Altered ex vivo expression of caspase 8, caspase 9, and Bcl-2 is associated with T-cell hyporeactivity in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

Glycolipid sensing and innate immunity in paracoccidioidomycosis

Distinct glycolipid profiles are described in microorganisms, which have been shown to modulate the innate immune system. We tested the hypothesis that glycosphingolipids from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis have immunomodulatory properties on monocytes and dendritic cells of two groups of healthy individuals, one cured of paracoccidioidomycosis in the past (CUR-I) and the other nonexposed to P. brasiliensis (HNE-I). Two classes of glycosphingolipids purified from yeast cells were evaluated: a neutral glycosphingolipid, monohexosylceramide (CMH), and acidic glycosylinositolphosphorylceramides (GIPCs). Both glycosphingolipids affected the functioning of innate immunity cells, interfering with the antigen presenting process: P. brasiliensis yeast cells phagocytosis, IL-10 secretion, and costimulatory molecules and recognition receptors expression by monocytes were altered, while dendritic cell antigen presentation to autologous T cells was markedly down-modulated as shown by reduced T-cell proliferative responses. The mechanisms by which CMH and GIPCs exert their effects differ since the target cells did not always respond similarly to the challenge with the glycosphingolipids. Moreover, CUR-I and HNE-I presented different responses to the glycosphingolipids. Differences not only in the glycosphingolipid structure (such as the polar head group or the ceramide moiety), but also in the innate immunity properties of CUR-I and HNE-I, may underlie these differences and contribute to individual's susceptibility or resistance to develop paracoccidioidomycosis.

Myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) of mice susceptible to paracoccidioidomycosis suppress T cell responses whereas myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs from resistant mice induce effector and regulatory T cells

The protective adaptive immune response in paracoccidioidomycosis, a mycosis endemic among humans, is mediated by T cell immunity, whereas impaired T cell responses are associated with severe, progressive disease. The early host response to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection is not known since the disease is diagnosed at later phases of infection. Our laboratory established a murine model of infection where susceptible mice reproduce the severe disease, while resistant mice develop a mild infection. This work aimed to characterize the influence of dendritic cells in the innate and adaptive immunity of susceptible and resistant mice. We verified that P. brasiliensis infection induced in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) of susceptible mice a prevalent proinflammatory myeloid phenotype that secreted high levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-β, whereas in resistant mice, a mixed population of myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs secreting proinflammatory cytokines and expressing elevated levels of secreted and membrane-bound transforming growth factor β was observed. In proliferation assays, the proinflammatory DCs from B10.A mice induced anergy of naïve T cells, whereas the mixed DC subsets from resistant mice induced the concomitant proliferation of effector and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Equivalent results were observed during pulmonary infection. The susceptible mice displayed preferential expansion of proinflammatory myeloid DCs, resulting in impaired proliferation of effector T cells. Conversely, the resistant mice developed myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs that efficiently expanded gamma interferon-, IL-4-, and IL-17-positive effector T cells associated with increased development of Tregs. Our work highlights the deleterious effect of excessive innate proinflammatory reactions and provides new evidence for the importance of immunomodulation during pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis.