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Heilig L, Natasha F, Trinks N, Aimanianda V, Wong SSW, Fontaine T, Terpitz U, Strobel L, Le Mauff F, Sheppard DC, Schäuble S, Kurzai O, Hünniger K, Weiss E, Vargas M, Howell PL, Panagiotou G, Wurster S, Einsele H, Loeffler J. CD56-mediated activation of human natural killer cells is triggered by Aspergillus fumigatus galactosaminogalactan. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012315. [PMID: 38889192 PMCID: PMC11216564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are pivotal for antifungal defense. Thus far, CD56 is the only known pathogen recognition receptor on NK cells triggering potent antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms and the fungal ligand of CD56 have remained unknown. Using purified cell wall components, biochemical treatments, and ger mutants with altered cell wall composition, we herein found that CD56 interacts with the A. fumigatus cell wall carbohydrate galactosaminogalactan (GAG). This interaction induced NK-cell activation, degranulation, and secretion of immune-enhancing chemokines and cytotoxic effectors. Supernatants from GAG-stimulated NK cells elicited antifungal activity and enhanced antifungal effector responses of polymorphonuclear cells. In conclusion, we identified A. fumigatus GAG as a ligand of CD56 on human primary NK cells, stimulating potent antifungal effector responses and activating other immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Heilig
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Fariha Natasha
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Nora Trinks
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Vishukumar Aimanianda
- Department of Mycology, Immunobiology of Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Sze Wah Wong
- Department of Mycology, Immunobiology of Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Fontaine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE, USC2019, Fungal Biology and Pathogenicity laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Ulrich Terpitz
- Department of Biotechnology & Biophysics Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Lea Strobel
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - François Le Mauff
- Infectious Disease in Global Health Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, Montreal, Canada
| | - Donald C. Sheppard
- Infectious Disease in Global Health Program, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Institute for Hygiene und Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans-Knöll-Institute Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Hünniger
- Institute for Hygiene und Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Esther Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mario Vargas
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - P. Lynne Howell
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology–Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wurster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Dunne MR, Wagener J, Loeffler J, Doherty DG, Rogers TR. Unconventional T cells - New players in antifungal immunity. Clin Immunol 2021; 227:108734. [PMID: 33895356 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Life-threatening invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are increasing in incidence, especially in immunocompromised patients and successful resolution of IFD requires a variety of different immune cells. With the limited repertoire of available antifungal drugs there is a need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This review interrogates the evidence on the human immune response to the main pathogens driving IFD, with a focus on the role of unconventional lymphocytes e.g. natural killer (NK) cells, gamma/delta (γδ) T cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). Recent discoveries and new insights into the roles of these novel lymphocyte groups in antifungal immunity will be discussed, and we will explore how an improved understanding of antifungal action by lymphocytes can inform efforts to improve antifungal treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret R Dunne
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Sir Patrick Dun Research Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland.
| | - Johannes Wagener
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Sir Patrick Dun Research Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Department of Internal Medicine II, WÜ4i, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Derek G Doherty
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Thomas R Rogers
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Sir Patrick Dun Research Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
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