicate that despite an optimistic scenario for the pulmonary formulation of AmB based on the encouraging results discussed here, there is still no product registration on the FDA nor any clinical trial undergoing ClinicalTrial.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Ferreira de Carvalho Patricio
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
| | | | - Michelle Alvares Sarcinelli
- Laboratory of Micro and Nanotechnology, Institute of Technology of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil Av., 4036, Rio de Janeiro 213040-361, Brazil
| | - Bianca Portugal Tavares de Moraes
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Prof. Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis, Niterói 24210-201, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
| | - Helvécio Vinicius Antunes Rocha
- Laboratory of Micro and Nanotechnology, Institute of Technology of Drugs, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil Av., 4036, Rio de Janeiro 213040-361, Brazil
| | - Cassiano Felippe Gonçalves-de-Albuquerque
- Postgraduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Prof. Marcos Waldemar de Freitas Reis, Niterói 24210-201, Brazil
- Immunopharmacology Laboratory, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of State of Rio de Janeiro, 94 Frei Caneca Street, Rio de Janeiro 20211-010, Brazil
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22
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Espinosa V, Dutta O, Heung LJ, Wang K, Chang YJ, Soteropoulos P, Hohl TM, Siracusa MC, Rivera A. Cutting Edge: Neutrophils License the Maturation of Monocytes into Effective Antifungal Effectors. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1827-1831. [PMID: 36216513 PMCID: PMC10115354 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils are critical for the direct eradication of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia, but whether they mediate antifungal defense beyond their role as effectors is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that neutrophil depletion impairs the activation of protective antifungal CCR2+ inflammatory monocytes. In the absence of neutrophils, monocytes displayed limited differentiation into monocyte-derived dendritic cells, reduced formation of reactive oxygen species, and diminished conidiacidal activity. Upstream regulator analysis of the transcriptional response in monocytes predicted a loss of STAT1-dependent signals as the potential basis for the dysfunction seen in neutrophil-depleted mice. We find that conditional removal of STAT1 on CCR2+ cells results in diminished antifungal monocyte responses, whereas exogenous administration of IFN-γ to neutrophil-depleted mice restores monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation and reactive oxygen species production. Altogether, our findings support a critical role for neutrophils in antifungal immunity not only as effectors but also as important contributors to antifungal monocyte activation, in part by regulating STAT1-dependent functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Espinosa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Orchi Dutta
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Lena J Heung
- Department of Medicine, Women's Guild Lung Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Keyi Wang
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Yun-Juan Chang
- Genomics Research Program, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Patricia Soteropoulos
- Genomics Research Program, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; and
| | - Mark C Siracusa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
- Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ;
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23
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Idol RA, Bhattacharya S, Huang G, Song Z, Huttenlocher A, Keller NP, Dinauer MC. Neutrophil and Macrophage NADPH Oxidase 2 Differentially Control Responses to Inflammation and to Aspergillus fumigatus in Mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1960-1972. [PMID: 36426951 PMCID: PMC9643661 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen and causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in conditions with compromised innate antifungal immunity, including chronic granulomatous disease, which results from inherited deficiency of the superoxide-generating leukocyte NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2). Derivative oxidants have both antimicrobial and immunoregulatory activity and, in the context of A. fumigatus, contribute to both fungal killing and dampening inflammation induced by fungal cell walls. As the relative roles of macrophage versus neutrophil NOX2 in the host response to A. fumigatus are incompletely understood, we studied mice with conditional deletion of NOX2. When NOX2 was absent in alveolar macrophages as a result of LysM-Cre-mediated deletion, germination of inhaled A. fumigatus conidia was increased. Reducing NOX2 activity specifically in neutrophils via S100a8 (MRP8)-Cre also increased fungal burden, which was inversely proportional to the level of neutrophil NOX2 activity. Moreover, diminished NOX2 in neutrophils synergized with corticosteroid immunosuppression to impair lung clearance of A. fumigatus. Neutrophil-specific reduction in NOX2 activity also enhanced acute inflammation induced by inhaled sterile fungal cell walls. These results advance understanding into cell-specific roles of NOX2 in the host response to A. fumigatus. We show that alveolar macrophage NOX2 is a nonredundant effector that limits germination of inhaled A. fumigatus conidia. In contrast, reducing NOX2 activity only in neutrophils is sufficient to enhance inflammation to fungal cell walls as well as to promote invasive A. fumigatus. This may be relevant in clinical settings with acquired defects in NOX2 activity due to underlying conditions, which overlap risk factors for invasive aspergillosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A. Idol
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sourav Bhattacharya
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Guangming Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhimin Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Mary C. Dinauer
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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24
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de Castro RJA, Rêgo MTAM, Brandão FS, Pérez ALA, De Marco JL, Poças-Fonseca MJ, Nichols C, Alspaugh JA, Felipe MSS, Alanio A, Bocca AL, Fernandes L. Engineered Fluorescent Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans: a Versatile Toolbox for Studies of Host-Pathogen Interactions and Fungal Biology, Including the Viable but Nonculturable State. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0150422. [PMID: 36005449 PMCID: PMC9603711 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01504-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen known for its remarkable ability to infect and subvert phagocytes. This ability provides survival and persistence within the host and relies on phenotypic plasticity. The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) phenotype was recently described in C. neoformans, whose study is promising in understanding the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis. The use of fluorescent strains is improving host interaction research, but it is still underexploited. Here, we fused histone H3 or the poly(A) binding protein (Pab) to enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or mCherry, obtaining a set of C. neoformans transformants with different colors, patterns of fluorescence, and selective markers (hygromycin B resistance [Hygr] or neomycin resistance [Neor]). We validated their similarity to the parental strain in the stress response, the expression of virulence-related phenotypes, mating, virulence in Galleria mellonella, and survival within murine macrophages. PAB-GFP, the brightest transformant, was successfully applied for the analysis of phagocytosis by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Moreover, we demonstrated that an engineered fluorescent strain of C. neoformans was able to generate VBNC cells. GFP-tagged Pab1, a key regulator of the stress response, evidenced nuclear retention of Pab1 and the assembly of cytoplasmic stress granules, unveiling posttranscriptional mechanisms associated with dormant C. neoformans cells. Our results support that the PAB-GFP strain is a useful tool for research on C. neoformans. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcus neoformans is a human-pathogenic yeast that can undergo a dormant state and is responsible for over 180,000 deaths annually worldwide. We engineered a set of fluorescent transformants to aid in research on C. neoformans. A mutant with GFP-tagged Pab1 improved fluorescence-based techniques used in host interaction studies. Moreover, this mutant induced a viable but nonculturable phenotype and uncovered posttranscriptional mechanisms associated with dormant C. neoformans. The experimental use of fluorescent mutants may shed light on C. neoformans-host interactions and fungal biology, including dormant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffael Júnio Araújo de Castro
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- CNRS, Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycoses et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marco Túlio Aidar Mariano Rêgo
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Fabiana S. Brandão
- Faculty of Health Science, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Ana Laura Alfonso Pérez
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Janice Lisboa De Marco
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Marcio José Poças-Fonseca
- Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Connie Nichols
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Maria Sueli S. Felipe
- Catholic University of Brasilia, Campus Asa Norte, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Alanio
- CNRS, Unité de Mycologie Moléculaire, Centre National de Référence Mycoses et Antifongiques, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Mycologie et Parasitologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Louis, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anamélia Lorenzetti Bocca
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernandes
- Laboratory of Applied Immunology, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, Campus UnB Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Ceilândia Sul, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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25
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Matthaiou EI, Chiu W, Conrad C, Hsu J. Macrophage Lysosomal Alkalinization Drives Invasive Aspergillosis in a Mouse Cystic Fibrosis Model of Airway Transplantation. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:751. [PMID: 35887506 PMCID: PMC9321820 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung transplant recipients (LTRs) exhibit a disproportionately high rate of life-threatening invasive aspergillosis (IA). Loss of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR-/-) in macrophages (mφs) has been associated with lyosomal alkalinization. We hypothesize that this alkalinization would persist in the iron-laden post-transplant microenvironment increasing the risk of IA. To investigate our hypothesis, we developed a murine CF orthotopic tracheal transplant (OTT) model. Iron levels were detected by immunofluorescence staining and colorimetric assays. Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) invasion was evaluated by Grocott methenamine silver staining. Phagocytosis and killing of Af conidia were examined by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. pH and lysosomal acidification were measured by LysoSensorTM and LysotrackerTM, respectively. Af was more invasive in the CF airway transplant recipient compared to the WT recipient (p < 0.05). CFTR-/- mφs were alkaline at baseline, a characteristic that was increased with iron-overload. These CFTR-/- mφs were unable to phagocytose and kill Af conidia (p < 0.001). Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles acidified lysosomes, restoring the CFTR-/- mφs’ ability to clear conidia. Our results suggest that CFTR-/- mφs’ alkalinization interacts with the iron-loaded transplant microenvironment, decreasing the CF-mφs’ ability to kill Af conidia, which may explain the increased risk of IA. Therapeutic pH modulation after transplantation could decrease the risk of IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthymia Iliana Matthaiou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA; (E.I.M.); (W.C.)
| | - Wayland Chiu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA; (E.I.M.); (W.C.)
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Carol Conrad
- Department of Pediatrics, Pulmonary Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA;
| | - Joe Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA; (E.I.M.); (W.C.)
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26
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Aspergillus Endophthalmitis: Epidemiology, Pathobiology, and Current Treatments. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070656. [PMID: 35887412 PMCID: PMC9318612 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal endophthalmitis is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Post-operative and traumatic injuries are major contributing factors resulting in ocular fungal infections in healthy and, more importantly, immunocompromised individuals. Among the fungal pathogens, the Aspergillus species, Aspergillus fumigatus, continues to be more prevalent in fungal endophthalmitis patients. However, due to overlapping clinical symptoms with other endophthalmitis etiology, fungal endophthalmitis pose a challenge in its diagnosis and treatment. Hence, it is critical to understand its pathobiology to develop and deploy proper therapeutic interventions for combating Aspergillus infections. This review highlights the different modes of Aspergillus transmission and the host immune response during endophthalmitis. Additionally, we discuss recent advancements in the diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis. Finally, we comprehensively summarize various antifungal regimens and surgical options for the treatment of Aspergillus endophthalmitis.
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27
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Thrikawala S, Niu M, Keller NP, Rosowski EE. Cyclooxygenase production of PGE2 promotes phagocyte control of A. fumigatus hyphal growth in larval zebrafish. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010040. [PMID: 35333905 PMCID: PMC8986117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is a common opportunistic infection, causing >50% mortality in infected immunocompromised patients. The specific molecular mechanisms of the innate immune system that prevent pathogenesis of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompetent individuals are not fully understood. Here, we used a zebrafish larva-Aspergillus infection model to identify cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme signaling as one mechanism that promotes host survival. Larvae exposed to the pan-COX inhibitor indomethacin succumb to infection at a significantly higher rate than control larvae. COX signaling is both macrophage- and neutrophil-mediated. However, indomethacin treatment has no effect on phagocyte recruitment. Instead, COX signaling promotes phagocyte-mediated inhibition of germination and invasive hyphal growth. Increased germination and invasive hyphal growth is also observed in infected F0 crispant larvae with mutations in genes encoding for COX enzymes (ptgs2a/b). Protective COX-mediated signaling requires the receptor EP2 and exogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) rescues indomethacin-induced decreased immune control of fungal growth. Collectively, we find that COX signaling activates the PGE2-EP2 pathway to increase control A. fumigatus hyphal growth by phagocytes in zebrafish larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savini Thrikawala
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mengyao Niu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Emily E. Rosowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
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28
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Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Enhance Alveolar Macrophage Activity against Aspergillus fumigatus but Are Dispensable for Host Protection. mSphere 2021; 6:e0026021. [PMID: 34077261 PMCID: PMC8265640 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00260-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of mold pneumonia worldwide, and a significant cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. The oxidative burst, which generates reactive oxidative species (ROS), plays a pivotal role in host defense against aspergillosis and induces regulated cell death in Aspergillus conidia, the infectious propagules. Beyond the well-established role of NADP (NADPH) oxidase in ROS generation by neutrophils and other innate effector cells, mitochondria represent a major ROS production site in many cell types, though it is unclear whether mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) contribute to antifungal activity in the lung. Following A. fumigatus infection, we observed that innate effector cells, including alveolar macrophages (AMs), monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCS), and neutrophils, generated mtROS, primarily in fungus-infected cells. To examine the functional role of mtROS, specifically the H2O2 component, in pulmonary host defense against A. fumigatus, we infected transgenic mice that expressed a mitochondrion-targeted catalase. Using a reporter of fungal viability during interactions with leukocytes, mitochondrial H2O2 (mtH2O2) was essential for optimal AM, but not for neutrophil phagocytic and conidiacidal activity in the lung. Catalase-mediated mtH2O2 neutralization did not lead to invasive aspergillosis in otherwise immunocompetent mice and did not shorten survival in mice that lack NADPH oxidase function. Collectively, these studies indicate that mtROS-associated defects in AM antifungal activity can be functionally compensated by the action of NADPH oxidase and by nonoxidative effector mechanisms during murine A. fumigatus lung infection. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is a fungal pathogen that causes invasive disease in humans with defects in immune function. Airborne conidia, the infectious propagules, are ubiquitous and inhaled on a daily basis. In the respiratory tree, conidia are killed by the coordinated actions of phagocytes, including alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The oxidative burst represents a central killing mechanism and relies on the assembly of the NADPH oxidase complex on the phagosomal membrane. However, NADPH oxidase-deficient leukocytes have significant residual fungicidal activity in vivo, indicating the presence of alternative effector mechanisms. Here, we report that murine innate immune cells produce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in response to fungal interactions. Neutralizing the mtROS constituent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) via a catalase expressed in mitochondria of innate immune cells substantially diminished fungicidal properties of alveolar macrophages, but not of other innate immune cells. These data indicate that mtH2O2 represent a novel AM killing mechanism against Aspergillus conidia. mtH2O2 neutralization is compensated by other killing mechanisms in the lung, demonstrating functional redundancy at the level of host defense in the respiratory tree. These findings have important implications for the development of host-directed therapies against invasive aspergillosis in susceptible patient populations.
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Chen X, Zhang H, Wang X, Shao Z, Li Y, Zhao G, Liu F, Liu B, Zheng Y, Chen T, Zheng H, Zhang L, Gao C. OTUD1 Regulates Antifungal Innate Immunity through Deubiquitination of CARD9. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:1832-1843. [PMID: 33789983 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
CARD9 is an essential adaptor protein in antifungal innate immunity mediated by C-type lectin receptors. The activity of CARD9 is critically regulated by ubiquitination; however, the deubiquitinases involved in CARD9 regulation remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified ovarian tumor deubiquitinase 1 (OTUD1) as an essential regulator of CARD9. OTUD1 directly interacted with CARD9 and cleaved polyubiquitin chains from CARD9, leading to the activation of the canonical NF-κB and MAPK pathway. OTUD1 deficiency impaired CARD9-mediated signaling and inhibited the proinflammatory cytokine production following fungal stimulation. Importantly, Otud1 -/- mice were more susceptible to fungal infection than wild-type mice in vivo. Collectively, our results identify OTUD1 as an essential regulatory component for the CARD9 signaling pathway and antifungal innate immunity through deubiquitinating CARD9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Honghai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueer Wang
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhugui Shao
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Guimin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingyu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Hui Zheng
- International Institute of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, 215123 Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China;
| | - Chengjiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province and Department of Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong University, 250012 Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China;
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Aspergillus fumigatus Strain-Specific Conidia Lung Persistence Causes an Allergic Broncho-Pulmonary Aspergillosis-Like Disease Phenotype. mSphere 2021; 6:6/1/e01250-20. [PMID: 33597172 PMCID: PMC8544898 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01250-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus which can cause multiple diseases in humans. Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease diagnosed primarily in cystic fibrosis patients caused by a severe allergic response often to long-term A. fumigatus colonization in the lungs. Mice develop an allergic response to repeated inhalation of A. fumigatus spores; however, no strains have been identified that can survive long-term in the mouse lung and cause ABPA-like disease. We characterized A. fumigatus strain W72310, which was isolated from the expectorated sputum of an ABPA patient, by whole-genome sequencing and in vitro and in vivo viability assays in comparison to a common reference strain, CEA10. W72310 was resistant to leukocyte-mediated killing and persisted in the mouse lung longer than CEA10, a phenotype that correlated with greater resistance to oxidative stressors, hydrogen peroxide, and menadione, in vitro. In animals both sensitized and challenged with W72310, conidia, but not hyphae, were viable in the lungs for up to 21 days in association with eosinophilic airway inflammation, airway leakage, serum IgE, and mucus production. W72310-sensitized mice that were recall challenged with conidia had increased inflammation, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and airway leakage compared to controls. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that a unique strain of A. fumigatus resistant to leukocyte killing can persist in the mouse lung in conidial form and elicit features of ABPA-like disease. IMPORTANCE Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) patients often present with long-term colonization of Aspergillus fumigatus. Current understanding of ABPA pathogenesis has been complicated by a lack of long-term in vivo fungal persistence models. We have identified a clinical isolate of A. fumigatus, W72310, which persists in the murine lung and causes an ABPA-like disease phenotype. Surprisingly, while viable, W72310 showed little to no growth beyond the conidial stage in the lung. This indicates that it is possible that A. fumigatus can cause allergic disease in the lung without any significant hyphal growth. The identification of this strain of A. fumigatus can be used not only to better understand disease pathogenesis of ABPA and potential antifungal treatments but also to identify features of fungal strains that drive long-term fungal persistence in the lung. Consequently, these observations are a step toward helping resolve the long-standing question of when to utilize antifungal therapies in patients with ABPA and fungal allergic-type diseases.
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Shlezinger N, Fites JS, Klein BS, Hohl TM. Fungal Bioreporters to Monitor Outcomes of Aspergillus: Host-Cell Interactions. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2260:121-132. [PMID: 33405034 PMCID: PMC9088164 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1182-1_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based techniques enable researchers to monitor physiologic processes, specifically fungal cell viability and death, during cellular encounters with the mammalian immune system with single event resolution. By incorporating two independent fluorescent probes in fungal organisms either prior to, or ensuing experimental infection in mice or in cultured leukocytes, it is possible to distinguish and quantify live and killed fungal cells to interrogate genetic, pharmacologic, and cellular determinants that shape host-fungal cell outcomes. This chapter reviews the techniques and applications of fluorescent fungal reporters of viability, with emphasis on the filamentous mold Aspergillus fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Shlezinger
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jeffrey Scott Fites
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Fites JS, Shlezinger N, Hohl TM, Klein BS. Fungal Bioreporters to Monitor Outcomes of Blastomyces: Host-Cell Interactions. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2260:111-119. [PMID: 33405033 PMCID: PMC10269547 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1182-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-based techniques enable researchers to monitor physiologic processes, specifically fungal cell viability and death, during cellular encounters with the mammalian immune system with single event resolution. By incorporating two independent fluorescent probes in fungal organisms either prior to, or ensuing experimental infection in mice or in cultured leukocytes, it is possible to distinguish and quantify live and killed fungal cells to interrogate genetic, pharmacologic, and cellular determinants that shape host-fungal cell outcomes. This chapter reviews the techniques and applications of fluorescent fungal reporters of viability, with emphasis on the North American endemic dimorphic fungus, Blastomyces dermatitidis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Scott Fites
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Neta Shlezinger
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tobias M Hohl
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Gunzer M, Thornton CR, Beziere N. Advances in the In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Invasive Aspergillosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:jof6040338. [PMID: 33291706 PMCID: PMC7761943 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening infection of immunocompromised patients with Aspergillus fumigatus, a ubiquitous environmental mould. While there are numerous functioning antifungal therapies, their high cost, substantial side effects and fear of overt resistance development preclude permanent prophylactic medication of risk-patients. Hence, a fast and definitive diagnosis of IPA is desirable, to quickly identify those patients that really require aggressive antimycotic treatment and to follow the course of the therapeutic intervention. However, despite decades of research into this issue, such a diagnostic procedure is still not available. Here, we discuss the array of currently available methods for IPA detection and their limits. We then show that molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) combined with morphological computed tomography or magnetic imaging is highly promising to become a future non-invasive approach for IPA diagnosis and therapy monitoring, albeit still requiring thorough validation and relying on further acceptance and dissemination of the approach. Thereby, our approach using the A. fumigatus-specific humanized monoclonal antibody hJF5 labelled with 64Cu as PET-tracer has proven highly effective in pre-clinical models and hence bears high potential for human application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Gunzer
- Institute for Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (N.B.); Tel.: +49-201-183-6640 (M.G.); +49-7071-29-87511 (N.B.)
| | - Christopher R. Thornton
- ISCA Diagnostics Ltd. and Biosciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PY, UK;
| | - Nicolas Beziere
- Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (M.G.); (N.B.); Tel.: +49-201-183-6640 (M.G.); +49-7071-29-87511 (N.B.)
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Migrating Lung Monocytes Internalize and Inhibit Growth of Aspergillus fumigatus Conidia. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9120983. [PMID: 33255432 PMCID: PMC7760852 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9120983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Monocytes are important players to combat the ubiquitously present fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Recruitment of monocytes to sites of fungal A. fumigatus infection has been shown in vivo. Upon exposure to A. fumigatus in vitro, purified murine and human blood monocytes secrete inflammatory cytokines and fungicidal mediators. Mononuclear tissue phagocytes are phenotypically and functionally different from those circulating in the blood and their role in antifungal defenses is much less understood. In this study, we identified a population of migrating CD43+ monocytes in cells isolated from rat distal lungs. These cells are phenotypically different from alveolar macrophages and show distinct locomotory behavior on the surface of primary alveolar cells resembling previously described endothelial patrolling monocytes. Upon challenge, the CD43+ monocytes internalized A. fumigatus conidia resulting in inhibition of their germination and hyphal growth. Thus, migrating lung monocytes might play an important role in local defense against pulmonary pathogens.
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Wang X, Caffrey-Carr AK, Liu KW, Espinosa V, Croteau W, Dhingra S, Rivera A, Cramer RA, Obar JJ. MDA5 Is an Essential Sensor of a Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Associated with Vitality That Is Necessary for Host Resistance against Aspergillus fumigatus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:3058-3070. [PMID: 33087405 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RIG-I-like receptors (RLR) are cytosolic RNA sensors that signal through the MAVS adaptor to activate IFN responses against viruses. Whether the RLR family has broader effects on host immunity against other pathogen families remains to be fully explored. In this study, we demonstrate that MDA5/MAVS signaling was essential for host resistance against pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus challenge through the regulation of antifungal leukocyte responses in mice. Activation of MDA5/MAVS signaling was driven by dsRNA from live A. fumigatus serving as a key vitality-sensing pattern recognition receptor. Interestingly, induction of type I IFNs after A. fumigatus challenge was only partially dependent on MDA5/MAVS signaling, whereas type III IFN expression was entirely dependent on MDA5/MAVS signaling. Ultimately, type I and III IFN signaling drove the expression of CXCL10. Furthermore, the MDA5/MAVS-dependent IFN response was critical for the induction of optimal antifungal neutrophil killing of A. fumigatus spores. In conclusion, our data broaden the role of the RLR family to include a role in regulating antifungal immunity against A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Alayna K Caffrey-Carr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59718; and
| | - Ko-Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Vanessa Espinosa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Walburga Croteau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Sourabh Dhingra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103
| | - Robert A Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756
| | - Joshua J Obar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756;
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Obar JJ. Sensing the threat posed by Aspergillus infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:47-55. [PMID: 32898768 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian immune system can tune its inflammatory response to the threat level posed by an invading pathogen. It is well established that the host utilizes numerous 'patterns of pathogenicity', such as microbial growth, invasion, and viability, to achieve this tuning during bacterial infections. This review discusses how this notion fits during fungal infection, particularly regarding Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Moreover, how the environmental niches filled by A. fumigatus may drive the evolution of the fungal traits responsible for inducing the strain-specific inflammatory responses that have been experimentally observed will be discussed. Moving forward understanding the mechanisms of the fungal strain-specific inflammatory response due to the initial interactions with the host innate immune system will be essential for enhancing our therapeutic options for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Obar
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Hinman Box 7556, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
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Guo Y, Kasahara S, Jhingran A, Tosini NL, Zhai B, Aufiero MA, Mills KA, Gjonbalaj M, Espinosa V, Rivera A, Luster AD, Hohl TM. During Aspergillus Infection, Monocyte-Derived DCs, Neutrophils, and Plasmacytoid DCs Enhance Innate Immune Defense through CXCR3-Dependent Crosstalk. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 28:104-116.e4. [PMID: 32485165 PMCID: PMC7263227 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus, a ubiquitous mold, is a common cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients. Host defense against IA relies on lung-infiltrating neutrophils and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs). Here, we demonstrate that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which are prototypically antiviral cells, participate in innate immune crosstalk underlying mucosal antifungal immunity. Aspergillus-infected murine Mo-DCs and neutrophils recruited pDCs to the lung by releasing the CXCR3 ligands, CXCL9 and CXCL10, in a Dectin-1 and Card9- and type I and III interferon signaling-dependent manner, respectively. During aspergillosis, circulating pDCs entered the lung in response to CXCR3-dependent signals. Via targeted pDC ablation, we found that pDCs were essential for host defense in the presence of normal neutrophil and Mo-DC numbers. Although interactions between pDC and fungal cells were not detected, pDCs regulated neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity and conidial killing. Thus, pDCs act as positive feedback amplifiers of neutrophil effector activity against inhaled mold conidia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Guo
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shinji Kasahara
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anupam Jhingran
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas L. Tosini
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bing Zhai
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariano A. Aufiero
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA,Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen A.M. Mills
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA,Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mergim Gjonbalaj
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Espinosa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Newark, NJ, USA,Department of Pediatrics, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS), Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Andrew D. Luster
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias M. Hohl
- Infectious Disease Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA,Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA,Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA,Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding author
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Dutta O, Espinosa V, Wang K, Avina S, Rivera A. Dectin-1 Promotes Type I and III Interferon Expression to Support Optimal Antifungal Immunity in the Lung. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:321. [PMID: 32733815 PMCID: PMC7360811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary infections with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) are a significant cause of invasive fungal disease and lead to high morbidity and mortality in diverse populations throughout the world. Currently available antifungal drugs are often ineffective, thus contributing to unacceptably high mortality rates in patients suffering from invasive fungal infections. The use of cytokines as adjunctive immune therapies holds the promise of significantly improving patient outcomes in the future. In recent studies, we identified an essential role for type I and III interferons as regulators of optimal antifungal responses by pulmonary neutrophils during infection with Af. Although various membrane and cytosolic nucleic acid sensors are known to regulate interferon production in response to viruses, the pathways that regulate the production of these cytokines during fungal infection remain uncovered. In the current study, we demonstrate that dectin-1-mediated recognition of β-glucan on the cell wall of the clinically relevant fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus promotes the activation of a protective cascade of type I and III interferon expression. We further demonstrate that exogenous administration of type I and III interferons can rescue inadequate antifungal responses in dectin-1−/− mice, suggesting the potential therapeutic benefit of these cytokines as activators of antifungal defense in the context of innate defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orchi Dutta
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Vanessa Espinosa
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Keyi Wang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Samantha Avina
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States.,Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Immunity and Inflammation, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States
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Ahamefule CS, Qin Q, Odiba AS, Li S, Moneke AN, Ogbonna JC, Jin C, Wang B, Fang W. Caenorhabditis elegans-Based Aspergillus fumigatus Infection Model for Evaluating Pathogenicity and Drug Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:320. [PMID: 32670897 PMCID: PMC7332887 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most reported causative pathogen associated with the increasing global incidences of aspergilloses, with the health of immunocompromised individuals mostly at risk. Monitoring the pathogenicity of A. fumigatus strains to identify virulence factors and evaluating the efficacy of potent active agents against this fungus in animal models are indispensable in current research effort. Caenorhabditis elegans has been successfully utilized as an infection model for bacterial and dimorphic fungal pathogens because of the advantages of being time-efficient, and less costly. However, application of this model to the filamentous fungus A. fumigatus is less investigated. In this study, we developed and optimized a stable and reliable C. elegans model for A. fumigatus infection, and demonstrated the infection process with a fluorescent strain. Virulence results of several mutant strains in our nematode model demonstrated high consistency with the already reported pathogenicity pattern in other models. Furthermore, this C. elegans-A. fumigatus infection model was optimized for evaluating the efficacy of current antifungal drugs. Interestingly, the azole drugs in nematode model prevented conidial germination to a higher extent than amphotericin B. Overall, our established C. elegans infection model for A. fumigatus has potential applications in pathogenicity evaluation, antifungal agents screening, drug efficacy evaluation as well as host-pathogen interaction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuemeka Samson Ahamefule
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Qijian Qin
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Arome Solomon Odiba
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Siqiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Non-food Biomass and Enzyme Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Anene N. Moneke
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - James C. Ogbonna
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Cheng Jin
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Bin Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
- State Key Laboratory of Non-food Biomass and Enzyme Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Wenxia Fang
- National Engineering Research Center for Non-food Biorefinery, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
- State Key Laboratory of Non-food Biomass and Enzyme Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, China
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Tischler BY, Tosini NL, Cramer RA, Hohl TM. Platelets are critical for survival and tissue integrity during murine pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008544. [PMID: 32407390 PMCID: PMC7252636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Beyond their canonical roles in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets function in the innate immune response by interacting directly with pathogens and by regulating the recruitment and activation of immune effector cells. Thrombocytopenia often coincides with neutropenia in patients with hematologic malignancies and in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, patient groups at high risk for invasive fungal infections. While neutropenia is well established as a major clinical risk factor for invasive fungal infections, the role of platelets in host defense against human fungal pathogens remains understudied. Here, we examined the role of platelets in murine Aspergillus fumigatus infection using two complementary approaches to induce thrombocytopenia without concurrent neutropenia. Thrombocytopenic mice were highly susceptible to A. fumigatus challenge and rapidly succumbed to infection. Although platelets regulated early conidial phagocytosis by neutrophils in a spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk)-dependent manner, platelet-regulated conidial phagocytosis was dispensable for host survival. Instead, our data indicated that platelets primarily function to maintain hemostasis and lung integrity in response to exposed fungal antigens, since thrombocytopenic mice exhibited severe hemorrhage into the airways in response to fungal challenge in the absence of overt angioinvasion. Challenge with swollen, heat-killed, conidia was lethal in thrombocytopenic hosts and could be reversed by platelet transfusion, consistent with the model that fungus-induced inflammation in platelet-depleted mice was sufficient to induce lethal hemorrhage. These data provide new insights into the role of platelets in the anti-Aspergillus host response and expand their role to host defense against filamentous molds. Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous environmental mold that forms airborne spores, termed conidia. When inhaled by immune compromised individuals, A. fumigatus conidia can germinate into tissue-invasive hyphae and cause invasive aspergillosis, a major cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in patients with leukemia and in bone marrow transplant recipients. Although a low platelet count has been identified as a risk factor for clinical outcomes in patients with invasive aspergillosis, the precise role of platelets in the anti-fungal host response remains poorly understood. Here, we report an essential requirement for platelets in anti-Aspergillus host defence in a mouse model of fungal pneumonia. Although platelets play a role in activating the innate immune system after infection, they are critical for preventing lethal hemorrhage after A. fumigatus challenge. Our findings raise the question as to whether platelets can be used as a basis for therapeutic strategies in vulnerable patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Y. Tischler
- Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Nicholas L. Tosini
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Tobias M. Hohl
- Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Immunology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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41
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Negoro PE, Xu S, Dagher Z, Hopke A, Reedy JL, Feldman MB, Khan NS, Viens AL, Alexander NJ, Atallah NJ, Scherer AK, Dutko RA, Jeffery J, Kernien JF, Fites JS, Nett JE, Klein BS, Vyas JM, Irimia D, Sykes DB, Mansour MK. Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Is a Critical Regulator of Neutrophil Responses to Candida Species. mBio 2020; 11:e02043-19. [PMID: 32398316 PMCID: PMC7218286 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02043-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections constitute a lethal threat, with patient mortality as high as 90%. The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing, especially in the setting of patients receiving immunomodulatory agents, chemotherapy, or immunosuppressive medications following solid-organ or bone marrow transplantation. In addition, inhibitors of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) have been recently developed for the treatment of patients with refractory autoimmune and hematologic indications. Neutrophils are the initial innate cellular responders to many types of pathogens, including invasive fungi. A central process governing neutrophil recognition of fungi is through lectin binding receptors, many of which rely on Syk for cellular activation. We previously demonstrated that Syk activation is essential for cellular activation, phagosomal maturation, and elimination of phagocytosed fungal pathogens in macrophages. Here, we used combined genetic and chemical inhibitor approaches to evaluate the importance of Syk in the response of neutrophils to Candida species. We took advantage of a Cas9-expressing neutrophil progenitor cell line to generate isogenic wild-type and Syk-deficient neutrophils. Syk-deficient neutrophils are unable to control the human pathogens Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida auris Neutrophil responses to Candida species, including the production of reactive oxygen species and of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), phagocytosis, and neutrophil swarming, appear to be critically dependent on Syk. These results demonstrate an essential role for Syk in neutrophil responses to Candida species and raise concern for increased fungal infections with the development of Syk-modulating therapeutics.IMPORTANCE Neutrophils are recognized to represent significant immune cell mediators for the clearance and elimination of the human-pathogenic fungal pathogen Candida The sensing of fungi by innate cells is performed, in part, through lectin receptor recognition of cell wall components and downstream cellular activation by signaling components, including spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). While the essential role of Syk in macrophages and dendritic cells is clear, there remains uncertainty with respect to its contribution in neutrophils. In this study, we demonstrated that Syk is critical for multiple cellular functions in neutrophils responding to major human-pathogenic Candida species. These data not only demonstrate the vital nature of Syk with respect to the control of fungi by neutrophils but also warn of the potential infectious complications arising from the recent clinical development of novel Syk inhibitors for hematologic and autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E Negoro
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shuying Xu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zeina Dagher
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alex Hopke
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer L Reedy
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael B Feldman
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nida S Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adam L Viens
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Natalie J Alexander
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Natalie J Atallah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allison K Scherer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Richard A Dutko
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jane Jeffery
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John F Kernien
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Wisconsin, USA
| | - J Scott Fites
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jeniel E Nett
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Wisconsin, USA
| | - Bruce S Klein
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jatin M Vyas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Irimia
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David B Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael K Mansour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Inherited CARD9 Deficiency in a Patient with Both Exophiala spinifera and Aspergillus nomius Severe Infections. J Clin Immunol 2020; 40:359-366. [PMID: 31940125 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-019-00740-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Caspase-associated recruitment domain-9 (CARD9) deficiency is an inborn error of immunity that typically predisposes otherwise healthy patients to single fungal infections and the occurrence of multiple invasive fungal infections is rare. It has been described as the first known condition that predisposes to extrapulmonary Aspergillus infection with preserved lungs. We present a patient that expands the clinical variability of CARD9 deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS Genetic analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing. Neutrophils and mononuclear phagocyte response to fungal stimulation were evaluated through luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence and whole blood production of the proinflammatory mediator interleukin (IL)-6, respectively. RESULTS We report a 56-year-old Argentinean woman, whose invasive Exophiala spinifera infection at the age of 32 years was unexplained and reported in year 2004. At the age of 49 years, she presented with chronic pulmonary disease due to Aspergillus nomius. After partial improvement following treatment with caspofungin and posaconazole, right pulmonary bilobectomy was performed. Despite administration of multiple courses of antifungals, sustained clinical remission could not be achieved. We recently found that the patient's blood showed an impaired production of IL-6 when stimulated with zymosan. We also found that she is homozygous for a previously reported CARD9 loss-of-function mutation (Q289*). CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of a patient with inherited CARD9 deficiency and chronic invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) due to A. nomius. Inherited CARD9 deficiency should be considered in otherwise healthy children and adults with one or more invasive fungal diseases.
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43
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Physiological and Pathological Functions of CARD9 Signaling in the Innate Immune System. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2020; 429:177-203. [PMID: 32415389 DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Caspase recruitment domain protein 9 (CARD9) forms essential signaling complexes in the innate immune system that integrate cues from C-type lectin receptors and specific intracellular pattern recognition receptors. These CARD9-mediated signals are pivotal for host defense against fungi, and they mediate immunity against certain bacteria, viruses and parasites. Furthermore, CARD9-regulated pathways are involved in sterile inflammatory responses critical for immune homeostasis and can control pro- and antitumor immunity in cancer microenvironments. Consequently, multiple genetic alterations of human CARD9 are connected to primary immunodeficiencies or prevalent inflammatory disorders in patients. This review will summarize our current understanding of CARD9 signaling in the innate immune system, its physiological and pathological functions and their implications for human immune-mediated diseases.
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Hatinguais R, Willment JA, Brown GD. PAMPs of the Fungal Cell Wall and Mammalian PRRs. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2020; 425:187-223. [PMID: 32180018 DOI: 10.1007/82_2020_201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are opportunistic pathogens that infect immunocompromised patients and are responsible for an estimated 1.5 million deaths every year. The antifungal innate immune response is mediated through the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by the host's pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are immune receptors that ensure the internalisation and the killing of fungal pathogens. They also mount the inflammatory response, which contributes to initiate and polarise the adaptive response, controlled by lymphocytes. Both the innate and adaptive immune responses are required to control fungal infections. The immune recognition of fungal pathogen primarily occurs at the interface between the membrane of innate immune cells and the fungal cell wall, which contains a number of PAMPs. This chapter will focus on describing the main mammalian PRRs that have been shown to bind to PAMPs from the fungal cell wall of the four main fungal pathogens: Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis jirovecii. We will describe these receptors, their functions and ligands to provide the reader with an overview of how the immune system recognises fungal pathogens and responds to them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Hatinguais
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Janet A Willment
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK
| | - Gordon D Brown
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.
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45
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Schoen TJ, Rosowski EE, Knox BP, Bennin D, Keller NP, Huttenlocher A. Neutrophil phagocyte oxidase activity controls invasive fungal growth and inflammation in zebrafish. J Cell Sci 2019; 133:jcs.236539. [PMID: 31722976 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.236539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are primary phagocytes of the innate immune system that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mediate host defense. Deficient phagocyte NADPH oxidase (PHOX) function leads to chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) that is characterized by invasive infections, including those by the generally non-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus nidulans The role of neutrophil ROS in this specific host-pathogen interaction remains unclear. Here, we exploit the optical transparency of zebrafish to image the effects of neutrophil ROS on invasive fungal growth and neutrophil behavior in response to Aspergillus nidulans In a wild-type host, A. nidulans germinates rapidly and elicits a robust inflammatory response with efficient fungal clearance. PHOX-deficient larvae have increased susceptibility to invasive A. nidulans infection despite robust neutrophil infiltration. Expression of subunit p22phox (officially known as CYBA), specifically in neutrophils, does not affect fungal germination but instead limits the area of fungal growth and excessive neutrophil inflammation and is sufficient to restore host survival in p22phox-deficient larvae. These findings suggest that neutrophil ROS limits invasive fungal growth and has immunomodulatory activities that contribute to the specific susceptibility of PHOX-deficient hosts to invasive A. nidulans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor J Schoen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Emily E Rosowski
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Benjamin P Knox
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - David Bennin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.,Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus; its primary habitat is the soil. In its ecological niche, the fungus has learned how to adapt and proliferate in hostile environments. This capacity has helped the fungus to resist and survive against human host defenses and, further, to be responsible for one of the most devastating lung infections in terms of morbidity and mortality. In this review, we will provide (i) a description of the biological cycle of A. fumigatus; (ii) a historical perspective of the spectrum of aspergillus disease and the current epidemiological status of these infections; (iii) an analysis of the modes of immune response against Aspergillus in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients; (iv) an understanding of the pathways responsible for fungal virulence and their host molecular targets, with a specific focus on the cell wall; (v) the current status of the diagnosis of different clinical syndromes; and (vi) an overview of the available antifungal armamentarium and the therapeutic strategies in the clinical context. In addition, the emergence of new concepts, such as nutritional immunity and the integration and rewiring of multiple fungal metabolic activities occurring during lung invasion, has helped us to redefine the opportunistic pathogenesis of A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Latgé
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Pazhakh V, Ellett F, Croker BA, O’Donnell JA, Pase L, Schulze KE, Greulich RS, Gupta A, Reyes-Aldasoro CC, Andrianopoulos A, Lieschke GJ. β-glucan-dependent shuttling of conidia from neutrophils to macrophages occurs during fungal infection establishment. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000113. [PMID: 31483778 PMCID: PMC6746390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The initial host response to fungal pathogen invasion is critical to infection establishment and outcome. However, the diversity of leukocyte–pathogen interactions is only recently being appreciated. We describe a new form of interleukocyte conidial exchange called “shuttling.” In Talaromyces marneffei and Aspergillus fumigatus zebrafish in vivo infections, live imaging demonstrated conidia initially phagocytosed by neutrophils were transferred to macrophages. Shuttling is unidirectional, not a chance event, and involves alterations of phagocyte mobility, intercellular tethering, and phagosome transfer. Shuttling kinetics were fungal-species–specific, implicating a fungal determinant. β-glucan serves as a fungal-derived signal sufficient for shuttling. Murine phagocytes also shuttled in vitro. The impact of shuttling for microbiological outcomes of in vivo infections is difficult to specifically assess experimentally, but for these two pathogens, shuttling augments initial conidial redistribution away from fungicidal neutrophils into the favorable macrophage intracellular niche. Shuttling is a frequent host–pathogen interaction contributing to fungal infection establishment patterns. Imaging of the behaviour of white blood cells in living zebrafish embryos infected with fungi reveals “shuttling,” a specific and previously undescribed form of microorganism exchange between neutrophils and macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Pazhakh
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felix Ellett
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ben A. Croker
- Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Joanne A. O’Donnell
- Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Luke Pase
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Keith E. Schulze
- Monash Micro Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - R. Stefan Greulich
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aakash Gupta
- Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Alex Andrianopoulos
- Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graham J. Lieschke
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Cancer and Haematology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- * E-mail:
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48
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Menacing Mold: Recent Advances in Aspergillus Pathogenesis and Host Defense. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4229-4246. [PMID: 30954573 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The genus Aspergillus is ubiquitous in the environment and contains a number of species, primarily A. fumigatus, that cause mold-associated disease in humans. Humans inhale several hundred to several thousand Aspergillus conidia (i.e., vegetative spores) daily and typically clear these in an asymptomatic manner. In immunocompromised individuals, Aspergillus conidia can germinate into tissue-invasive hyphae, disseminate, and cause invasive aspergillosis. In this review, we first discuss novel concepts in host defense against Aspergillus infections and emphasize new insights in fungal recognition and signaling, innate immune activation, and fungal killing. Second, the review focuses on novel concepts of Aspergillus pathogenesis and highlights emerging knowledge regarding fungal strain heterogeneity, stress responses, and metabolic adaptations on infectious outcomes. Mechanistic insight into the host-pathogen interplay is thus critical to define novel druggable fungal targets and to exploit novel immune-based strategies to improve clinical outcomes associated with aspergillosis in vulnerable patient populations.
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49
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Rosowski EE, Raffa N, Knox BP, Golenberg N, Keller NP, Huttenlocher A. Macrophages inhibit Aspergillus fumigatus germination and neutrophil-mediated fungal killing. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007229. [PMID: 30071103 PMCID: PMC6091969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In immunocompromised individuals, Aspergillus fumigatus causes invasive fungal disease that is often difficult to treat. Exactly how immune mechanisms control A. fumigatus in immunocompetent individuals remains unclear. Here, we use transparent zebrafish larvae to visualize and quantify neutrophil and macrophage behaviors in response to different A. fumigatus strains. We find that macrophages form dense clusters around spores, establishing a protective niche for fungal survival. Macrophages exert these protective effects by inhibiting fungal germination, thereby inhibiting subsequent neutrophil recruitment and neutrophil-mediated killing. Germination directly drives fungal clearance as faster-growing CEA10-derived strains are killed better in vivo than slower-growing Af293-derived strains. Additionally, a CEA10 pyrG-deficient strain with impaired germination is cleared less effectively by neutrophils. Host inflammatory activation through Myd88 is required for killing of a CEA10-derived strain but not sufficient for killing of an Af293-derived strain, further demonstrating the role of fungal-intrinsic differences in the ability of a host to clear an infection. Altogether, we describe a new role for macrophages in the persistence of A. fumigatus and highlight the ability of different A. fumigatus strains to adopt diverse modes of virulence. Immunocompromised patients are susceptible to invasive fungal infections, including aspergillosis. However, healthy humans inhale spores of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus from the environment every day without becoming sick, and how the immune system clears this infection is still obscure. Additionally, there are many different strains of A. fumigatus, and whether the pathogenesis of these different strains varies is also largely unknown. To investigate these questions, we infected larval zebrafish with A. fumigatus spores derived from two genetically diverse strains. Larval zebrafish allow for visualization of fungal growth and innate immune cell behavior in live, intact animals. We find that differences in the rate of growth between strains directly affect fungal persistence. In both wild-type and macrophage-deficient zebrafish larvae, a fast-germinating strain is actually cleared better than a slow-germinating strain. This fungal killing is driven primarily by neutrophils while macrophages promote fungal persistence by inhibiting spore germination. Our experiments underline different mechanisms of virulence that pathogens can utilize—rapid growth versus dormancy and persistence—and inform future strategies for fighting fungal infections in susceptible immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Rosowski
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Raffa
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Benjamin P. Knox
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Netta Golenberg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Corvilain E, Casanova JL, Puel A. Inherited CARD9 Deficiency: Invasive Disease Caused by Ascomycete Fungi in Previously Healthy Children and Adults. J Clin Immunol 2018; 38:656-693. [PMID: 30136218 PMCID: PMC6157734 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-018-0539-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency underlies life-threatening, invasive fungal infections in otherwise healthy individuals normally resistant to other infectious agents. In less than 10 years, 58 patients from 39 kindreds have been reported in 14 countries from four continents. The patients are homozygous (n = 49; 31 kindreds) or compound heterozygous (n = 9; 8 kindreds) for 22 different CARD9 mutations. Six mutations are recurrent, probably due to founder effects. Paradoxically, none of the mutant alleles has been experimentally demonstrated to be loss-of-function. CARD9 is expressed principally in myeloid cells, downstream from C-type lectin receptors that can recognize fungal components. Patients with CARD9 deficiency present impaired cytokine and chemokine production by macrophages, dendritic cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and defective killing of some fungi by neutrophils in vitro. Neutrophil recruitment to sites of infection is impaired in vivo. The proportion of Th17 cells is low in most, but not all, patients tested. Up to 52 patients suffering from invasive fungal diseases (IFD) have been reported, with ages at onset of 3.5 to 52 years. Twenty of these patients also displayed superficial fungal infections. Six patients had only mucocutaneous candidiasis or superficial dermatophytosis at their last follow-up visit, at the age of 19 to 50 years. Remarkably, for 50 of the 52 patients with IFD, a single fungus was involved; only two patients had IFDs due to two different fungi. IFD recurred in 44 of 45 patients who responded to treatment, and a different fungal infection occurred in the remaining patient. Ten patients died from IFD, between the ages of 12 and 39 years, whereas another patient died at the age of 91 years, from an unrelated cause. At the most recent scheduled follow-up visit, 81% of the patients were still alive and aged from 6.5 to 75 years. Strikingly, all the causal fungi belonged to the phylum Ascomycota: commensal Candida and saprophytic Trychophyton, Aspergillus, Phialophora, Exophiala, Corynesprora, Aureobasidium, and Ochroconis. Human CARD9 is essential for protective systemic immunity to a subset of fungi from this phylum but seems to be otherwise redundant. Previously healthy patients with unexplained invasive fungal infection, at any age, should be tested for inherited CARD9 deficiency. KEY POINTS • Inherited CARD9 deficiency (OMIM #212050) is an AR PID due to mutations that may be present in a homozygous or compound heterozygous state. • CARD9 is expressed principally in myeloid cells and transduces signals downstream from CLR activation by fungal ligands. • Endogenous mutant CARD9 levels differ between alleles (from full-length normal protein to an absence of normal protein). • The functional impacts of CARD9 mutations involve impaired cytokine production in response to fungal ligands, impaired neutrophil killing and/or recruitment to infection sites, and defects of Th17 immunity. • The key clinical manifestations in patients are fungal infections, including CMC, invasive (in the CNS in particular) Candida infections, extensive/deep dermatophytosis, subcutaneous and invasive phaeohyphomycosis, and extrapulmonary aspergillosis. • The clinical penetrance of CARD9 deficiency is complete, but penetrance is incomplete for each of the fungi concerned. • Age at onset is highly heterogeneous, ranging from childhood to adulthood for the same fungal disease. • All patients with unexplained IFD should be tested for CARD9 mutations. Familial screening and genetic counseling should be proposed. • The treatment of patients with CARD9 mutations is empirical and based on antifungal therapies and the surgical removal of fungal masses. Patients with persistent/relapsing Candida infections of the CNS could be considered for adjuvant GM-CSF/G-CSF therapy. The potential value of HSCT for CARD9-deficient patients remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Corvilain
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM UMR 1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, 75015, Paris, France
- Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, 75015, Paris, France
- Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Laurent Casanova
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM UMR 1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, 75015, Paris, France
- Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, 75015, Paris, France
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
- Pediatric Hematology-Immunology Unit, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, 75015, Paris, France
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne Puel
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM UMR 1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, 75015, Paris, France.
- Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, 75015, Paris, France.
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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