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Gonçalves SM, Pereira I, Feys S, Cunha C, Chamilos G, Hoenigl M, Wauters J, van de Veerdonk FL, Carvalho A. Integrating genetic and immune factors to uncover pathogenetic mechanisms of viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. mBio 2024; 15:e0198223. [PMID: 38651925 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01982-23] [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] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a severe fungal infection primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Individuals with severe viral infections have recently been identified as vulnerable to developing invasive fungal infections. Both influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are linked to high mortality rates, emphasizing the urgent need for an improved understanding of disease pathogenesis to unveil new molecular targets with diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The recent establishment of animal models replicating the co-infection context has offered crucial insights into the mechanisms that underlie susceptibility to disease. However, the development and progression of human viral-fungal co-infections exhibit a significant degree of interindividual variability, even among patients with similar clinical conditions. This observation implies a significant role for host genetics, but information regarding the genetic basis for viral-fungal co-infections is currently limited. In this review, we discuss how genetic factors known to affect either antiviral or antifungal immunity could potentially reveal pathogenetic mechanisms that predispose to IAPA or CAPA and influence the overall disease course. These insights are anticipated to foster further research in both pre-clinical models and human patients, aiming to elucidate the complex pathophysiology of viral-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and contributing to the identification of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets to improve the management of these co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Inês Pereira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Simon Feys
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
| | - Georgios Chamilos
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
| | - Joost Wauters
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (RCI), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães/Braga, Portugal
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2
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Boucher MJ, Madhani HD. Convergent evolution of innate immune-modulating effectors in invasive fungal pathogens. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:435-447. [PMID: 37985333 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.10.011] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections pose a major threat to human health. Bacterial and protozoan pathogens secrete protein effectors that overcome innate immune barriers to promote microbial colonization, yet few such molecules have been identified in human fungal pathogens. Recent studies have begun to reveal these long-sought effectors and have illuminated how they subvert key cellular pathways, including apoptosis, myeloid cell polarization, Toll-like receptor signaling, and phagosome action. Thus, despite lacking the specialized secretion systems of bacteria and parasites, it is increasingly clear that fungi independently evolved effectors targeting pathways often subverted by other classes of pathogens. These findings demonstrate the remarkable power of convergent evolution to enable diverse microbes to infect humans while also setting the stage for detailed dissection of fungal disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Boucher
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Hiten D Madhani
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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3
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Rudhra O, Gnanam H, Sivaperumal S, Namperumalsamy V, Prajna L, Kuppamuthu D. Melanin depletion affects Aspergillus flavus conidial surface proteins, architecture, and virulence. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:291. [PMID: 38592509 PMCID: PMC11004046 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13107-4] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Melanin is an Aspergillus flavus cell wall component that provides chemical and physical protection to the organism. However, the molecular and biological mechanisms modulating melanin-mediated host-pathogen interaction in A. flavus keratitis are not well understood. This work aimed to compare the morphology, surface proteome profile, and virulence of melanized conidia (MC) and non-melanized conidia (NMC) of A. flavus. Kojic acid treatment inhibited melanin synthesis in A. flavus, and the conidial surface protein profile was significantly different in kojic acid-treated non-melanized conidia. Several cell wall-associated proteins and proteins responsible for oxidative stress, carbohydrate, and chitin metabolic pathways were found only in the formic acid extracts of NMC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the conidial surface morphology difference between the NMC and MC, indicating the role of melanin in the structural integrity of the conidial cell wall. The levels of calcofluor white staining efficiency were different, but there was no microscopic morphology difference in lactophenol cotton blue staining between MC and NMC. Evaluation of the virulence of MC and NMC in the Galleria mellonella model showed NMC was less virulent compared to MC. Our findings showed that the integrity of the conidial surface is controlled by the melanin layer. The alteration in the surface protein profile indicated that many surface proteins are masked by the melanin layer, and hence, melanin can modulate the host response by preventing the exposure of fungal proteins to the host immune defense system. The G. mellonella virulence assay also confirmed that the NMC were susceptible to host defense as in other Aspergillus pathogens. KEY POINTS: • l-DOPA melanin production was inhibited in A. flavus isolates by kojic acid, and for the first time, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed morphological differences between MC and NMC of A. flavus strains • Proteome profile of non-melanized conidia showed more conidial surface proteins and these proteins were mainly involved in the virulence, oxidative stress, and metabolism pathways • Non-melanized conidia of A. flavus strains were shown to be less virulent than melanised conidia in an in vivo virulence experiment with the G. melonella model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondippili Rudhra
- Department of Proteomics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Hariharan Gnanam
- Department of Proteomics, Aravind Medical Research Foundation, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sivaramakrishnan Sivaperumal
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Lalitha Prajna
- Department of Ocular Microbiology, Aravind Eye Hospital, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
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4
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Muenzebrock KA, Ho FYW, Pontes AP, Jorquera-Cordero C, Utomo L, Garcia JP, Willems PC, Welting TJM, Rip J, Creemers LB. Polymeric Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Transfection and Its Translation in Intervertebral Disc and Human Joint Cells, Except for M1 Macrophages. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:438. [PMID: 38675100 PMCID: PMC11053495 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040438] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) are highly prevalent chronic diseases. Although pain management and surgery can alleviate symptoms, no disease-modifying treatments are available. mRNA delivery could halt inflammation and degeneration and induce regeneration by overexpressing anti-inflammatory cytokines or growth factors involved in cartilage regeneration. Here, we investigated poly(amidoamine)-based polymeric nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to human joint and intervertebral disc cells. Human OA chondrocytes, human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, human annulus fibrosus (AF) cells, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and M1-like macrophages were cultured and transfected with uncoated or PGA-PEG-coated nanoparticles loaded with EGFP-encoding mRNA. Cell viability and transfection efficiency were analyzed for all cell types. Nanoparticle internalization was investigated in FLS and M1-like macrophages. No significant decrease in cell viability was observed in most conditions. Only macrophages showed a dose-dependent reduction of viability. Transfection with either nanoparticle version resulted in EGFP expression in NP cells, AF cells, OA chondrocytes and FLS. Macrophages showed internalization of nanoparticles by particle-cell co-localization, but no detectable expression of EGFP. Taken together, our data show that poly (amidoamine)-based nanoparticles can be used for mRNA delivery into cells of the human joint and intervertebral disc, indicating its potential future use as an mRNA delivery system in OA and IVDD, except for macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Agnes Muenzebrock
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.A.M.)
| | - Fiona Y. W. Ho
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.A.M.)
| | - Adriano P. Pontes
- 20Med Therapeutics BV, 2333 BD Leiden, The Netherlands; (A.P.P.); (J.R.)
| | - Carla Jorquera-Cordero
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lizette Utomo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joao Pedro Garcia
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.A.M.)
| | - Paul C. Willems
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; (P.C.W.); (T.J.M.W.)
| | - Tim J. M. Welting
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; (P.C.W.); (T.J.M.W.)
| | - Jaap Rip
- 20Med Therapeutics BV, 2333 BD Leiden, The Netherlands; (A.P.P.); (J.R.)
| | - Laura B. Creemers
- Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (K.A.M.)
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5
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Ayuyan AG, Cherny VV, Chaves G, Musset B, Cohen FS, DeCoursey TE. Interaction with stomatin directs human proton channels into cholesterol-dependent membrane domains. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00168-1. [PMID: 38444158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Many membrane proteins are modulated by cholesterol. Here we report profound effects of cholesterol depletion and restoration on the human voltage-gated proton channel, hHV1, in excised patches but negligible effects in the whole-cell configuration. Despite the presence of a putative cholesterol-binding site, a CARC motif in hHV1, mutation of this motif did not affect cholesterol effects. The murine HV1 lacks a CARC sequence but displays similar cholesterol effects. These results argue against a direct effect of cholesterol on the HV1 protein. However, the data are fully explainable if HV1 preferentially associates with cholesterol-dependent lipid domains, or "rafts." The rafts would be expected to concentrate in the membrane/glass interface and to be depleted from the electrically accessible patch membrane. This idea is supported by evidence that HV1 channels can diffuse between seal and patch membranes when suction is applied. Simultaneous truncation of the large intracellular N and C termini of hHV1 greatly attenuated the cholesterol effect, but C truncation alone did not; this suggests that the N terminus is the region of attachment to lipid domains. Searching for abundant raft-associated proteins led to stomatin. Co-immunoprecipitation experiment results were consistent with hHV1 binding to stomatin. The stomatin-mediated association of HV1 with cholesterol-dependent lipid domains provides a mechanism for cells to direct HV1 to subcellular locations where it is needed, such as the phagosome in leukocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem G Ayuyan
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Vladimir V Cherny
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Gustavo Chaves
- Institut für Physiologie, Pathophysiologie und Biophysik, CPPB, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Boris Musset
- Institut für Physiologie, Pathophysiologie und Biophysik, CPPB, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Fredric S Cohen
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Thomas E DeCoursey
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois.
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6
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Mou Y, Liao W, Liang Y, Li Y, Zhao M, Guo Y, Sun Q, Tang J, Wang Z. Environmental pollutants induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis: Roles and mechanisms in various diseases. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165851. [PMID: 37516172 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollution is changing with economic development. Most environmental pollutants are characterized by stable chemical properties, strong migration, potential toxicity, and multiple exposure routes. Harmful substances are discharged excessively, and large quantities of unknown new compounds are emerging, being transmitted and amplifying in the food chain. The increasingly severe problems of environmental pollution have forced people to re-examine the relationship between environmental pollution and health. Pyroptosis and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome are critical in maintaining the immune balance and regulating the inflammatory process. Numerous diseases caused by environmental pollutants are closely related to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. We intend to systematically explain the steps and important events that are common in life but easily overlooked by which environmental pollutants activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis pathways. This comprehensive review also discusses the interaction network between environmental pollutants, the NLRP3 inflammasome, pyroptosis, and diseases. Thus, research progress on the impact of decreasing oxidative stress levels to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis, thereby repairing homeostasis and reshaping health, is systematically examined. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the impact of environmental pollutants on life and health and provide a theoretical basis and potential programs for the development of corresponding treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mou
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Wenhao Liao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Yun Liang
- The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu 610014, China
| | - Yuchen Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yaoyao Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
| | - Qin Sun
- National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base of the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Jianyuan Tang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
| | - Zhilei Wang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China; TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China.
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7
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Zhan Z, Ye M, Jin X. The roles of FLOT1 in human diseases (Review). Mol Med Rep 2023; 28:212. [PMID: 37772385 PMCID: PMC10552069 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2023.13099] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
FLOT1, a scaffold protein of lipid rafts, is involved in several biological processes, including lipid raft protein‑-dependent or clathrin‑independent endocytosis, and the formation of hippocampal synapses, amongst others. Increasing evidence has shown that FLOT1 can function as both a cancer promoter and cancer suppressor dependent on the type of cancer. FLOT1 can affect the occurrence and development of several types of cancer by affecting epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, proliferation of cancer cells, and relevant signaling pathways, and is regulated by long intergenic non‑coding RNAs or microRNAs. In the nervous system, overexpression or abnormally low expression of FLOT1 may lead to the occurrence of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, major depressive disorder and other diseases. Additionally, it is also associated with dilated cardiomyopathy, pathogenic microbial infection, diabetes‑related diseases, and gynecological diseases, amongst other diseases. In the present review, the structure and localization of FLOT1, as well as the physiological processes it is involved in are reviewed, and then the upstream and downstream regulation of FLOT1 in human disease, particularly in different types of cancer and neurological diseases are discussed, with a focus on potentially targeting FLOT1 for the clinical treatment of several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing Zhan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315020, P.R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Science Health Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P.R. China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315020, P.R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Science Health Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315020, P.R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Science Health Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P.R. China
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8
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Li XM, Huang S, Li XD. Photo-ANA enables profiling of host-bacteria protein interactions during infection. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:614-623. [PMID: 36702958 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01245-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens rapidly change and adapt their proteome to cope with the environment in host cells and secrete effector proteins to hijack host targets and ensure their survival and proliferation during infection. Excessive host proteins make it difficult to profile pathogens' proteome dynamics by conventional proteomics. It is even more challenging to map pathogen-host protein-protein interactions in real time, given the low abundance of bacterial effectors and weak and transient interactions in which they may be involved. Here we report a method for selectively labeling bacterial proteomes using a bifunctional amino acid, photo-ANA, equipped with a bio-orthogonal handle and a photoreactive warhead, which enables simultaneous analysis of bacterial proteome reprogramming and pathogen-host protein interactions of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) during infection. Using photo-ANA, we identified FLOT1/2 as host interactors of S. Typhimurium effector PipB2 in late-stage infection and globally profiled the extensive interactions between host proteins and pathogens during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Meng Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siyue Huang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiang David Li
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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9
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Lionakis MS. Exploiting antifungal immunity in the clinical context. Semin Immunol 2023; 67:101752. [PMID: 37001464 PMCID: PMC10192293 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The continuous expansion of immunocompromised patient populations at-risk for developing life-threatening opportunistic fungal infections in recent decades has helped develop a deeper understanding of antifungal host defenses, which has provided the foundation for eventually devising immune-based targeted interventions in the clinic. This review outlines how genetic variation in certain immune pathway-related genes may contribute to the observed clinical variability in the risk of acquisition and/or severity of fungal infections and how immunogenetic-based patient stratification may enable the eventual development of personalized strategies for antifungal prophylaxis and/or vaccination. Moreover, this review synthesizes the emerging cytokine-based, cell-based, and other immunotherapeutic strategies that have shown promise as adjunctive therapies for boosting or modulating tissue-specific antifungal immune responses in the context of opportunistic fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail S Lionakis
- From the Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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10
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Hanč P, Gonzalez RJ, Mazo IB, Wang Y, Lambert T, Ortiz G, Miller EW, von Andrian UH. Multimodal control of dendritic cell functions by nociceptors. Science 2023; 379:eabm5658. [PMID: 36996219 PMCID: PMC10642951 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm5658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
It is known that interactions between nociceptors and dendritic cells (DCs) can modulate immune responses in barrier tissues. However, our understanding of the underlying communication frameworks remains rudimentary. Here, we show that nociceptors control DCs in three molecularly distinct ways. First, nociceptors release the calcitonin gene-related peptide that imparts a distinct transcriptional profile on steady-state DCs characterized by expression of pro-interleukin-1β and other genes implicated in DC sentinel functions. Second, nociceptor activation induces contact-dependent calcium fluxes and membrane depolarization in DCs and enhances their production of proinflammatory cytokines when stimulated. Finally, nociceptor-derived chemokine CCL2 contributes to the orchestration of DC-dependent local inflammation and the induction of adaptive responses against skin-acquired antigens. Thus, the combined actions of nociceptor-derived chemokines, neuropeptides, and electrical activity fine-tune DC responses in barrier tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Hanč
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rodrigo J Gonzalez
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Irina B Mazo
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yidi Wang
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Talley Lambert
- Cell Biology Microscopy Facility, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gloria Ortiz
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Evan W Miller
- Departments of Chemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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11
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Xiong Z, Zhang N, Xu L, Deng Z, Limwachiranon J, Guo Y, Han Y, Yang W, Scharf DH. Urease of Aspergillus fumigatus Is Required for Survival in Macrophages and Virulence. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0350822. [PMID: 36916906 PMCID: PMC10100864 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03508-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of patients suffering from fungal diseases has constantly increased during the last decade. Among the fungal pathogens, the airborne filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus can cause chronic and fatal invasive mold infections. So far, only three major classes of drugs (polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins) are available for the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections, and all present pharmacological drawbacks (e.g., low solubility or toxicity). Meanwhile, clinical antifungal-resistant isolates are continuously emerging. Therefore, there is a high demand for novel antifungal drugs, preferentially those that act on new targets. We studied urease and the accessory proteins in A. fumigatus to determine their biochemical roles and their influence on virulence. Urease is crucial for the growth on urea as the sole nitrogen source, and the transcript and protein levels are elevated on urea media. The urease deficient mutant displays attenuated virulence, and its spores are more susceptible to macrophage-mediated killing. We demonstrated that this observation is associated with an inability to prevent the acidification of the phagosome. Furthermore, we could show that a nickel-chelator inhibits growth on urea. The nickel chelator is also able to reverse the effects of urease on macrophage killing and phagosome acidification, thereby reducing virulence in systemic and trachea infection models. IMPORTANCE The development of antifungal drugs is an urgent task, but it has proven to be difficult due to many similarities between fungal and animal cells. Here, we characterized the urease system in A. fumigatus, which depends on nickel for activity. Notably, nickel is not a crucial element for humans. Therefore, we went further to explore the role of nickel-dependent urease in host-pathogen interactions. We were able to show that urease is important in preventing the acidification of the phagosome and therefore reduces the killing of conidia by macrophages. Furthermore, the deletion of urease shows reduced virulence in murine infection models. Taken together, we identified urease as an essential virulence factor of A. fumigatus. We were able to show that the application of the nickel-chelator dimethylglyoxime is effective in both in vitro and in vivo infection models. This suggests that nickel chelators or urease inhibitors are potential candidates for the development of novel antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Xiong
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liru Xu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiduo Deng
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jarukitt Limwachiranon
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaojie Guo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Han
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Daniel H. Scharf
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammatory Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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12
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Jia LJ, Rafiq M, Radosa L, Hortschansky P, Cunha C, Cseresnyés Z, Krüger T, Schmidt F, Heinekamp T, Straßburger M, Löffler B, Doenst T, Lacerda JF, Campos A, Figge MT, Carvalho A, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA. Aspergillus fumigatus hijacks human p11 to redirect fungal-containing phagosomes to non-degradative pathway. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:373-388.e10. [PMID: 36893734 PMCID: PMC10016320 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The decision whether endosomes enter the degradative or recycling pathway in mammalian cells is of fundamental importance for pathogen killing, and its malfunctioning has pathological consequences. We discovered that human p11 is a critical factor for this decision. The HscA protein present on the conidial surface of the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus anchors p11 on conidia-containing phagosomes (PSs), excludes the PS maturation mediator Rab7, and triggers binding of exocytosis mediators Rab11 and Sec15. This reprogramming redirects PSs to the non-degradative pathway, allowing A. fumigatus to escape cells by outgrowth and expulsion as well as transfer of conidia between cells. The clinical relevance is supported by the identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the non-coding region of the S100A10 (p11) gene that affects mRNA and protein expression in response to A. fumigatus and is associated with protection against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. These findings reveal the role of p11 in mediating fungal PS evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei-Jie Jia
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Lukáš Radosa
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Hortschansky
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Franziska Schmidt
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Bettina Löffler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Torsten Doenst
- Klinik für Herz- und Thoraxchirurgie, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - João F Lacerda
- Serviço de Hematologia e Transplantação de Medula, Hospital de Santa Maria, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Campos
- Serviço de Transplantação de Medula Óssea, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marc Thilo Figge
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany; Research Group Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz-HKI, Jena, Germany
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany.
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13
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The Lipid Raft-Associated Protein Stomatin Is Required for Accumulation of Dectin-1 in the Phagosomal Membrane and for Full Activity of Macrophages against Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere 2023; 8:e0052322. [PMID: 36719247 PMCID: PMC9942578 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00523-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar macrophages belong to the first line of defense against inhaled conidia of the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. In lung alveoli, they contribute to phagocytosis and elimination of conidia. As a counterdefense, conidia have a gray-green pigment that enables them to survive in phagosomes of macrophages for some time. Previously, we showed that this conidial pigment interferes with the formation of flotillin-dependent lipid raft microdomains in the phagosomal membrane, thereby preventing the formation of functional phagolysosomes. Besides flotillins, stomatin is a major component of lipid rafts and can be targeted to the membrane. However, only limited information on stomatin is available, in particular on its role in defense against pathogens. To determine the function of this integral membrane protein, a stomatin-deficient macrophage line was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that stomatin contributes to the phagocytosis of conidia and is important for recruitment of the β-glucan receptor dectin-1 to both the cytoplasmic membrane and phagosomal membrane. In stomatin knockout cells, fusion of phagosomes and lysosomes, recruitment of the vATPase to phagosomes, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were reduced when cells were infected with pigmentless conidia. Thus, our data suggest that stomatin is involved in maturation of phagosomes via fostering fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes. IMPORTANCE Stomatin is an integral membrane protein that contributes to the uptake of microbes, e.g., spores of the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. By generation of a stomatin-deficient macrophage line by advanced genetic engineering, we found that stomatin is involved in the recruitment of the β-glucan receptor dectin-1 to the phagosomal membrane of macrophages. Furthermore, stomatin is involved in maturation of phagosomes via fostering fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes. The data provide new insights on the important role of stomatin in the immune response against human-pathogenic fungi.
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Jain V, Harper SL, Versace AM, Fingerman D, Brown GS, Bhardwaj M, Crissey MAS, Goldman AR, Ruthel G, Liu Q, Zivkovic A, Stark H, Herlyn M, Gimotty PA, Speicher DW, Amaravadi RK. Targeting UGCG Overcomes Resistance to Lysosomal Autophagy Inhibition. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:454-473. [PMID: 36331284 PMCID: PMC9905280 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Lysosomal autophagy inhibition (LAI) with hydroxychloroquine or DC661 can enhance cancer therapy, but tumor regrowth is common. To elucidate LAI resistance, proteomics and immunoblotting demonstrated that LAI induced lipid metabolism enzymes in multiple cancer cell lines. Lipidomics showed that LAI increased cholesterol, sphingolipids, and glycosphingolipids. These changes were associated with striking levels of GM1+ membrane microdomains (GMM) in plasma membranes and lysosomes. Inhibition of cholesterol/sphingolipid metabolism proteins enhanced LAI cytotoxicity. Targeting UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) synergistically augmented LAI cytotoxicity. Although UGCG inhibition decreased LAI-induced GMM and augmented cell death, UGCG overexpression led to LAI resistance. Melanoma patients with high UGCG expression had significantly shorter disease-specific survival. The FDA-approved UGCG inhibitor eliglustat combined with LAI significantly inhibited tumor growth and improved survival in syngeneic tumors and a therapy-resistant patient-derived xenograft. These findings nominate UGCG as a new cancer target, and clinical trials testing UGCG inhibition in combination with LAI are warranted. SIGNIFICANCE We discovered UGCG-dependent lipid remodeling drives resistance to LAI. Targeting UGCG with a drug approved for a lysosomal storage disorder enhanced LAI antitumor activity without toxicity. LAI and UGCG inhibition could be tested clinically in multiple cancers. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Jain
- Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Amanda M. Versace
- Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | - Monika Bhardwaj
- Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mary Ann S. Crissey
- Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Gordon Ruthel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qin Liu
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aleksandra Zivkovic
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Holgar Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Phyllis A. Gimotty
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David W. Speicher
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding authors: Ravi K. Amaravadi, MD, University of Pennsylvania, 852 BRB 2/3, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel: 215-796-5159, ; David W. Speicher, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel: 215-898-3972,
| | - Ravi K. Amaravadi
- Abramson Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Corresponding authors: Ravi K. Amaravadi, MD, University of Pennsylvania, 852 BRB 2/3, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel: 215-796-5159, ; David W. Speicher, The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel: 215-898-3972,
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15
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González K, Gangapurwala G, Alex J, Vollrath A, Cseresnyés Z, Weber C, Czaplewska JA, Hoeppener S, Svensson CM, Orasch T, Heinekamp T, Guerrero-Sánchez C, Figge MT, Schubert US, Brakhage AA. Targeting of phagolysosomes containing conidia of the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus with polymeric particles. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:819-834. [PMID: 36480041 PMCID: PMC9842589 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12287-1] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Conidia of the airborne human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus are inhaled by humans. In the lung, they are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages and intracellularly processed. In macrophages, however, conidia can interfere with the maturation of phagolysosomes to avoid their elimination. To investigate whether polymeric particles (PPs) can reach this intracellular pathogen in macrophages, we formulated dye-labeled PPs with a size allowing for their phagocytosis. PPs were efficiently taken up by RAW 264.7 macrophages and were found in phagolysosomes. When macrophages were infected with conidia prior to the addition of PPs, we found that they co-localized in the same phagolysosomes. Mechanistically, the fusion of phagolysosomes containing PPs with phagolysosomes containing conidia was observed. Increasing concentrations of PPs increased fusion events, resulting in 14% of phagolysosomes containing both conidia and PPs. We demonstrate that PPs can reach conidia-containing phagolysosomes, making these particles a promising carrier system for antimicrobial drugs to target intracellular pathogens. KEY POINTS: • Polymer particles of a size larger than 500 nm are internalized by macrophages and localized in phagolysosomes. • These particles can be delivered to Aspergillus fumigatus conidia-containing phagolysosomes of macrophages. • Enhanced phagolysosome fusion by the use of vacuolin1 can increase particle delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine González
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gauri Gangapurwala
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Julien Alex
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Antje Vollrath
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Zoltán Cseresnyés
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Weber
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Justyna A. Czaplewska
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hoeppener
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Carl-Magnus Svensson
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Orasch
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Thorsten Heinekamp
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Carlos Guerrero-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Marc Thilo Figge
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrich S. Schubert
- Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Adolf-Reichwein-Straße 23, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07745 Jena, Germany
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16
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Ghiboub M, Koster J, Craggs PD, Li Yim AYF, Shillings A, Hutchinson S, Bingham RP, Gatfield K, Hageman IL, Yao G, O’Keefe HP, Coffin A, Patel A, Sloan LA, Mitchell DJ, Hayhow TG, Lunven L, Watson RJ, Blunt CE, Harrison LA, Bruton G, Kumar U, Hamer N, Spaull JR, Zwijnenburg DA, Welting O, Hakvoort TBM, te Velde AA, van Limbergen J, Henneman P, Prinjha RK, de Winther MPJ, Harker NR, Tough DF, de Jonge WJ. Modulation of macrophage inflammatory function through selective inhibition of the epigenetic reader protein SP140. BMC Biol 2022; 20:182. [PMID: 35986286 PMCID: PMC9392322 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01380-6] [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: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background SP140 is a bromodomain-containing protein expressed predominantly in immune cells. Genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications in the SP140 locus have been linked to Crohn’s disease (CD), suggesting a role in inflammation. Results We report the development of the first small molecule SP140 inhibitor (GSK761) and utilize this to elucidate SP140 function in macrophages. We show that SP140 is highly expressed in CD mucosal macrophages and in in vitro-generated inflammatory macrophages. SP140 inhibition through GSK761 reduced monocyte-to-inflammatory macrophage differentiation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory activation, while inducing the generation of CD206+ regulatory macrophages that were shown to associate with a therapeutic response to anti-TNF in CD patients. SP140 preferentially occupies transcriptional start sites in inflammatory macrophages, with enrichment at gene loci encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and inflammatory pathways. GSK761 specifically reduces SP140 chromatin binding and thereby expression of SP140-regulated genes. GSK761 inhibits the expression of cytokines, including TNF, by CD14+ macrophages isolated from CD intestinal mucosa. Conclusions This study identifies SP140 as a druggable epigenetic therapeutic target for CD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01380-6.
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Chen L, Chen K, Hong Y, Xing L, Zhang J, Zhang K, Zhang Z. The landscape of isoform switches in sepsis: a multicenter cohort study. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10276. [PMID: 35715539 PMCID: PMC9205547 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14231-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is caused by an uncontrolled inflammatory response, whose underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. It is well known that the majority of human genes can be expressed as alternative isoforms. While isoform switching is implicated in many diseases and is particularly prominent in cancer, it has never been reported in the context of sepsis. Patients presented to the emergency department of three tertiary care hospitals from January 2020 to December 2020 were enrolled. Clinical variables and genome-wide transcriptome of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained. Isoform switching analysis were performed to identify significant isoform switches and relevant biological consequences. A total of 48 subjects with sepsis, involving 42 survivors and 6 non-survivors, admitted to the emergency department of three tertiary care hospitals were enrolled in this study. PBMCs were extracted for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Patients (n = 4) with mild stroke or acute coronary syndrome without infection were enrolled in this study as controls. The most frequent functional changes resulting from isoform switching were changes affecting the open reading frame, protein domains and intron retention. Many genes without differences in gene expression showed significant isoform switching. Many genes with significant isoform switches ([Formula: see text]> 0.1) were associated with higher mortality risk, including PIGS, CASP3, LITAF, HBB and RUVBL2. The study for the first time described the landscape of isoform switching in sepsis, including differentially expressed isoform fractions between patients with and without sepsis and survivors and nonsurvivors. The biological consequences of isoform switching, including protein domain loss, signal peptide gain, and intron retention, were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, China
| | - Yucai Hong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Lifeng Xing
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Emergency Department, Zigong Fourth People's Hospital, 19 Tanmulin Road, Zigong, Sichuan, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, 310016, China
| | - Zhongheng Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine in Diagnosis and Monitoring Research of Zhejiang Province, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No 3, East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, Zhejiang, China.
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18
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Proteomic profiling of exosomes in a mouse model of Candida albicans endophthalmitis. Exp Cell Res 2022; 417:113222. [PMID: 35618014 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Exosomes play pivotal roles in intercellular communication, and pathophysiological functions. In this study, we aimed to understand the role of exosomal proteome derived from C. albicans infected mice (C57BL/6) eyeball. Exosomes were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering and western blot, quantified and subjected to LC-MS/MS and cytokine quantification by ELISA. The average size of exosomes was 170-200 nm with number of exosomes amounted to 1.42 × 1010 in infected set compared to control (1.24 × 109). Western blot was positive for CD9, CD63 and CD81 confirming the presence of exosomes. IL-6, IL1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were significantly elevated in infected eye at 72 h.p.i. Proteomic analysis identified 42 differentially expressed proteins, of these 37 were upregulated and 5 were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) revealed enrichment of cell adhesion, cytoskeleton organization, and cellular response proteins such as aquaporin-5, gasdermin-A, CD5 antigen-like, Catenin, V-ATPase, and vesicle associated protein. Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis indicated the association of metabolic and carbon signalling pathways with exosomes from C. albicans infected eye. The protein cargo in exosomes released during endophthalmitis with C. albicans seems to play a unique role in the pathogenesis of the disease and further validations with larger cohort of patients is required to confirm them as biomarkers. .
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19
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Gonçalves SM, Cunha C, Carvalho A. Understanding the genetic basis of immune responses to fungal infection. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2022; 20:987-996. [PMID: 35385368 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2022.2063839] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fungal infections represent a global public health problem that affect millions of people. Despite remarkable advances achieved over the last decades, available diagnostic and therapeutic tools remain insufficient for the optimal management of these diseases. The clinical course of fungal infection is highly variable, and evidence accumulated from patients with rare mutations and cohort-based studies suggests that the trajectory of disease is largely defined by patient genetics and its impact on immune responses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to elucidate the precise mechanisms by which which genetic variants influence the risk, progression, and outcome of fungal infection. AREAS COVERED In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the genetic factors that influence antifungal immune responses based on candidate gene studies and genome-wide approaches performed in different experimental and clinical models. EXPERT OPINION Research on genetics of susceptibility to infection is expected to lead to a detailed knowledge framework for the pathogenesis of human fungal infections and unveil novel targets and pathways amenable to clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Gonçalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cristina Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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20
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Rafiq M, Rivieccio F, Zimmermann AK, Visser C, Bruch A, Krüger T, González Rojas K, Kniemeyer O, Blango MG, Brakhage AA. PLB-985 Neutrophil-Like Cells as a Model To Study Aspergillus fumigatus Pathogenesis. mSphere 2022; 7:e0094021. [PMID: 34986319 PMCID: PMC8730815 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00940-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections remain a major global concern. Emerging fungal pathogens and increasing rates of resistance mean that additional research efforts and resources must be allocated to advancing our understanding of fungal pathogenesis and developing new therapeutic interventions. Neutrophilic granulocytes are a major cell type involved in protection against the important fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, where they employ numerous defense mechanisms, including production of antimicrobial extracellular vesicles. A major drawback to work with neutrophils is the lack of a suitable cell line system for the study of fungal pathogenesis. To address this problem, we assessed the feasibility of using differentiated PLB-985 neutrophil-like cells as an in vitro model to study A. fumigatus infection. We find that dimethylformamide-differentiated PLB-985 cells provide a useful recapitulation of many aspects of A. fumigatus interactions with primary human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We show that differentiated PLB-985 cells phagocytose fungal conidia and acidify conidia-containing phagolysosomes similar to primary neutrophils, release neutrophil extracellular traps, and also produce antifungal extracellular vesicles in response to infection. In addition, we provide an improved method for the isolation of extracellular vesicles produced during infection by employing a size exclusion chromatography-based approach. Advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) proteomics revealed an enrichment of extracellular vesicle marker proteins and a decrease of cytoplasmic proteins in extracellular vesicles isolated using this improved method. Ultimately, we find that differentiated PLB-985 cells can serve as a genetically tractable model to study many aspects of A. fumigatus pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are an important defense against human fungal pathogens, yet our model systems to study this group of cells remain very limited in scope. In this study, we established that differentiated PLB-985 cells can serve as a model to recapitulate several important aspects of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte interactions with the important human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The proposed addition of a cultured neutrophil-like cell line to the experimental toolbox to study fungal pathogenesis will allow for a more mechanistic description of neutrophil antifungal biology. In addition, the easier handling of the cell line compared to primary human neutrophils allowed us to use PLB-985 cells to provide an improved method for isolation of neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles using size exclusion chromatography. Together, these results provide significant tools and a baseline knowledge for the future study of neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Flora Rivieccio
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Zimmermann
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Corissa Visser
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Bruch
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Katherine González Rojas
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Matthew G. Blango
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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21
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Emergence and evolution of virulence in human pathogenic fungi. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:693-704. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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22
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Bryan AM, You JK, Li G, Kim J, Singh A, Morstein J, Trauner D, Pereira de Sá N, Normile TG, Farnoud AM, London E, Del Poeta M. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101411. [PMID: 34793834 PMCID: PMC8661020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in lymphopenic patients. Pulmonary macrophages comprise the first line of host defense upon inhalation of fungal spores by aiding in clearance but can also potentially serve as a niche for their dissemination. Given that macrophages play a key role in the outcome of a cryptococcal infection, it is crucial to understand factors that mediate phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Since lipid rafts (high-order plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin [SM]) have been implicated in facilitating phagocytosis, we evaluated whether these ordered domains govern macrophages' ability to phagocytose C. neoformans. We found that cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in significantly deficient immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated phagocytosis of fungus. Moreover, repletion of macrophage cells with a raft-promoting sterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) rescued this phagocytic deficiency, whereas a raft-inhibiting sterol (coprostanol) significantly decreased IgG-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Using a photoswitchable SM (AzoSM), we observed that the raft-promoting conformation (trans-AzoSM) resulted in efficient phagocytosis, whereas the raft-inhibiting conformation (cis-AzoSM) significantly but reversibly blunted phagocytosis. We observed that the effect on phagocytosis may be facilitated by Fcγ receptor (FcγR) function, whereby IgG immune complexes crosslink to FcγRIII, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of FcR γ-subunit (FcRγ), an important accessory protein in the FcγR signaling cascade. Correspondingly, cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in decreased FcRγ phosphorylation. Repletion with 7-dehydrocholesterol restored phosphorylation, whereas repletion with coprostanol showed FcRγ phosphorylation comparable to unstimulated cells. Together, these data suggest that lipid rafts are critical for facilitating FcγRIII-mediated phagocytosis of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle M Bryan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jeehyun Karen You
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Guangtao Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - JiHyun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nívea Pereira de Sá
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Tyler G Normile
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Amir M Farnoud
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erwin London
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA.
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23
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Souza TN, Valdez AF, Rizzo J, Zamith-Miranda D, Guimarães AJ, Nosanchuk JD, Nimrichter L. Host cell membrane microdomains and fungal infection. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13385. [PMID: 34392593 PMCID: PMC8664998 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Lipid microdomains or lipid rafts are dynamic and tightly ordered regions of the plasma membrane. In mammalian cells, they are enriched in cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored and signalling-related proteins. Several studies have suggested that mammalian pattern recognition receptors are concentrated or recruited to lipid domains during host-pathogen association to enhance the effectiveness of host effector processes. However, pathogens have also evolved strategies to exploit these domains to invade cells and survive. In fungal organisms, a complex cell wall network usually mediates the first contact with the host cells. This cell wall may contain virulence factors that interfere with the host membrane microdomains dynamics, potentially impacting the infection outcome. Indeed, the microdomain disruption can dampen fungus-host cell adhesion, phagocytosis and cellular immune responses. Here, we provide an overview of regulatory strategies employed by pathogenic fungi to engage with and potentially subvert the lipid microdomains of host cells. TAKE AWAY: Lipid microdomains are ordered regions of the plasma membrane enriched in cholesterol, glycosphingolipids (GSL), GPI-anchored and signalling-related proteins. Pathogen recognition by host immune cells can involve lipid microdomain participation. During this process, these domains can coalesce in larger complexes recruiting receptors and signalling proteins, significantly increasing their signalling abilities. The antifungal innate immune response is mediated by the engagement of pathogen-associated molecular patterns to pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) at the plasma membrane of innate immune cells. Lipid microdomains can concentrate or recruit PRRs during host cell-fungi association through a multi-interactive mechanism. This association can enhance the effectiveness of host effector processes. However, virulence factors at the fungal cell surface and extracellular vesicles can re-assembly these domains, compromising the downstream signalling and favouring the disease development. Lipid microdomains are therefore very attractive targets for novel drugs to combat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiane N Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro F Valdez
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana Rizzo
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Allan Jefferson Guimarães
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia-MIP, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joshua D Nosanchuk
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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24
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Duan F, Zeng C, Liu S, Gong J, Hu J, Li H, Tan H. α1-nAchR-Mediated Signaling Through Lipid Raft Is Required for Nicotine-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Nicotine-Accelerated Atherosclerosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:724699. [PMID: 34490270 PMCID: PMC8416509 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.724699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nicotine exerts direct effects on multiple cell types in the cardiovascular system by associating with its high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs). Lipid raft is a membrane microdomain that recruits various receptors and signaling molecules for coordinating cellular immune response and many others signaling processes. Here, we aim to identify the essential role of lipid raft in mediating nicotine-triggered inflammatory and nicotine-accelerated atherosclerosis, and to figure out the specific receptor of nicotine-induced Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in macrophage. Methods and Results ApoE–/– mice were fed with a high-fat diet to build atherosclerosis model. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin was used to interrupt intact lipid raft. We confirmed that nicotine triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation and induced macrophage migration into atherosclerotic plaque, thus accelerated atherosclerosis in apoE–/– mice fed with a high-fat diet. Mechanically, nicotine increased the expression of α1-nAChR and stimulated the accumulation of α1-nAChR in lipid raft, leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophage. Conversely, silencing of α1-nAChR in macrophage sufficiently blocked the pro-inflammasome activation effect of nicotine, indicating that α1-nAChR was the specific receptor for nicotine in triggering NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophage. Furthermore, both the destruction of lipid raft by methyl-β-cyclodextrin and the interference of lipid raft clustering by silencing acid sphingomyelinase reversed nicotine-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation by reducing the accumulation of α1-nAChR in lipid raft in macrophage, suggesting lipid raft–mediated accumulation of α1-nAChR was the key event in regulating the pro-inflammatory effects of nicotine in macrophage. Importantly, nicotine-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and macrophage migration into atherosclerotic plaque were reversed by methyl-β-cyclodextrin, making a significant improvement for atherosclerosis in apoE–/– mice fed with a high-fat diet. Conclusion α1-nAChR-mediated signaling through lipid raft is required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pro-atherosclerotic property of nicotine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqi Duan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Zeng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sijun Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Gong
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Laboratory Animal Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongmei Tan
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Laboratory Animal Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Ouyang Y, Rong Y, Wang Y, Guo Y, Shan L, Yu X, Li L, Si J, Li X, Ma K. A Systematic Study of the Mechanism of Acacetin Against Sepsis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:683645. [PMID: 34483900 PMCID: PMC8415621 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.683645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a dysregulated systemic response to infection, and no effective treatment options are available. Acacetin is a natural flavonoid found in various plants, including Sparganii rhizoma, Sargentodoxa cuneata and Patrinia scabiosifolia. Studies have revealed that acacetin potentially exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects on sepsis. In this study, we investigated the potential protective effect of acacetin on sepsis and revealed the underlying mechanisms using a network pharmacology approach coupled with experimental validation and molecular docking. First, we found that acacetin significantly suppressed pathological damage and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in mice with LPS-induced fulminant hepatic failure and acute lung injury, and in vitro experiments further confirmed that acacetin attenuated LPS-induced M1 polarization. Then, network pharmacology screening revealed EGFR, PTGS2, SRC and ESR1 as the top four overlapping targets in a PPI network, and GO and KEGG analyses revealed the top 20 enriched biological processes and signalling pathways associated with the therapeutic effects of acacetin on sepsis. Further network pharmacological analysis indicated that gap junctions may be highly involved in the protective effects of acacetin on sepsis. Finally, molecular docking verified that acacetin bound to the active sites of the four targets predicted by network pharmacology, and in vitro experiments further confirmed that acacetin significantly inhibited the upregulation of p-src induced by LPS and attenuated LPS-induced M1 polarization through gap junctions. Taken together, our results indicate that acacetin may protect against sepsis via a mechanism involving multiple targets and pathways and that gap junctions may be highly involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanshuo Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Yi Rong
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Yanli Guo
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Liya Shan
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Xiushi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Junqiang Si
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Xinzhi Li
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Pathophysiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Ketao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China.,Department of Physiology, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
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26
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Characterisation of Aspergillus fumigatus Endocytic Trafficking within Airway Epithelial Cells Using High-Resolution Automated Quantitative Confocal Microscopy. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060454. [PMID: 34200399 PMCID: PMC8229978 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The precise characterization of the mechanisms modulating Aspergillus fumigatus survival within airway epithelial cells has been impaired by the lack of live-cell imaging technologies and user-friendly quantification approaches. Here we described the use of an automated image analysis pipeline to estimate the proportion of A. fumigatus spores taken up by airway epithelial cells, those contained within phagolysosomes or acidified phagosomes, along with the fungal factors contributing to these processes. Coupling the use of fluorescent A. fumigatus strains and fluorescent epithelial probes targeting lysosomes, acidified compartments and cell membrane, we found that both the efficacy of lysosome recruitment to phagosomes and phagosome acidification determines the capacity of airway epithelial cells to contain A. fumigatus growth. Overall, the capability of the airway epithelium to prevent A. fumigatus survival was higher in bronchial epithelial than alveolar epithelial cells. Certain A. fumigatus cell wall mutants influenced phagosome maturation in airway epithelial cells. Taken together, this live-cell 4D imaging approach allows observation and measurement of the very early processes of A. fumigatus interaction within live airway epithelial monolayers.
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27
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Host-pathogen interactions: lessons from phagocytic predation on fungi. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 62:38-44. [PMID: 34051610 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Free living amoebae share striking similarities with innate immune cells in terms of cell morphology, motility and phagocytic processing of microbes. Their abilities to find, ingest and kill bacteria and fungi in their natural habitats have fostered the hypothesis that amoebae could have served as a training ground for environmentally acquired pathogens. What may have been more obvious for intracellular bacteria, becomes increasingly clear also for several fungal pathogens: a number of virulence determinants of human pathogenic fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans or Aspergillus fumigatus are equally relevant to resist innate immune cells and environmental phagocytic predators. Here, we summarize the most recent experimental examples underlining the concept of amoeba models to study fungal pathogens.
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28
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Zhang X, Cui Y, Ding X, Liu S, Han B, Duan X, Zhang H, Sun T. Analysis of mRNA‑lncRNA and mRNA‑lncRNA-pathway co‑expression networks based on WGCNA in developing pediatric sepsis. Bioengineered 2021; 12:1457-1470. [PMID: 33949285 PMCID: PMC8806204 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1908029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric sepsis is a great threat to death worldwide. However, the pathogenesis has not been clearly understood until now in sepsis. This study identified differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. And the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to explore co-expression modules associated with pediatric sepsis. Then, Gene Ontology (GO), KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway, mRNA‑lncRNA and mRNA‑lncRNA-pathway co-expression network analysis was conducted in selected significant module. A total of 1941 mRNAs and 225 lncRNAs were used to conduct WGCNA. And turquoise module was selected as a significant module that was associated with particular traits. The mRNAs functions associated with many vital processes were also shown by GO and KEGG pathway analysis in the turquoise module. Finally, 15 mRNAs (MAPK14, ITGAM, HK3, ALOX5, CR1, HCK, NCF4, PYGL, FLOT1, CARD6, NLRC4, SH3GLB1, PGS1, RAB31, LTB4R) and 4 lncRNAs (GSEC, NONHSAT160878.1, XR_926068.1 and RARA-AS1) were selected as hub genes in mRNA‑lncRNA-Pathway co-expression network. We identified 15 mRNAs and 4 lncRNAs as diagnostic markers, which have potential functions in pediatric sepsis. Our study provides more directions to study the molecular mechanism of pediatric sepsis.Abbreviations: mRNA: messenger RNA; lncRNA: long noncoding RNAs; GEO: Gene Expression Omnibus; WGCNA: weighted gene co-expression network analysis; GO: Gene Ontology; KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes; SIRS: systemic inflammatory response syndrome; TOM: topological overlap measure; BP: biological process; MF: molecular function; CC: cellular component; ROC: receiver operating characteristic curve; AUC: area under curve; MAPK14: Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14; ALI: acute lung injury; ITGAM: Integrin subunit alpha M; HK3: Hexokinase 3; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; 5-LO: 5-lipoxygenase; LTs: leukotrienes; LTB4R: leukotriene B4 receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Zhang
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuqing Cui
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xianfei Ding
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Liu
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bing Han
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoguang Duan
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, Departments of Anesthesia and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Tongwen Sun
- General ICU, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Sepsis, Henan Engineering Research Center for Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
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Abstract
The analysis of phagolysosomes within professional phagocytic cells is facilitated by their isolation. Here, we optimized a protocol for the isolation of intact phagolysosomes from macrophages infected with the spores of Aspergillus fumigatus. Purified phagolysosomes allow improved immunostaining, e.g., of phagolysosomal membrane proteins, or proteome analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Schmidt et al. (2020).
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Last A, Maurer M, Mosig AS, Gresnigt MS, Hube B. In vitro infection models to study fungal-host interactions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:6125970. [PMID: 33524102 PMCID: PMC8498566 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections (mycoses) affect over a billion people per year. Approximately, two million of these infections are life-threatening, especially for patients with a compromised immune system. Fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Candida, Histoplasma and Cryptococcus are opportunistic pathogens that contribute to a substantial number of mycoses. To optimize the diagnosis and treatment of mycoses, we need to understand the complex fungal–host interplay during pathogenesis, the fungal attributes causing virulence and how the host resists infection via immunological defenses. In vitro models can be used to mimic fungal infections of various tissues and organs and the corresponding immune responses at near-physiological conditions. Furthermore, models can include fungal interactions with the host–microbiota to mimic the in vivo situation on skin and mucosal surfaces. This article reviews currently used in vitro models of fungal infections ranging from cell monolayers to microfluidic 3D organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms. We also discuss how OOC models can expand the toolbox for investigating interactions of fungi and their human hosts in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Last
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Michelle Maurer
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander S Mosig
- Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Biochemistry II, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Mark S Gresnigt
- Junior Research Group Adaptive Pathogenicity Strategies, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knoell-Institute, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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Arastehfar A, Gabaldón T, Garcia-Rubio R, Jenks JD, Hoenigl M, Salzer HJF, Ilkit M, Lass-Flörl C, Perlin DS. Drug-Resistant Fungi: An Emerging Challenge Threatening Our Limited Antifungal Armamentarium. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9120877. [PMID: 33302565 PMCID: PMC7764418 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9120877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The high clinical mortality and economic burden posed by invasive fungal infections (IFIs), along with significant agricultural crop loss caused by various fungal species, has resulted in the widespread use of antifungal agents. Selective drug pressure, fungal attributes, and host- and drug-related factors have counteracted the efficacy of the limited systemic antifungal drugs and changed the epidemiological landscape of IFIs. Species belonging to Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Pneumocystis are among the fungal pathogens showing notable rates of antifungal resistance. Drug-resistant fungi from the environment are increasingly identified in clinical settings. Furthermore, we have a limited understanding of drug class-specific resistance mechanisms in emerging Candida species. The establishment of antifungal stewardship programs in both clinical and agricultural fields and the inclusion of species identification, antifungal susceptibility testing, and therapeutic drug monitoring practices in the clinic can minimize the emergence of drug-resistant fungi. New antifungal drugs featuring promising therapeutic profiles have great promise to treat drug-resistant fungi in the clinical setting. Mitigating antifungal tolerance, a prelude to the emergence of resistance, also requires the development of effective and fungal-specific adjuvants to be used in combination with systemic antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Arastehfar
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; (A.A.); (R.G.-R.)
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Life Sciences Programme, Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), Jordi Girona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain;
- Mechanisms of Disease Programme, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), 08024 Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies. Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rocio Garcia-Rubio
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; (A.A.); (R.G.-R.)
| | - Jeffrey D. Jenks
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA 92103, USA;
- Clinical and Translational Fungal-Working Group, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Martin Hoenigl
- Clinical and Translational Fungal-Working Group, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | | | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, University of Çukurova, 01330 Adana, Turkey
- Correspondence: (M.I.); (D.S.P.); Tel.: +90-532-286-0099 (M.I.); +1-201-880-3100 (D.S.P.)
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; (A.A.); (R.G.-R.)
- Correspondence: (M.I.); (D.S.P.); Tel.: +90-532-286-0099 (M.I.); +1-201-880-3100 (D.S.P.)
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