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Angers I, Akik W, Beauchamp A, King IL, Lands LC, Qureshi ST. Card9 Broadly Regulates Host Immunity against Experimental Pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans 52D Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:434. [PMID: 38921420 PMCID: PMC11204891 DOI: 10.3390/jof10060434] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous soil-associated fungus Cryptococcus neoformans causes pneumonia that may progress to fatal meningitis. Recognition of fungal cell walls by C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) has been shown to trigger the host immune response. Caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (Card9) is an intracellular adaptor that is downstream of several CLRs. Experimental studies have implicated Card9 in host resistance against C. neoformans; however, the mechanisms that are associated with susceptibility to progressive infection are not well defined. To further characterize the role of Card9 in cryptococcal infection, Card9em1Sq mutant mice that lack exon 2 of the Card9 gene on the Balb/c genetic background were created using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology and intratracheally infected with C. neoformans 52D. Card9em1Sq mice had significantly higher lung and brain fungal burdens and shorter survival after C. neoformans 52D infection. Susceptibility of Card9em1Sq mice was associated with lower pulmonary cytokine and chemokine production, as well as reduced numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells in the lungs. Histological analysis and intracellular cytokine staining of CD4+ T cells demonstrated a Th2 pattern of immunity in Card9em1Sq mice. These findings demonstrate that Card9 broadly regulates the host inflammatory and immune response to experimental pulmonary infection with a moderately virulent strain of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Angers
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
| | - Wided Akik
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Annie Beauchamp
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
| | - Irah L. King
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Larry C. Lands
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Salman T. Qureshi
- Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; (I.A.); (W.A.); (A.B.); (I.L.K.); (L.C.L.)
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Liu Y, Ouyang Y, You W, Liu W, Cheng Y, Mai X, Shen Z. Physiological roles of human interleukin-17 family. Exp Dermatol 2024; 33:e14964. [PMID: 37905720 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-17 s (IL-17s) are well-known proinflammatory cytokines, and their antagonists perform excellently in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. However, their physiological functions have not been given sufficient attention by clinicians. IL-17s can protect the host from extracellular pathogens, maintain epithelial integrity, regulate cognitive processes and modulate adipocyte activity through distinct mechanisms. Here, we present a systematic review concerning the physiological functions of IL-17s. Our goal is not to negate the therapeutic effect of IL-17 antagonists, but to ensure their safe use and reasonably explain the possible adverse events that may occur in their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucong Liu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ye Ouyang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanchun You
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenqi Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yufan Cheng
- Department of Dermatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinming Mai
- Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhu Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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3
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de Campos GY, Oliveira-Brito PKM, Guimarães JG, da Costa LS, Lazo Chica JE, da Silva TA. Adjuvant Pam3CSk4 does not improve the immunization against Cryptococcus gattii infection in C57BL/6 mice. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14778. [PMID: 36743957 PMCID: PMC9897066 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis is a relevant invasive fungal infection that affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals when caused by Cryptococcus gattii. Host innate and adaptive immune responses can be subverted by C. gattii, that blocks the differentiation of T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells, which are involved in the protection against cryptococcosis. Moreover, the macrophage polarization is modulated by C. gattii infection that requires a balance in the macrophage subsets to control the C. gattii infection. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 agonists are important immunomodulators favoring a pro-inflammatory response with potential fungicidal activity, and TLR2 agonists have been used as adjuvants in vaccines against infections caused by bacteria or viruses. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the tripalmitoyl lipopeptide S-glycerol cysteine (Pam3CSK4 or P3C4), a TLR2 agonist, as an adjuvant in the vaccination against C. gattii infection. Methods and Results C57BL/6 mice were immunized with 2 × 107 inactivated yeasts of C. gattii via intranasal route on day 1, 14 and 28 (Immunized group). Immunization was associated with 1µg or 10µg of adjuvant P3C4 (Immunized+P3C4-1µg or Immunized+P3C4-10 µg), followed by C. gattii infection on day 42 after the immunization protocol. Immunized+P3C4-1 µg group had reduced levels of IgG1, IgG2a and IgA and no significant difference in the IgG and IgM anti-GXM antibody titer was detected, compared to the Immunized group. High levels of IL-17 and IL-1β in lung tissue of mice from the Immunized+P3C4-1µg group did not promote a predominance of Th17 cells, in contrast, the frequency of TLR2+ cells was increased in immunized mice that received 1 µg of P3C4. The reduction in the relative expression of T-bet and high levels of Foxp3 detected in the lungs of the Immunized+P3C4-1µg group suggest a prevalence of regulatory T cells in the tissue, which did not contribute to the control of C. gattii infection. The immunization protocol associated with 10 µg of adjuvant P3C4 induced high levels of IL-17 in the lung tissue, whereas the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were downregulated. To evaluate the effect of adjuvant P3C4 in the control of C. gattii infection, quantification of the fungal burden in the lungs was performed by the CFU assay, and the groups with adjuvant P3C4 showed a pulmonary C. gattii burden that was not significantly altered when compared with the immunized group. The mice that received 1 µg of adjuvant P3C4 had a lower percentage of inflammatory infiltrate in the lungs. Conclusion The immunomodulatory effect of P3C4, associated with the immunization protocol, plays an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory response in the lungs that did not favor a protection against C. gattii infection, which is related to the immune response characterized by a suppressive/regulatory profile in the pulmonary microenvironment after C. gattii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Yamazaki de Campos
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Júlia Garcia Guimarães
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia Serafim da Costa
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Javier Emílio Lazo Chica
- Institute of Natural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Li H, Han X, Du W, Meng Y, Li Y, Sun T, Liang Q, Li C, Suo C, Gao X, Qiu Y, Tian W, An M, Zhang H, Fu Y, Li X, Lan T, Yang S, Zhang Z, Geng W, Ding C, Shang H. Comparative miRNA transcriptomics of macaques and mice reveals MYOC is an inhibitor for Cryptococcus neoformans invasion into the brain. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1572-1585. [PMID: 35621025 PMCID: PMC9176638 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2081619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is emerging as an infection in HIV/AIDS patients shifted from primarily ARTnaive to ART-experienced individuals, as well as patients with COVID-19 and immunocompetent hosts. This fungal infection is mainly caused by the opportunistic human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Brain or central nervous system (CNS) dissemination is the deadliest process for this disease; however, mechanisms underlying this process have yet to be elucidated. Moreover, illustrations of clinically relevant responses in cryptococcosis are currently limited due to the low availability of clinical samples. In this study, to explore the clinically relevant responses during C. neoformans infection, macaque and mouse infection models were employed and miRNA-mRNA transcriptomes were performed and combined, which revealed cytoskeleton, a major feature of HIV/AIDS patients, was a centric pathway regulated in both infection models. Notably, assays of clinical immune cells confirmed an enhanced macrophage “Trojan Horse” in patients with HIV/AIDS, which could be shut down by cytoskeleton inhibitors. Furthermore, myocilin, encoded by MYOC, was found to be a novel enhancer for the macrophage “Trojan Horse,” and an enhanced fungal burden was achieved in the brains of MYOC-transgenic mice. Taken together, the findings from this study reveal fundamental roles of the cytoskeleton and MYOC in fungal CNS dissemination, which not only helps to understand the high prevalence of CM in HIV/AIDS but also facilitates the development of novel therapeutics for meningoencephalitis caused by C. neoformans and other pathogenic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxu Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Du
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Meng
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjian Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianshu Sun
- Medical Research Centre, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaojing Liang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenhao Suo
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xindi Gao
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Qiu
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Tian
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Minghui An
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yajing Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolin Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Lan
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Yang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zining Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqing Geng
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Ding
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Shang
- NHC Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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5
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Nelson BN, Daugherty CS, Sharp RR, Booth JL, Patel VI, Metcalf JP, Jones KL, Wozniak KL. Protective interaction of human phagocytic APC subsets with Cryptococcus neoformans induces genes associated with metabolism and antigen presentation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1054477. [PMID: 36466930 PMCID: PMC9709479 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1054477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common cause of meningitis among HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa, and worldwide causes over 223,000 cases leading to more than 181,000 annual deaths. Usually, the fungus gets inhaled into the lungs where the initial interactions occur with pulmonary phagocytes such as dendritic cells and macrophages. Following phagocytosis, the pathogen can be killed or can replicate intracellularly. Previous studies in mice showed that different subsets of these innate immune cells can either be antifungal or permissive for intracellular fungal growth. Our studies tested phagocytic antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets from the human lung against C. neoformans. Human bronchoalveolar lavage was processed for phagocytic APCs and incubated with C. neoformans for two hours to analyze the initial interactions and fate of the fungus, living or killed. Results showed all subsets (3 macrophage and 3 dendritic cell subsets) interacted with the fungus, and both living and killed morphologies were discernable within the subsets using imaging flow cytometry. Single cell RNA-seq identified several different clusters of cells which more closely related to interactions with C. neoformans and its protective capacity against the pathogen rather than discrete cellular subsets. Differential gene expression analyses identified several changes in the innate immune cell's transcriptome as it kills the fungus including increases of TNF-α (TNF) and the switch to using fatty acid metabolism by upregulation of the gene FABP4. Also, increases of TNF-α correlated to cryptococcal interactions and uptake. Together, these analyses implicated signaling networks that regulate expression of many different genes - both metabolic and immune - as certain clusters of cells mount a protective response and kill the pathogen. Future studies will examine these genes and networks to understand the exact mechanism(s) these phagocytic APC subsets use to kill C. neoformans in order to develop immunotherapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin N. Nelson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Cheyenne S. Daugherty
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Rachel R. Sharp
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - J. Leland Booth
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Vineet I. Patel
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Jordan P. Metcalf
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Kenneth L. Jones
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, United States
| | - Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
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6
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Driver J, Zaayman M, Silfvast-Kaiser A, Menter A. Cryptococcal Meningitis Associated with IL-17 Inhibitor Use for Psoriasis. Dermatol Ther 2022; 35:e15609. [PMID: 35634721 DOI: 10.1111/dth.15609] [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: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infection is a rare but serious potential consequence of biologic therapy. Herein we report a case of cryptococcal meningitis in an otherwise immunocompetent patient receiving ixekizumab for the treatment of severe plaque psoriasis. We also discuss the relevant immunologic role of interleukin-17, the potential for synergistic effects when transitioning biologic therapies, and clinical considerations when treating patients with such medications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cryptococcal meningitis reported in a patient treated with ixekizumab. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Driver
- College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Marcus Zaayman
- Division of Dermatology, Baylor Scott & White, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Annika Silfvast-Kaiser
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Alan Menter
- College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Division of Dermatology, Baylor Scott & White, Dallas, Texas, USA
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7
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Holcomb ZE, Steinbrink JM, Zaas AK, Betancourt M, Tenor JL, Toffaletti DL, Alspaugh JA, Perfect JR, McClain MT. Transcriptional Profiles Elucidate Differential Host Responses to Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050430. [PMID: 35628686 PMCID: PMC9143552 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many aspects of the host response to invasive cryptococcal infections remain poorly understood. In order to explore the pathobiology of infection with common clinical strains, we infected BALB/cJ mice with Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, or sham control, and assayed host transcriptomic responses in peripheral blood. Infection with C. neoformans resulted in markedly greater fungal burden in the CNS than C. gattii, as well as slightly higher fungal burden in the lungs. A total of 389 genes were significantly differentially expressed in response to C. neoformans infection, which mainly clustered into pathways driving immune function, including complement activation and TH2-skewed immune responses. C. neoformans infection demonstrated dramatic up-regulation of complement-driven genes and greater up-regulation of alternatively activated macrophage activity than seen with C gattii. A 27-gene classifier was built, capable of distinguishing cryptococcal infection from animals with bacterial infection due to Staphylococcus aureus with 94% sensitivity and 89% specificity. Top genes from the murine classifiers were also differentially expressed in human PBMCs following infection, suggesting cross-species relevance of these findings. The host response, as manifested in transcriptional profiles, informs our understanding of the pathophysiology of cryptococcal infection and demonstrates promise for contributing to development of novel diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary E. Holcomb
- Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - Julie M. Steinbrink
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Aimee K. Zaas
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Marisol Betancourt
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Jennifer L. Tenor
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Dena L. Toffaletti
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
| | - J. Andrew Alspaugh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - John R. Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
| | - Micah T. McClain
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (A.K.Z.); (M.B.); (J.L.T.); (D.L.T.); (J.A.A.); (J.R.P.); (M.T.M.)
- Infectious Diseases Section, Medical Service, Durham Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA
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8
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Wang Y, Pawar S, Dutta O, Wang K, Rivera A, Xue C. Macrophage Mediated Immunomodulation During Cryptococcus Pulmonary Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:859049. [PMID: 35402316 PMCID: PMC8987709 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.859049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are key cellular components of innate immunity, acting as the first line of defense against pathogens to modulate homeostatic and inflammatory responses. They help clear pathogens and shape the T-cell response through the production of cytokines and chemokines. The facultative intracellular fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has developed a unique ability to interact with and manipulate host macrophages. These interactions dictate how Cryptococcus infection can remain latent or how dissemination within the host is achieved. In addition, differences in the activities of macrophages have been correlated with differential susceptibilities of hosts to Cryptococcus infection, highlighting the importance of macrophages in determining disease outcomes. There is now abundant information on the interaction between Cryptococcus and macrophages. In this review we discuss recent advances regarding macrophage origin, polarization, activation, and effector functions during Cryptococcus infection. The importance of these strategies in pathogenesis and the potential of immunotherapy for cryptococcosis treatment is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology , Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Siddhi Pawar
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Orchi Dutta
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Keyi Wang
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Amariliz Rivera
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Chaoyang Xue
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, United States
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9
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Trevijano-Contador N, Roselletti E, García-Rodas R, Vecchiarelli A, Zaragoza Ó. Role of IL-17 in Morphogenesis and Dissemination of Cryptococcus neoformans during Murine Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020373. [PMID: 35208830 PMCID: PMC8876707 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast that can form Titan cells in the lungs, which are fungal cells of abnormally large size. The factors that regulate Titan cell formation in vivo are still unknown, although an increased proportion of these fungal cells of infected mice correlates with induction of Th2-type responses. Here, we focused on the role played by the cytokine IL-17 in the formation of cryptococcal Titan cells using Il17a−/− knockout mice. We found that after 9 days of infection, there was a lower proportion of Titan cells in Il17a−/− mice compared to the fungal cells found in wild-type animals. Dissemination to the brain occurred earlier in Il17a−/− mice, which correlated with the lower proportion of Titan cells in the lungs. Furthermore, knockout-infected mice increased brain size more than WT mice. We also determined the profile of cytokines accumulated in the brain, and we found significant differences between both mouse strains. We found that in Il17a−/−, there was a modest increase in the concentrations of the Th1 cytokine TNF-α. To validate if the increase in this cytokine had any role in cryptococcal morphogenesis, we injected wild-type mice with TNF-α t and observed that fungal cell size was significantly reduced in mice treated with this cytokine. Our results suggest a compensatory production of cytokines in Il17a−/− mice that influences both cryptococcal morphology and dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Trevijano-Contador
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (N.T.-C.); (Ó.Z.)
| | - Elena Roselletti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (A.V.)
| | - Rocío García-Rodas
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Anna Vecchiarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy; (E.R.); (A.V.)
| | - Óscar Zaragoza
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (N.T.-C.); (Ó.Z.)
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10
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Lv Z, Guo M, Zhao X, Shao Y, Zhang W, Li C. IL-17/IL-17 Receptor Pathway-Mediated Inflammatory Response in Apostichopus japonicus Supports the Conserved Functions of Cytokines in Invertebrates. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:464-479. [PMID: 34965964 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation participates in host defenses against infectious agents and contributes to the pathophysiology of many diseases. IL-17 is a well-known proinflammatory cytokine that contributes to various aspects of inflammation in vertebrates. However, the functional role of invertebrate IL-17 in inflammatory regulation is not well understood. In this study, we first established an inflammatory model in the Vibrio splendidus-challenged sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Echinodermata). Typical inflammatory symptoms, such as increased coelomocyte infiltration, tissue vacuoles, and tissue fractures, were observed in the V. splendidus-infected and diseased tissue of the body wall. Interestingly, A. japonicus IL-17 (AjIL-17) expression in the body wall and coelomocytes was positively correlated with the development of inflammation. The administration of purified recombinant AjIL-17 protein also directly promoted inflammation in A. japonicus Through genome searches and ZDOCK prediction, a novel IL-17R counterpart containing FNIII and hypothetical TIR domains was identified in the sea cucumber genome. Coimmunoprecipitation, far-Western blotting, and laser confocal microscopy confirmed that AjIL-17R could bind AjIL-17. A subsequent cross-linking assay revealed that the AjIL-17 dimer mediates the inflammatory response by the specific binding of dimeric AjIL-17R upon pathogen infection. Moreover, silencing AjIL-17R significantly attenuated the LPS- or exogenous AjIL-17-mediated inflammatory response. Functional analysis revealed that AjIL-17/AjIL-17R modulated inflammatory responses by promoting A. japonicus TRAF6 ubiquitination and p65 nuclear translocation and evenly mediated coelomocyte proliferation and migration. Taken together, our results provide functional evidence that IL-17 is a conserved cytokine in invertebrates and vertebrates associated with inflammatory regulation via the IL-17-IL-17R-TRAF6 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimeng Lv
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Ming Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Xuelin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Yina Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Chenghua Li
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China; and .,Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
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11
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Vaccine protection by Cryptococcus neoformans Δsgl1 is mediated by γδ T cells via TLR2 signaling. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:1416-1430. [PMID: 36229573 PMCID: PMC9705245 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-022-00570-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported that administration of Cryptococcus neoformans Δsgl1 mutant vaccine, accumulating sterylglucosides (SGs) and having normal capsule (GXM), protects mice from a subsequent infection even during CD4+ T cells deficiency, a condition commonly associated with cryptococcosis. Here, we studied the immune mechanism that confers host protection during CD4+T deficiency. Mice receiving Δsgl1 vaccine produce IFNγ and IL-17A during CD4+ T (or CD8+ T) deficiency, and protection was lost when either cytokine was neutralized. IFNγ and/or IL-17A are produced by γδ T cells, and mice lacking these cells are no longer protected. Interestingly, ex vivo γδ T cells are highly stimulated in producing IFNγ and/or IL-17A by Δsgl1 vaccine, but this production was significantly decreased when cells were incubated with C. neoformans Δcap59/Δsgl1 mutant, accumulating SGs but lacking GXM. GXM modulates toll-like receptors (TLRs), including TLR2. Importantly, neither Δsgl1 nor Δcap59/Δsgl1 stimulate IFNγ or IL-17A production by ex vivo γδ T cells from TLR2-/- mice. Finally, TLR2-/- animals do not produce IL-17A in response to Δsgl1 vaccine and were no longer protected from WT challenge. Our results suggest that SGs may act as adjuvants for GXM to stimulate γδ T cells in producing IFNγ and IL-17A via TLR2, a mechanism that is still preserved upon CD4+ T deficiency.
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12
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Xu L, Xu Y, Zheng Y, Peng X, Yang Z, Cao Q, Xiang D, Zhao H. Differences in cytokine and chemokine profiles in cerebrospinal fluid caused by the etiology of cryptococcal meningitis and tuberculous meningitis in HIV patients. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 206:82-90. [PMID: 34287847 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of cytokines and chemokines in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (HCM) and HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis (HTBM) are debatable. In sum, 34 HIV-infected patients without meningitis, 44 HCM patients and 27 HTBM patients were enrolled for study. The concentrations of 22 cytokines/chemokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were assayed at admission. Principal component analysis (PCA), Pearson's and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the role of cytokines/chemokines in HCM and HTBM. We found the levels of T helper (Th)17, Th1 [interleukin (IL)-12p40, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF-β and Th2 (IL-2/4/5/6/10)] cytokines were elevated in patients with meningitis compared with those in HIV-infected patients without central nervous system (CNS) infection. Furthermore, the IL-1Ra, IL-12p40, IL-17α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were higher in HCM patients, while the IFN-γ, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP)-10 levels were higher in HTBM patients. Elevated CSF concentrations of IL-17a, TNF-β, IL-5, IL-12p40 and IL-1Rα were closely related to meningitis, but elevated IP-10, MCP-1, RANTES and IFN-γ levels and CSF white blood cells (WBCs) were protective factors against HCM. Our study suggested that HIV-infected patients with low CSF WBCs have a high risk of HCM. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines/chemokines mediate differences in the pathogenesis of HCM and TBM. Overexpressed proinflammatory MCP-1, RANTES, IFN-γ and IP-10 in CSF are protective factors against HCM but not HTBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yufan Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanghao Zheng
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiuming Peng
- Department of Respiration, College of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongxing Yang
- Department II of Infectious Diseases, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Cao
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dairong Xiang
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Handan Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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13
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Brook B, Harbeson DJ, Shannon CP, Cai B, He D, Ben-Othman R, Francis F, Huang J, Varankovich N, Liu A, Bao W, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Schaltz-Buchholzer F, Sanca L, Golding CN, Larsen KL, Levy O, Kampmann B, Tan R, Charles A, Wynn JL, Shann F, Aaby P, Benn CS, Tebbutt SJ, Kollmann TR, Amenyogbe N. BCG vaccination-induced emergency granulopoiesis provides rapid protection from neonatal sepsis. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/542/eaax4517. [PMID: 32376769 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax4517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Death from sepsis in the neonatal period remains a serious threat for millions. Within 3 days of administration, bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination can reduce mortality from neonatal sepsis in human newborns, but the underlying mechanism for this rapid protection is unknown. We found that BCG was also protective in a mouse model of neonatal polymicrobial sepsis, where it induced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) within hours of administration. This was necessary and sufficient to drive emergency granulopoiesis (EG), resulting in a marked increase in neutrophils. This increase in neutrophils was directly and quantitatively responsible for protection from sepsis. Rapid induction of EG after BCG administration also occurred in three independent cohorts of human neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byron Brook
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Danny J Harbeson
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Casey P Shannon
- PROOF Centre of Excellence, British Columbia, 10th floor, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada.,UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Bing Cai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Daniel He
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada.,PROOF Centre of Excellence, British Columbia, 10th floor, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada.,UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Rym Ben-Othman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Freddy Francis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Joe Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Natallia Varankovich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Aaron Liu
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Winnie Bao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Morten Bjerregaard-Andersen
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.,Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.,Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Kløvervænget 6, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.,Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.,OPEN, Institute of Clinical Research and Danish Institute for Advanced Science, University of Southern Denmark, and Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Lilica Sanca
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Christian N Golding
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.,Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Kristina Lindberg Larsen
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.,Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
| | - Ofer Levy
- Precision Vaccines Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, P.O. Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia.,Vaccine Centre, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Rusung Tan
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adrian Charles
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - James L Wynn
- Department of Paediatrics and Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100296, Gainesville, FL 32610-0296, USA
| | - Frank Shann
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter Aaby
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Christine S Benn
- Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Apartado 861, 1004 Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.,Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.,OPEN, Institute of Clinical Research and Danish Institute for Advanced Science, University of Southern Denmark, and Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Scott J Tebbutt
- PROOF Centre of Excellence, British Columbia, 10th floor, 1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada.,UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Tobias R Kollmann
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, and BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.,Telethon Kids Institute, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia
| | - Nelly Amenyogbe
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, Room 10117, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. .,Telethon Kids Institute, 100 Roberts Road, Subiaco, Western Australia 6008, Australia
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14
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Normile TG, Bryan AM, Del Poeta M. Animal Models of Cryptococcus neoformans in Identifying Immune Parameters Associated With Primary Infection and Reactivation of Latent Infection. Front Immunol 2020; 11:581750. [PMID: 33042164 PMCID: PMC7522366 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.581750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus species are environmental fungal pathogens and the causative agents of cryptococcosis. Infection occurs upon inhalation of infectious particles, which proliferate in the lung causing a primary infection. From this primary lung infection, fungal cells can eventually disseminate to other organs, particularly the brain, causing lethal meningoencephalitis. However, in most cases, the primary infection resolves with the formation of a lung granuloma. Upon severe immunodeficiency, dormant cryptococcal cells will start proliferating in the lung granuloma and eventually will disseminate to the brain. Many investigators have sought to study the protective host immune response to this pathogen in search of host parameters that keep the proliferation of cryptococcal cells under control. The majority of the work assimilates research carried out using the primary infection animal model, mainly because a reactivation model has been available only very recently. This review will focus on anti-cryptococcal immunity in both the primary and reactivation models. An understanding of the differences in host immunity between the primary and reactivation models will help to define the key host parameters that control the infections and are important for the research and development of new therapeutic and vaccine strategies against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G Normile
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Arielle M Bryan
- Ingenious Targeting Laboratory Incorporated, Ronkonkoma, NY, United States
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States.,Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, United States
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15
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Cryptococcus neoformans Evades Pulmonary Immunity by Modulating Xylose Precursor Transport. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00288-20. [PMID: 32423915 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00288-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that kills almost 200,000 people each year and is distinguished by abundant and unique surface glycan structures that are rich in xylose. A mutant strain of C. neoformans that cannot transport xylose precursors into the secretory compartment is severely attenuated in virulence in mice yet surprisingly is not cleared. We found that this strain failed to induce the nonprotective T helper cell type 2 (Th2) responses characteristic of wild-type infection, instead promoting sustained interleukin 12p40 (IL-12p40) induction and increased IL-17A (IL-17) production. It also stimulated dendritic cells to release high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, a behavior we linked to xylose expression. We further discovered that inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) forms in response to infection with either wild-type cryptococci or the mutant strain with reduced surface xylose; although iBALT formation is slowed in the latter case, the tissue is better organized. Finally, our temporal studies suggest that lymphoid structures in the lung restrict the spread of mutant fungi for at least 18 weeks after infection, which is in contrast to ineffective control of the pathogen after infection with wild-type cells. These studies demonstrate the role of xylose in modulation of host response to a fungal pathogen and show that cryptococcal infection triggers iBALT formation.
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16
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Sato K, Yamamoto H, Nomura T, Kasamatsu J, Miyasaka T, Tanno D, Matsumoto I, Kagesawa T, Miyahara A, Zong T, Oniyama A, Kawamura K, Yokoyama R, Kitai Y, Ishizuka S, Kanno E, Tanno H, Suda H, Morita M, Yamamoto M, Iwakura Y, Ishii K, Kawakami K. Production of IL-17A at Innate Immune Phase Leads to Decreased Th1 Immune Response and Attenuated Host Defense against Infection with Cryptococcus deneoformans. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 205:686-698. [PMID: 32561568 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1901238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by many types of innate immune cells and Th17 cells and is involved in the elimination of extracellularly growing microorganisms, yet the role of this cytokine in the host defense against intracellularly growing microorganisms is not well known. Cryptococcus deneoformans is an opportunistic intracellular growth fungal pathogen that frequently causes fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with impaired immune responses. In the current study, we analyzed the role of IL-17A in the host defense against C. deneoformans infection. IL-17A was quickly produced by γδT cells at an innate immune phase in infected lungs. In IL-17A gene-disrupted mice, clearance of this fungal pathogen and the host immune response mediated by Th1 cells were significantly accelerated in infected lungs compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, killing of this fungus and production of inducible NO synthase and TNF-α were significantly enhanced in IL-17A gene-disrupted mice. In addition, elimination of this fungal pathogen, Th1 response, and expression of IL-12Rβ2 and IFN-γ in NK and NKT cells were significantly suppressed by treatment with rIL-17A. The production of IL-12p40 and TNF-α from bone marrow-derived dendritic cells stimulated with C. deneoformans was significantly suppressed by rIL-17A. In addition, rIL-17A attenuated Th1 cell differentiation in splenocytes from transgenic mice highly expressing TCR for mannoprotein 98, a cryptococcal Ag, upon stimulation with recombinant mannoprotein 98. These data suggest that IL-17A may be involved in the negative regulation of the local host defense against C. deneoformans infection through suppression of the Th1 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Sato
- Department of Intelligent Network for Infection Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan;
| | - Hideki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Toshiki Nomura
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Jun Kasamatsu
- Department of Intelligent Network for Infection Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tomomitsu Miyasaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Miyagi 981-0905, Japan
| | - Daiki Tanno
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ikumi Matsumoto
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takafumi Kagesawa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Anna Miyahara
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Tong Zong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Akiho Oniyama
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kotone Kawamura
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Rin Yokoyama
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yuki Kitai
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shigenari Ishizuka
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Emi Kanno
- Department of Science of Nursing Practice, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Tanno
- Department of Science of Nursing Practice, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hiromi Suda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; and
| | - Masanobu Morita
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; and
| | - Masayuki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan; and
| | - Yoichiro Iwakura
- Research Institute for Biological Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-0022, Japan
| | - Keiko Ishii
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Kawakami
- Department of Intelligent Network for Infection Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
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17
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Kindermann M, Knipfer L, Obermeyer S, Müller U, Alber G, Bogdan C, Schleicher U, Neurath MF, Wirtz S. Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILC2) Suppress Beneficial Type 1 Immune Responses During Pulmonary Cryptococcosis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:209. [PMID: 32117319 PMCID: PMC7034304 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen preferentially causing disease in immunocompromised individuals such as organ-transplant-recipients, patients receiving immunosuppressive medications or, in particular, individuals suffering from HIV infection. Numerous studies clearly indicated that the control of C. neoformans infections is strongly dependent on a prototypic type 1 immune response and classical macrophage activation, whereas type 2-biased immunity and alternative activation of macrophages has been rather implicated in disease progression and detrimental outcomes. However, little is known about regulatory pathways modulating and balancing immune responses during early phases of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Here, we analyzed the role of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) for the control of C. neoformans infection. Using an intranasal infection model with a highly virulent C. neoformans strain, we found that ILC2 numbers were strongly increased in C. neoformans-infected lungs along with induction of a type 2 response. Mice lacking ILC2s due to conditional deficiency of the transcription factor RAR-related orphan receptor alpha (Rora) displayed a massive downregulation of features of type 2 immunity as reflected by reduced levels of the type 2 signature cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 at 14 days post-infection. Moreover, ILC2 deficiency was accompanied with increased type 1 immunity and classical macrophage activation, while the pulmonary numbers of eosinophils and alternatively activated macrophages were reduced in these mice. Importantly, this shift in pulmonary macrophage polarization in ILC2-deficient mice correlated with improved fungal control and prolonged survival of infected mice. Conversely, adoptive transfer of ILC2s was associated with a type 2 bias associated with less efficient anti-fungal immunity in lungs of recipient mice. Collectively, our date indicate a non-redundant role of ILC2 in orchestrating myeloid anti-cryptococcal immune responses toward a disease exacerbating phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kindermann
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Knipfer
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Obermeyer
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gottfried Alber
- Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Institute of Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schleicher
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus F Neurath
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Wirtz
- Medizinische Klinik 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Thermotolerance in the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is linked to antigen masking via mRNA decay-dependent reprogramming. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4950. [PMID: 31666517 PMCID: PMC6821889 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12907-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A common feature shared by systemic fungal pathogens of environmental origin, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, is their ability to adapt to mammalian core body temperature. In C. neoformans, this adaptation is accompanied by Ccr4-mediated decay of ribosomal protein mRNAs. Here we use the related, but thermo-intolerant species Cryptococcus amylolentus to demonstrate that this response contributes to host-temperature adaptation and pathogenicity of cryptococci. In a C. neoformans ccr4Δ mutant, stabilized ribosomal protein mRNAs are retained in the translating pool, and stress-induced transcriptomic changes are reduced in comparison with the wild type strain, likely due to ineffective translation of transcription factors. In addition, the mutant displays increased exposure of cell wall glucans, and recognition by Dectin-1 results in increased phagocytosis by lung macrophages, linking mRNA decay to adaptation and immune evasion. The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans can adapt to mammalian core body temperature. Here, Bloom et al. show that Ccr4-mediated decay of ribosomal protein mRNAs is important for thermotolerance and immune evasion by promoting masking of cell wall glucans.
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19
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Oliveira-Brito PKM, Rezende CP, Almeida F, Roque-Barreira MC, da Silva TA. iNOS/Arginase-1 expression in the pulmonary tissue over time during Cryptococcus gattii infection. Innate Immun 2019; 26:117-129. [PMID: 31446837 PMCID: PMC7016403 DOI: 10.1177/1753425919869436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhalation of Cryptococcus gattii yeasts (causing cryptococcosis) triggers an anti-cryptococcal immune response initiated by macrophages, neutrophils or dendritic cells, and the iNOS expressed by various cells may regulate the function and differentiation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Here, we evaluated the effect of progression of C. gattii infection on the host innate immune response. C. gattii infection in BALB/c mice spreads to several organs by 21 d post infection. The numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of C. gattii–infected mice were remarkably altered on that day. The frequency of CD11b+ cells and cell concentrations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly altered in the pulmonary tissue of infected mice. We found a higher frequency of CD11b+/iNOS+ cells in the lungs of infected mice, accompanied by an increase in frequency of CD11b+/Arginase-1+ cells over time. Moreover, the iNOS/Arginase-1 expression ratio in CD11b+ cells reached its lowest value at 21 d post infection. In addition, the cytokine micro-environment in infected lungs did not show a pro-inflammatory profile. Surprisingly, iNOS knock-out prolonged the survival of infected mice, while their pulmonary fungal burden was higher than that of infected WT mice. Thus, C. gattii infection alters the immune response in the pulmonary tissue, and iNOS expression may play a key role in infection progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Kellen Martins Oliveira-Brito
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Caroline Patini Rezende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.,These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Fausto Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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20
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Unveil the transcriptional landscape at the Cryptococcus-host axis in mice and nonhuman primates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007566. [PMID: 31329596 PMCID: PMC6675133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens and hosts require rapid modulation of virulence and defense mechanisms at the infection axis, but monitoring such modulations is challenging. In studying the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, mouse and rabbit infection models are often employed to shed light on the disease mechanisms but that may not be clinically relevant. In this study, we developed an animal infection model using the non-human primate cynomolgus monkey Macaca fascicularis. In addition, we systematically profiled and compared transcriptional responses between the infected mice and the cynomolgus monkey, using simultaneous or dual RNA next-generation sequencing. We demonstrated that there are shared but distinct transcriptional profiles between the two models following C. neoformans infection. Specifically, genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses are all upregulated. Osteoclastogenesis and insulin signaling are also significantly co-regulated in both models and disrupting an osteoclastogenesis-associated gene (OC-STAMP) or the insulin-signaling process significantly altered the host tolerance to C. neoformans. Moreover, C. neoformans was shown to activate metal sequestration, dampen the sugar metabolism, and control cell morphology during infection. Taking together, we described the development of a non-human primate model of cryptococcosis that allowed us to perform an in-depth analysis and comparison of transcriptome profiles during infections of two animal models and conceptually identify host genes important in disease responses. This study provides new insights in understanding fungal pathogenesis mechanisms that potentially facilitate the identification of novel drug targets for the treatment of cryptococcal infection. The host-pathogen interaction is highly dynamic and tightly regulated, and yet is difficult to monitor. Traditional investigations provide valuable information for the understanding of pathogenic microbial biology but are time-consuming and often neglect the host immune responses. In addition, current animal models for studying pathogenic fungi are limited in mimicking the responses from humans. The development of a new Cryptococcus neoformans infection model using nonhuman primates and the utilization of simultaneous RNA sequencing analysis provide fast and clinically relevant research data allowing the identification of novel critical players from both the invading fungus and the host. The data from the current study would not only help to decipher disease mechanisms but also promote the discovery of novel antifungal drug targets.
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21
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Movahed E, Cheok YY, Tan GMY, Lee CYQ, Cheong HC, Velayuthan RD, Tay ST, Chong PP, Wong WF, Looi CY. Lung-infiltrating T helper 17 cells as the major source of interleukin-17A production during pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. BMC Immunol 2018; 19:32. [PMID: 30409128 PMCID: PMC6225695 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-018-0269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background IL-17A has emerged as a key player in the pathologies of inflammation, autoimmune disease, and immunity to microbes since its discovery two decades ago. In this study, we aim to elucidate the activity of IL-17A in the protection against Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungus that causes fatal meningoencephalitis among AIDS patients. For this purpose, we examined if C. neoformans infection triggers IL-17A secretion in vivo using wildtype C57BL/6 mice. In addition, an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) reporter and a knockout (KO) mouse models were used to track the source of IL-17A secretion and explore the protective function of IL-17A, respectively. Results Our findings showed that in vivo model of C. neoformans infection demonstrated induction of abundant IL-17A secretion. By examining the lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), mediastinal lymph node (mLN) and spleen of the IL-17A–EGFP reporter mice, we showed that intranasal inoculation with C. neoformans promoted leukocytes lung infiltration. A large proportion (~ 50%) of the infiltrated CD4+ helper T cell population secreted EGFP, indicating vigorous TH17 activity in the C. neoformans–infected lung. The infection study in IL-17A–KO mice, on the other hand, revealed that absence of IL-17A marginally boosted fungal burden in the lung and accelerated the mouse death. Conclusion Therefore, our data suggest that IL-17A is released predominantly from TH17 cells in vivo, which plays a supporting role in the protective immunity against C. neoformans infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12865-018-0269-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Movahed
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yi Ying Cheok
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Grace Min Yi Tan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chalystha Yie Qin Lee
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Heng Choon Cheong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rukumani Devi Velayuthan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pei Pei Chong
- School of Bioscience, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Won Fen Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Chung Yeng Looi
- School of Bioscience, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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22
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Wozniak KL. Interactions of Cryptococcus with Dendritic Cells. J Fungi (Basel) 2018; 4:jof4010036. [PMID: 29543719 PMCID: PMC5872339 DOI: 10.3390/jof4010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii can cause life-threatening infections in immune compromised and immune competent hosts. These pathogens enter the host via inhalation, and respiratory tract innate immune cells such as dendritic cells (DCs) are one of the first host cells they encounter. The interactions between Cryptococcus and innate immune cells play a critical role in the progression of disease in the host. This review will focus specifically on the interactions between Cryptococcus and dendritic cells (DCs), including recognition/processing by DCs, effects of immune mediators on DC recruitment and activity, and the potential for DC vaccination against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
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23
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Campuzano A, Wormley FL. Innate Immunity against Cryptococcus, from Recognition to Elimination. J Fungi (Basel) 2018. [PMID: 29518906 PMCID: PMC5872336 DOI: 10.3390/jof4010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus species, the etiological agents of cryptococcosis, are encapsulated fungal yeasts that predominantly cause disease in immunocompromised individuals, and are responsible for 15% of AIDS-related deaths worldwide. Exposure follows the inhalation of the yeast into the lung alveoli, making it incumbent upon the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of pulmonary phagocytes to recognize highly conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) of fungi. The main challenges impeding the ability of pulmonary phagocytes to effectively recognize Cryptococcus include the presence of the yeast's large polysaccharide capsule, as well as other cryptococcal virulence factors that mask fungal PAMPs and help Cryptococcus evade detection and subsequent activation of the immune system. This review will highlight key phagocyte cell populations and the arsenal of PRRs present on these cells, such as the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type lectin receptors, NOD-like receptors (NLRs), and soluble receptors. Additionally, we will highlight critical cryptococcal PAMPs involved in the recognition of Cryptococcus. The question remains as to which PRR-ligand interaction is necessary for the recognition, phagocytosis, and subsequent killing of Cryptococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Althea Campuzano
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
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24
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Shourian M, Ralph B, Angers I, Sheppard DC, Qureshi ST. Contribution of IL-1RI Signaling to Protection against Cryptococcus neoformans 52D in a Mouse Model of Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 8:1987. [PMID: 29403476 PMCID: PMC5780350 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) are pro-inflammatory cytokines that are induced after Cryptococcus neoformans infection and activate the interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI). To establish the role of IL-1RI signaling in protection against cryptococcal infection, we analyzed wild-type (WT) and IL-1RI-deficient (IL-1RI−/−) mice on the BALB/c background. IL-1RI−/− mice had significantly reduced survival compared to WT mice after intratracheal challenge with C. neoformans 52D. Microbiological analysis showed a significant increase in the lung and brain fungal burden of IL-1RI−/− compared to WT mice beginning at weeks 1 and 4 postinfection, respectively. Histopathology showed that IL-1RI−/− mice exhibit greater airway epithelial mucus secretion and prominent eosinophilic crystals that were absent in WT mice. Susceptibility of IL-1RI−/− mice was associated with significant induction of a Th2-biased immune response characterized by pulmonary eosinophilia, M2 macrophage polarization, and recruitment of CD4+ IL-13+ T cells. Expression of pro-inflammatory [IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1)], Th1-associated (IFNγ), and Th17-associated (IL-17A) cytokines was significantly reduced in IL-1RI−/− lungs compared to WT. WT mice also had higher expression of KC/CXCL1 and sustained neutrophil recruitment to the lung; however, antibody-mediated depletion of these cells showed that they were dispensable for lung fungal clearance. In conclusion, our data indicate that IL-1RI signaling is required to activate a complex series of innate and adaptive immune responses that collectively enhance host defense and survival after C. neoformans 52D infection in BALB/c mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Shourian
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ben Ralph
- Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, Centre for Translational Biology, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Angers
- Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Program in Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases, Department of Critical Care, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Donald C Sheppard
- Program in Infectious Diseases and Immunology in Global Health, Centre for Translational Biology, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Salman T Qureshi
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Program in Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases, Department of Critical Care, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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25
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Almeida F, Wolf JM, da Silva TA, DeLeon-Rodriguez CM, Rezende CP, Pessoni AM, Fernandes FF, Silva-Rocha R, Martinez R, Rodrigues ML, Roque-Barreira MC, Casadevall A. Galectin-3 impacts Cryptococcus neoformans infection through direct antifungal effects. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1968. [PMID: 29213074 PMCID: PMC5719036 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental infections, as well as in spleen, lung, and brain tissues of infected mice. Gal-3-deficient mice are more susceptible to cryptococcosis than WT animals, as demonstrated by the higher fungal burden and lower animal survival. In vitro experiments show that Gal-3 inhibits fungal growth and exerts a direct lytic effect on C. neoformans extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our results indicate a direct role for Gal-3 in antifungal immunity whereby this molecule affects the outcome of C. neoformans infection by inhibiting fungal growth and reducing EV stability, which in turn could benefit the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Julie M Wolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Carlos M DeLeon-Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Caroline Patini Rezende
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - André Moreira Pessoni
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freitas Fernandes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael Silva-Rocha
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Martinez
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14048-900, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes,, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, 21041-361, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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26
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Abstract
The Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii species complex is a group of fungal pathogens with different phenotypic and genotypic diversity that cause disease in immunocompromised patients as well as in healthy individuals. The immune response resulting from the interaction between Cryptococcus and the host immune system is a key determinant of the disease outcome. The species C. neoformans causes the majority of human infections, and therefore almost all immunological studies focused on C. neoformans infections. Thus, this review presents current understanding on the role of adaptive immunity during C. neoformans infections both in humans and in animal models of disease.
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27
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Van Dyke MCC, Chaturvedi AK, Hardison SE, Leopold Wager CM, Castro-Lopez N, Hole CR, Wozniak KL, Wormley FL. Induction of Broad-Spectrum Protective Immunity against Disparate Cryptococcus Serotypes. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1359. [PMID: 29163469 PMCID: PMC5670106 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease caused by multiple Cryptococcus serotypes; particularly C. neoformans (serotypes A and D) and C. gattii (serotypes B and C). To date, there is no clinically available vaccine to prevent cryptococcosis. Mice given an experimental pulmonary vaccination with a C. neoformans serotype A strain engineered to produce interferon-γ, denoted H99γ, are protected against a subsequent otherwise lethal experimental infection with C. neoformans serotype A. Thus, we determined the efficacy of immunization with C. neoformans strain H99γ to elicit broad-spectrum protection in BALB/c mice against multiple disparate Cryptococcus serotypes. We observed significantly increased survival rates and significantly decreased pulmonary fungal burden in H99γ immunized mice challenged with Cryptococcus serotypes A, B, or D compared to heat-killed H99γ (HKH99γ) immunized mice. Results indicated that prolonged protection against Cryptococcus serotypes B or D in H99γ immunized mice was CD4+ T cell dependent and associated with the induction of predominantly Th1-type cytokine responses. Interestingly, immunization with H99γ did not elicit greater protection against challenge with the Cryptococcus serotype C tested either due to low overall virulence of this strain or enhanced capacity of this strain to evade host immunity. Altogether, these studies provide “proof-of-concept” for the development of a cryptococcal vaccine that provides cross-protection against multiple disparate serotypes of Cryptococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marley C Caballero Van Dyke
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Ashok K Chaturvedi
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Sarah E Hardison
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Chrissy M Leopold Wager
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Natalia Castro-Lopez
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Camaron R Hole
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.,The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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28
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Gurczynski SJ, Moore BB. IL-17 in the lung: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 314:L6-L16. [PMID: 28860146 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00344.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The IL-17 family of cytokines has emerged over the last two decades as a pleiotropic group of molecules that function in a wide variety of both beneficial and detrimental (pathological) processes, mainly in mucosal barrier tissue. The beneficial effects of IL-17 expression are especially important in the lung, where exposure to foreign agents is abundant. IL-17A plays an important role in protection from both extracellular bacteria and fungi, as well as viruses that infect cells of the mucosal tracts. IL-17 coregulated cytokines, such as IL-22, are involved in maintaining epithelial cell homeostasis and participate in epithelial cell repair/regeneration following inflammatory insults. Thus, the IL-17/IL-22 axis is important in both responding to, and recovering from, pathogens. However, aberrant expression or overexpression of IL-17 cytokines contributes to a number of pathological outcomes, including asthma, pneumonitis, and generation or exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. This review covers the good, bad, and ugly aspects of IL-17 in the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Gurczynski
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Bethany B Moore
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Lorè NI, Cigana C, Riva C, De Fino I, Nonis A, Spagnuolo L, Sipione B, Cariani L, Girelli D, Rossi G, Basso V, Colombo C, Mondino A, Bragonzi A. IL-17A impairs host tolerance during airway chronic infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25937. [PMID: 27189736 PMCID: PMC4870500 DOI: 10.1038/srep25937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance and tolerance mechanisms participate to the interplay between host and pathogens. IL-17-mediated response has been shown to be crucial for host resistance to respiratory infections, whereas its role in host tolerance during chronic airway colonization is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether IL-17-mediated response modulates mechanisms of host tolerance during airways chronic infection by P. aeruginosa. First, we found that IL-17A levels were sustained in mice at both early and advanced stages of P. aeruginosa chronic infection and confirmed these observations in human respiratory samples from cystic fibrosis patients infected by P. aeruginosa. Using IL-17a−/− or IL-17ra−/− mice, we found that the deficiency of IL-17A/IL-17RA axis was associated with: i) increased incidence of chronic infection and bacterial burden, indicating its role in the host resistance to P. aeruginosa; ii) reduced cytokine levels (KC), tissue innate immune cells and markers of tissue damage (pro-MMP-9, elastin degradation, TGF-β1), proving alteration of host tolerance. Blockade of IL-17A activity by a monoclonal antibody, started when chronic infection is established, did not alter host resistance but increased tolerance. In conclusion, this study identifies IL-17-mediated response as a negative regulator of host tolerance during P. aeruginosa chronic airway infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Ivan Lorè
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Cigana
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Camilla Riva
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Ida De Fino
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nonis
- University Center for Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences (CUSSB), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenza Spagnuolo
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara Sipione
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Lisa Cariani
- Cystic Fibrosis Microbiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniela Girelli
- Cystic Fibrosis Microbiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Giacomo Rossi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Veronica Basso
- Lymphocytes Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Carla Colombo
- Cystic Fibrosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocytes Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bragonzi
- Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
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Rathore JS, Wang Y. Protective role of Th17 cells in pulmonary infection. Vaccine 2016; 34:1504-1514. [PMID: 26878294 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Th17 cells are characterized as preferential producer of interleukins including IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. Corresponding receptors of these cytokines are expressed on number of cell types found in the mucosa, including epithelial cells and fibroblasts which constitute the prime targets of the Th17-associated cytokines. Binding of IL-17 family members to their corresponding receptors lead to modulation of antimicrobial functions of target cells including alveolar epithelial cells. Stimulated alveolar epithelial cells produce antimicrobial peptides and are involved in granulepoesis, neutrophil recruitment and tissue repair. Mucosal immunity mediated by Th17 cells is protective against numerous pulmonary pathogens including extracellular bacterial and fungal pathogens. This review focuses on the protective role of Th17 cells during pulmonary infection, highlighting subset differentiation, effector cytokines production, followed by study of the binding of these cytokines to their corresponding receptors, the subsequent signaling pathway they engender and their effector role in host defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitendra Singh Rathore
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Gautam Buddha University, School of Biotechnology, Greater Noida, Yamuna Expressway, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Yan Wang
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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31
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Van Laar TA, Hole C, Rajasekhar Karna SL, Miller CL, Reddick R, Wormley FL, Seshu J. Statins reduce spirochetal burden and modulate immune responses in the C3H/HeN mouse model of Lyme disease. Microbes Infect 2016; 18:430-435. [PMID: 26993029 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a systemic disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme spirochetes encode for a functional 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR EC 1.1.1.88) serving as a rate limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway that contribute to components critical for cell wall biogenesis. Statins have been shown to inhibit B. burgdorferi in vitro. Using a mouse model of Lyme disease, we found that statins contribute to reducing bacterial burden and altering the murine immune response to favor clearance of spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia A Van Laar
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Camaron Hole
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - S L Rajasekhar Karna
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Christine L Miller
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Robert Reddick
- The Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - J Seshu
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
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32
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Innate host defenses against Cryptococcus neoformans. J Microbiol 2016; 54:202-11. [PMID: 26920880 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-016-5625-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, the predominant etiological agent of cryptococcosis, can cause life-threatening infections of the central nervous system in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is the most common disseminated fungal infection in AIDS patients, and remains the third most common invasive fungal infection among organ transplant recipients. The administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in a decrease in the number of cases of AIDS-related cryptococcosis in developed countries, but in developing countries where HAART is not readily available, Cryptococcus is still a major concern. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapies and/or vaccines to combat cryptococcosis. Understanding the protective immune responses against Cryptococcus is critical for development of vaccines and immunotherapies to combat cryptococcosis. Consequently, this review focuses on our current knowledge of protective immune responses to C. neoformans, with an emphasis on innate immune responses.
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Leopold Wager CM, Hole CR, Wozniak KL, Wormley FL. Cryptococcus and Phagocytes: Complex Interactions that Influence Disease Outcome. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:105. [PMID: 26903984 PMCID: PMC4746234 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are fungal pathogens that cause life-threatening disease. These fungi commonly enter their host via inhalation into the lungs where they encounter resident phagocytes, including macrophages and dendritic cells, whose response has a pronounced impact on the outcome of disease. Cryptococcus has complex interactions with the resident and infiltrating innate immune cells that, ideally, result in destruction of the yeast. These phagocytic cells have pattern recognition receptors that allow recognition of specific cryptococcal cell wall and capsule components. However, Cryptococcus possesses several virulence factors including a polysaccharide capsule, melanin production and secretion of various enzymes that aid in evasion of the immune system or enhance its ability to thrive within the phagocyte. This review focuses on the intricate interactions between the cryptococci and innate phagocytic cells including discussion of manipulation and evasion strategies used by Cryptococcus, anti-cryptococcal responses by the phagocytes and approaches for targeting phagocytes for the development of novel immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissy M Leopold Wager
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Camaron R Hole
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA; The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio, TX, USA
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Abstract
Cryptococcosis is caused by the fungal genus Cryptococcus. Cryptococcosis, predominantly meningoencephalitis, emerged with the HIV pandemic, primarily afflicting HIV-infected patients with profound T-cell deficiency. Where in use, combination antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced the incidence of and risk for disease, but cryptococcosis continues to afflict those without access to therapy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. However, cryptococcosis also occurs in solid organ transplant recipients and patients with other immunodeficiencies as well as those with no known immunodeficiency. This article reviews innate and adaptive immune responses to C. neoformans, with an emphasis on recent studies on the role of B cells, natural IgM and Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms in resistance to cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Rohatgi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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35
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Odio CD, Milligan KL, McGowan K, Rudman Spergel AK, Bishop R, Boris L, Urban A, Welch P, Heller T, Kleiner D, Jackson MA, Holland SM, Freeman AF. Endemic mycoses in patients with STAT3-mutated hyper-IgE (Job) syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2015; 136:1411-3.e1-2. [PMID: 26292779 PMCID: PMC4641001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Camila D Odio
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md
| | - Ki Lee Milligan
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md
| | - Katherine McGowan
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md
| | - Amanda K Rudman Spergel
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md
| | | | - Lisa Boris
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick, Md
| | - Amanda Urban
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick, Md
| | - Pamela Welch
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc, Frederick, Md
| | - Theo Heller
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Md
| | | | | | - Steven M Holland
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md
| | - Alexandra F Freeman
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Md.
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36
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Development of protective inflammation and cell-mediated immunity against Cryptococcus neoformans after exposure to hyphal mutants. mBio 2015; 6:e01433-15. [PMID: 26443458 PMCID: PMC4611043 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01433-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Morphological switch is tightly coupled with the pathogenesis of many dimorphic fungal pathogens. Cryptococcus neoformans, the major causative agent of cryptococcal meningitis, mostly presents as the yeast form but is capable of switching to the hyphal form. The filamentous form has long been associated with attenuated virulence, yet the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We previously identified the master regulator Znf2 that controls the yeast-to-hypha transition in Cryptococcus. Activation of Znf2 promotes hyphal formation and abolishes fungal virulence in vivo. Here we demonstrated that the cryptococcal strain overexpressing ZNF2 elicited strong and yet temporally confined proinflammatory responses in the early stage of infection. In contrast, exacerbated inflammation in mice infected with the wild-type (WT) strain showed that they were unable to control the infection. Animals inoculated with this filamentous Cryptococcus strain had fewer pulmonary eosinophils and CD11c(+) CD11b(+) cells than animals inoculated with WT yeast. Moreover, mice infected with this strain developed protective Th1- or Th17-type T cell responses. These findings suggest that the virulence attenuation of the filamentous form is likely due to its elicitation of protective host responses. The antivirulence effect of Znf2 was independent of two previously identified factors downstream of Znf2. Interestingly, mucosal immunizations with high doses of ZNF2-overexpressing cells, either in the live or heat-killed form, offered 100% protection to the host from a subsequent challenge with the otherwise lethal clinical strain H99. Our results demonstrate that heat-resistant cellular components presented in cryptococcal cells with activated ZNF2 elicit protective host immune responses. These findings could facilitate future research on novel immunological therapies. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcal meningitis is one of the leading causes of death among AIDS patients. This disease presents a severe threat to public health. The current antifungal regimens are unsatisfactory in controlling or clearing the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Immunotherapies and/or vaccines could be a promising approach to prevent or manage this deadly disease. However, the lack of understanding of host-pathogen interactions during cryptococcal infection greatly hampers the development of effective immunotherapies. In this study, we discovered that inoculation of cryptococcal cells with activated Znf2, a morphogenesis regulator and an antivirulence factor, could shift the host pathological Th2 responses to the protective Th1 or Th17 responses. Importantly, we discovered that vaccination with either the viable or heat-killed form of ZNF2-overexpressing cells protected animals from the otherwise lethal infection by the highly virulent clinical strain. Our study suggests that the fungal cellular component(s) of the ZNF2-overexpressing strain may provide potential vaccine candidate(s) for controlling the fatal disease.
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Sato K, Yamamoto H, Nomura T, Matsumoto I, Miyasaka T, Zong T, Kanno E, Uno K, Ishii K, Kawakami K. Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in Mice Lacking Type I Interferon Signaling Leads to Increased Fungal Clearance and IL-4-Dependent Mucin Production in the Lungs. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138291. [PMID: 26384031 PMCID: PMC4575107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFNs) are secreted by many cell types upon stimulation via pattern recognition receptors and bind to IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR), which is composed of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. Although type I IFNs are well known as anti-viral cytokines, limited information is available on their role during fungal infection. In the present study, we addressed this issue by examining the effect of IFNAR1 defects on the host defense response to Cryptococcus neoformans. In IFNAR1KO mice, the number of live colonies was lower and the host immune response mediated not only by Th1 but also by Th2 and Th17-related cytokines was more accelerated in the infected lungs than in WT mice. In addition, mucin production by bronchoepithelial cells and expression of MUC5AC, a major core protein of mucin in the lungs, were significantly higher in IFNAR1KO mice than in WT mice. This increase in mucin and MUC5AC production was significantly inhibited by treatment with neutralizing anti-IL-4 mAb. In contrast, administration of recombinant IFN-αA/D significantly suppressed the production of IL-4, but not of IFN-γ and IL-17A, in the lungs of WT mice after cryptococcal infection. These results indicate that defects of IFNAR1 led to improved clearance of infection with C. neoformans and enhanced synthesis of IFN-γ and the IL-4-dependent production of mucin. They also suggest that type I IFNs may be involved in the negative regulation of early host defense to this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ko Sato
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hideki Yamamoto
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Toshiki Nomura
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Ikumi Matsumoto
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tomomitsu Miyasaka
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tong Zong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Emi Kanno
- Department of Science of Nursing Practice, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kazuko Uno
- Louis Pasteur Center for Medical Research, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiko Ishii
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Kawakami
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Mycology and Immunology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Sionov E, Mayer-Barber KD, Chang YC, Kauffman KD, Eckhaus MA, Salazar AM, Barber DL, Kwon-Chung KJ. Type I IFN Induction via Poly-ICLC Protects Mice against Cryptococcosis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005040. [PMID: 26252005 PMCID: PMC4529209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal meningoencephalitis in AIDS patients. Depletion of CD4 cells, such as occurs during advanced AIDS, is known to be a critical risk factor for developing cryptococcosis. However, the role of HIV-induced innate inflammation in susceptibility to cryptococcosis has not been evaluated. Thus, we sought to determine the role of Type I IFN induction in host defense against cryptococci by treatment of C. neoformans (H99) infected mice with poly-ICLC (pICLC), a dsRNA virus mimic. Unexpectedly, pICLC treatment greatly extended survival of infected mice and reduced fungal burdens in the brain. Protection from cryptococcosis by pICLC-induced Type I IFN was mediated by MDA5 rather than TLR3. PICLC treatment induced a large, rapid and sustained influx of neutrophils and Ly6Chigh monocytes into the lung while suppressing the development of eosinophilia. The pICLC-mediated protection against H99 was CD4 T cell dependent and analysis of CD4 T cell polyfunctionality showed a reduction in IL-5 producing CD4 T cells, marginal increases in Th1 cells and dramatic increases in RORγt+ Th17 cells in pICLC treated mice. Moreover, the protective effect of pICLC against H99 was diminished in IFNγ KO mice and by IL-17A neutralization with blocking mAbs. Furthermore, pICLC treatment also significantly extended survival of C. gattii infected mice with reduced fungal loads in the lungs. These data demonstrate that induction of type I IFN dramatically improves host resistance against the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis by beneficial alterations in both innate and adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Sionov
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Katrin D Mayer-Barber
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yun C Chang
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Keith D Kauffman
- T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael A Eckhaus
- Division of Veterinary Resources, Office of Research Services, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Daniel L Barber
- T-Lymphocyte Biology Unit, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kyung J Kwon-Chung
- Molecular Microbiology Section, Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Wüthrich M, Wang H, Li M, Lerksuthirat T, Hardison SE, Brown GD, Klein B. Fonsecaea pedrosoi-induced Th17-cell differentiation in mice is fostered by Dectin-2 and suppressed by Mincle recognition. Eur J Immunol 2015; 45:2542-52. [PMID: 26140582 PMCID: PMC4562893 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic skin infection caused by the pigmented saprophytic mould Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Chronicity of infection can be broken by a coordinated innate recognition of the spores by pattern recognition receptors. While Mincle signaling via the Syk/Card9 pathway is required for fungal recognition by host cells, it is not sufficient for host control. Exogenously applied TLR agonists are necessary to promote the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and clearance of infection in vivo. Here, we investigated whether costimulation by TLR agonists fosters the development of adaptive immune responses, by examining the development of fungus‐specific T cells. Subcutaneous infection of mice with F. pedrosoi spores induced the activation, expansion, and differentiation of Ag‐specific CD4+ T cells but TLR costimulation did not further augment these T‐cell responses. The Dectin‐2/FcRγ/Card9 signaling pathway promoted the differentiation of fungus‐specific CD4+ T cells into Th17 cells, whereas Mincle inhibited the development of this T‐helper subset in infected mice. These results indicate differential roles for Dectin‐2 and Mincle in the generation of adaptive immune responses to F. pedrosoi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Wüthrich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Huafeng Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mengyi Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Tassanee Lerksuthirat
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sarah E Hardison
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gordon D Brown
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bruce Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.,Aberdeen Fungal Group, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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Panackal AA, Wuest SC, Lin YC, Wu T, Zhang N, Kosa P, Komori M, Blake A, Browne SK, Rosen LB, Hagen F, Meis J, Levitz SM, Quezado M, Hammoud D, Bennett JE, Bielekova B, Williamson PR. Paradoxical Immune Responses in Non-HIV Cryptococcal Meningitis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004884. [PMID: 26020932 PMCID: PMC4447450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungus Cryptococcus is a major cause of meningoencephalitis in HIV-infected as well as HIV-uninfected individuals with mortalities in developed countries of 20% and 30%, respectively. In HIV-related disease, defects in T-cell immunity are paramount, whereas there is little understanding of mechanisms of susceptibility in non-HIV related disease, especially that occurring in previously healthy adults. The present description is the first detailed immunological study of non-HIV-infected patients including those with severe central nervous system (s-CNS) disease to 1) identify mechanisms of susceptibility as well as 2) understand mechanisms underlying severe disease. Despite the expectation that, as in HIV, T-cell immunity would be deficient in such patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunophenotyping, T-cell activation studies, soluble cytokine mapping and tissue cellular phenotyping demonstrated that patients with s-CNS disease had effective microbiological control, but displayed strong intrathecal expansion and activation of cells of both the innate and adaptive immunity including HLA-DR+ CD4+ and CD8+ cells and NK cells. These expanded CSF T cells were enriched for cryptococcal-antigen specific CD4+ cells and expressed high levels of IFN-γ as well as a lack of elevated CSF levels of typical T-cell specific Th2 cytokines -- IL-4 and IL-13. This inflammatory response was accompanied by elevated levels of CSF NFL, a marker of axonal damage, consistent with ongoing neurological damage. However, while tissue macrophage recruitment to the site of infection was intact, polarization studies of brain biopsy and autopsy specimens demonstrated an M2 macrophage polarization and poor phagocytosis of fungal cells. These studies thus expand the paradigm for cryptococcal disease susceptibility to include a prominent role for macrophage activation defects and suggest a spectrum of disease whereby severe neurological disease is characterized by immune-mediated host cell damage. Cryptococcus is an important cause of fungal meningitis with significant mortality globally. Susceptibility to the fungus in humans has been related to T-lymphocyte defects in HIV-infected individuals, but little is known about possible immune defects in non HIV-infected patients including previously healthy individuals. This latter group also has some of the worst response rates to therapy with almost a third dying in the United States, despite available therapy. Here we conducted the first detailed immunological analysis of non-HIV apparently immunocompetent individuals with active cryptococcal disease. In contrast to HIV-infected individuals, these studies identified a highly activated antigen-presenting dendritic cell population within CSF, accompanied by a highly active T-lymphocyte population with potentially damaging inflammatory cytokine responses. Furthermore, elevated levels of CSF neurofilament light chains (NFL), a marker of axonal damage in severe central nervous system infections suggest a dysfunctional role to this acute inflammatory state. Paradoxically, CSF macrophage proportions were reduced in patients with severe disease and biopsy and autopsy samples identified alternatively activated tissue macrophage populations that failed to appropriately phagocytose fungal cells. Our study thus provides new insights into the susceptibility to human cryptococcal disease and identifies a paradoxically active T-lymphocyte response that may be amenable to adjunctive immunomodulation to improve treatment outcomes in this high-mortality disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil A. Panackal
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, F. Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Simone C. Wuest
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yen-Chih Lin
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tianxia Wu
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nannan Zhang
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Peter Kosa
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mika Komori
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew Blake
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah K. Browne
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lindsey B. Rosen
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Stuart M. Levitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Martha Quezado
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dima Hammoud
- Center for Infectious Disease Imaging, Radiology and Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health/Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John E. Bennett
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bibi Bielekova
- Neuroimmunological Diseases Unit, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BB); (PRW)
| | - Peter R. Williamson
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BB); (PRW)
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Jarvis JN, Meintjes G, Bicanic T, Buffa V, Hogan L, Mo S, Tomlinson G, Kropf P, Noursadeghi M, Harrison TS. Cerebrospinal fluid cytokine profiles predict risk of early mortality and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004754. [PMID: 25853653 PMCID: PMC4390200 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the host immune response during cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is of critical importance for the development of immunomodulatory therapies. We profiled the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune-response in ninety patients with HIV-associated CM, and examined associations between immune phenotype and clinical outcome. CSF cytokine, chemokine, and macrophage activation marker concentrations were assayed at disease presentation, and associations between these parameters and microbiological and clinical outcomes were examined using principal component analysis (PCA). PCA demonstrated a co-correlated CSF cytokine and chemokine response consisting primarily of Th1, Th2, and Th17-type cytokines. The presence of this CSF cytokine response was associated with evidence of increased macrophage activation, more rapid clearance of Cryptococci from CSF, and survival at 2 weeks. The key components of this protective immune-response were interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17 levels also made a modest positive contribution to the PC1 score. A second component of co-correlated chemokines was identified by PCA, consisting primarily of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α). High CSF chemokine concentrations were associated with low peripheral CD4 cell counts and CSF lymphocyte counts and were predictive of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). In conclusion CSF cytokine and chemokine profiles predict risk of early mortality and IRIS in HIV-associated CM. We speculate that the presence of even minimal Cryptococcus-specific Th1-type CD4+ T-cell responses lead to increased recruitment of circulating lymphocytes and monocytes into the central nervous system (CNS), more effective activation of CNS macrophages and microglial cells, and faster organism clearance; while high CNS chemokine levels may predispose to over recruitment or inappropriate recruitment of immune cells to the CNS and IRIS following peripheral immune reconstitution with ART. These results provide a rational basis for future studies of immune modulation in CM, and demonstrate the potential of baseline immune profiling to identify CM patients most at risk of mortality and subsequent IRIS. Cryptococcal meningitis is a severe opportunistic infection, estimated to kill several hundred thousand HIV-infected individuals each year. One of the factors contributing to this high death toll is the inadequacy of antifungal treatments. As few novel antifungal drugs are being developed, several groups have started to investigate the potential of immune modulation, with treatments designed to change the patient’s immune response to infection. However, our understanding of the immune response to cryptococcal infection in HIV-infected patients, and how these responses impact on clinical outcomes, is limited. In this study, we took advantage of the fact that we can sample cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the site of the infection in patients when they develop cryptococcal meningitis. We undertook a detailed analysis measuring levels of immune response parameters in the CSF of these patients, and demonstrated that there were several distinct components of the immune response. Variations in these responses were associated with both the rate at which patients cleared their infection during treatment, and with mortality. Our results provide a basis for the development of future immunomodulatory therapies, and may allow identification of patients most at risk of dying, enabling more intensive treatments to be given to those at highest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph N. Jarvis
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- * E-mail:
| | - Graeme Meintjes
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tihana Bicanic
- Research Centre for Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Viviana Buffa
- Research Centre for Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Hogan
- Research Centre for Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Mo
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Tomlinson
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Kropf
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mahdad Noursadeghi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas S. Harrison
- Research Centre for Infection and Immunity, Division of Clinical Sciences, St. George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Mora DJ, Fortunato LR, Andrade-Silva LE, Ferreira-Paim K, Rocha IH, Vasconcelos RR, Silva-Teixeira DN, Nascentes GAN, Silva-Vergara ML. Cytokine profiles at admission can be related to outcome in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120297. [PMID: 25799044 PMCID: PMC4370646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) remains as common life-threatening AIDS-defining illness mainly in resource-limited settings. Previous reports suggested that baseline cytokine profiles can be associated to fungal burden and clinical outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the baseline cytokine profiles in AIDS patients with CM and its relation with the outcome at weeks 2 and 10. Thirty AIDS patients with CM diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Cryptococcus neoformans positive culture, India ink stain and cryptococcal antigen test were prospectively evaluated. As controls, 56 HIV-infected patients without CM and 48 non-HIV individuals were included. Baseline CSF and sera levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-17A, INF-γ and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Of 30 CM patients, 24 (80%) were male, median age of 38.1. The baseline CSF high fungal burden and positive blood culture were associated with a positive CSF culture at week 2 (p = 0.043 and 0.029). Most CSF and sera cytokines presented higher levels in CM patients than control subjects (p < 0.05). CSF levels of IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-17A, TNF-α, INF-γ and sera TNF-α were significantly higher among survivors at weeks 2 and 10 (p < 0.05). Patients with increased intracranial pression exhibited CSF IL-10 high levels and poor outcome at week 10 (p = 0.032). Otherwise, baseline CSF log10 IFN-γ and IL-17A were negatively correlated with fungal burden (r = -0.47 and -0.50; p = 0.0175 and 0.0094, respectively). The mortality rate was 33% (10/30) at week 2 and 57% (17/30) at week 10. The severity of CM and the advanced immunodeficiency at admission were related to a poor outcome in these patients. Otherwise, the predominant Th1 cytokines profile among survivors confirms its pivotal role to infection control and would be a prognostic marker in cryptococcal meningitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delio José Mora
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MLS-V); (DJM)
| | - Laila Rigolin Fortunato
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Kennio Ferreira-Paim
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ivonete Helena Rocha
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rakel Rocha Vasconcelos
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mario León Silva-Vergara
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Triângulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MLS-V); (DJM)
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43
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Gibson JF, Johnston SA. Immunity to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii during cryptococcosis. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 78:76-86. [PMID: 25498576 PMCID: PMC4503824 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of infection with cryptococcal species occurs with Cryptococcus neoformans in the severely immunocompromised. A significant exception to this is the infections of those with apparently normal immune systems by Cryptococcus gattii. Susceptibility to cryptococcosis can be broadly categorised as a defect in adaptive immune responses, especially in T cell immunity. However, innate immune cells such as macrophages play a key role and are likely the primary effector cell in the killing and ultimate clearance of cryptococcal infection. In this review we discuss the current state of our understanding of how the immune system responds to cryptococcal infection in health and disease, with reference to the work communicated at the 9th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC9). We have focussed on cell mediated responses, particularly early in infection, but with the aim of presenting a broad overview of our understanding of immunity to cryptococcal infection, highlighting some recent advances and offering some perspectives on future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie F Gibson
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Medical School, University of Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK; Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Simon A Johnston
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Medical School, University of Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK; Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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44
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Dectin-2 deficiency promotes Th2 response and mucin production in the lungs after pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Immun 2014; 83:671-81. [PMID: 25422263 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02835-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dectin-2 is a C-type lectin receptor that recognizes high mannose polysaccharides. Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast-form fungal pathogen, is rich in polysaccharides in its cell wall and capsule. In the present study, we analyzed the role of Dectin-2 in the host defense against C. neoformans infection. In Dectin-2 gene-disrupted (knockout) (Dectin-2KO) mice, the clearance of this fungus and the inflammatory response, as shown by histological analysis and accumulation of leukocytes in infected lungs, were comparable to those in wild-type (WT) mice. The production of type 2 helper T (Th2) cytokines in lungs was higher in Dectin-2KO mice than in WT mice after infection, whereas there was no difference in the levels of production of Th1, Th17, and proinflammatory cytokines between these mice. Mucin production was significantly increased in Dectin-2KO mice, and this increase was reversed by administration of anti-interleukin 4 (IL-4) monoclonal antibody (MAb). The levels of expression of β1-defensin, cathelicidin, surfactant protein A (Sp-A), and Sp-D in infected lungs were comparable between these mice. In in vitro experiments, IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production and expression of CD86 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages were completely abrogated in Dectin-2KO mice. Finally, the disrupted lysates of C. neoformans, but not of whole yeast cells, activated Dectin-2-triggered signaling in an assay with nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter cells expressing this receptor. These results suggest that Dectin-2 may oppose the Th2 response and IL-4-dependent mucin production in the lungs after infection with C. neoformans, and it may not be required for the production of Th1, Th17, and proinflammatory cytokines or for clearance of this fungal pathogen.
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Abstract
Life-threatening fungal infections have risen sharply in recent years, owing to the advances and intensity of medical care that may blunt immunity in patients. This emerging crisis has created the growing need to clarify immune defense mechanisms against fungi with the ultimate goal of therapeutic intervention. We describe recent insights in understanding the mammalian immune defenses that are deployed against pathogenic fungi. We focus on adaptive immunity to the major medically important fungi and emphasize three elements that coordinate the response: (1) dendritic cells and subsets that are mobilized against fungi in various anatomical compartments; (2) fungal molecular patterns and their corresponding receptors that signal responses and shape the differentiation of T-cell subsets and B cells; and, ultimately (3) the effector and regulatory mechanisms that eliminate these invaders while constraining collateral damage to vital tissue. These insights create a foundation for the development of new, immune-based strategies for prevention or enhanced clearance of systemic fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Verma
- Veterans Affairs Hospital, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
| | - Marcel Wüthrich
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792
| | - George Deepe
- Veterans Affairs Hospital, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
| | - Bruce Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792 Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792 Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53792
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Wozniak KL, Olszewski MA, Wormley FL. Molecules at the interface of Cryptococcus and the host that determine disease susceptibility. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 78:87-92. [PMID: 25445308 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, the predominant etiological agents of cryptococcosis, are fungal pathogens that cause disease ranging from a mild pneumonia to life-threatening infections of the central nervous system (CNS). Resolution or exacerbation of Cryptococcus infection is determined following complex interactions of several host and pathogen derived factors. Alternatively, interactions between the host and pathogen may end in an impasse resulting in the establishment of a sub-clinical Cryptococcus infection. The current review addresses the delicate interaction between the host and Cryptococcus-derived molecules that determine resistance or susceptibility to infection. An emphasis will be placed on data highlighted at the recent 9th International Conference on Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis (ICCC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Wozniak
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States; South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Michal A Olszewski
- Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States; South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.
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Vaccine-mediated immune responses to experimental pulmonary Cryptococcus gattii infection in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104316. [PMID: 25119981 PMCID: PMC4132117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is a fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening respiratory and disseminated infections in immune-competent and immune-suppressed individuals. Currently, there are no standardized vaccines against cryptococcosis in humans, underlying an urgent need for effective therapies and/or vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of intranasal immunization with C. gattii cell wall associated (CW) and/or cytoplasmic (CP) protein preparations to induce protection against experimental pulmonary C. gattii infection in mice. BALB/c mice immunized with C. gattii CW and/or CP protein preparations exhibited a significant reduction in pulmonary fungal burden and prolonged survival following pulmonary challenge with C. gattii. Protection was associated with significantly increased pro-inflammatory and Th1-type cytokine recall responses, in vitro and increased C. gattii-specific antibody production in immunized mice challenged with C. gattii. A number of immunodominant proteins were identified following immunoblot analysis of C. gattii CW and CP protein preparations using sera from immunized mice. Immunization with a combined CW and CP protein preparation resulted in an early increase in pulmonary T cell infiltrates following challenge with C. gattii. Overall, our studies show that C. gattii CW and CP protein preparations contain antigens that may be included in a subunit vaccine to induce prolonged protection against pulmonary C. gattii infection.
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Chaturvedi AK, Weintraub ST, Lopez-Ribot JL, Wormley FL. Identification and characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans protein fractions that induce protective immune responses. Proteomics 2014; 13:3429-41. [PMID: 24170628 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201300213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans, the main causative agent of cryptococcosis, is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. To date, there is no vaccine or immunotherapy approved to treat cryptococcosis. Cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses collaborate to mediate optimal protection against C. neoformans infections. Accordingly, we identified cryptococcal protein fractions capable of stimulating cell- and antibody-mediated immune responses and determined their efficacy to elicit protection against cryptococcosis. Proteins were extracted from C. neoformans and fractionated based on molecular mass. The fractions were then evaluated by immunoblot analysis for reactivity to serum extracted from protectively immunized mice and in cytokine recall assays for their efficacy to induce pro-inflammatory and Th1-type cytokine responses associated with protection. MS analysis revealed a number of proteins with roles in stress response, signal transduction, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid synthesis, and protein synthesis. Immunization with select protein fractions containing immunodominant antigens induced significantly prolonged survival against experimental pulmonary cryptococcosis. Our studies support using the combination of immunological and proteomic approaches to identify proteins that elicit antigen-specific antibody and Th1-type cytokine responses. The immunodominant antigens that were discovered represent attractive candidates for the development of novel subunit vaccines for treatment and/or prevention of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Chaturvedi
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Wozniak KL, Hole CR, Yano J, Fidel PL, Wormley FL. Characterization of IL-22 and antimicrobial peptide production in mice protected against pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2014; 160:1440-1452. [PMID: 24760968 PMCID: PMC4076872 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.073445-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a significant cause of fungal meningitis in patients with impaired T cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Experimental pulmonary infection with a C. neoformans strain engineered to produce IFN-γ, H99γ, results in the induction of Th1-type CMI, resolution of the acute infection, and protection against challenge with WT Cryptococcus. Given that individuals with suppressed CMI are highly susceptible to pulmonary C. neoformans infection, we sought to determine whether antimicrobial peptides were produced in mice inoculated with H99γ. Thus, we measured levels of antimicrobial peptides lipocalin-2, S100A8, S100A9, calprotectin (S100A8/A9 heterodimer), serum amyloid A-3 (SAA3), and their putative receptors Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in mice during primary and recall responses against C. neoformans infection. Results showed increased levels of IL-17A and IL-22, cytokines known to modulate antimicrobial peptide production. We also observed increased levels of lipocalin-2, S100A8, S100A9 and SAA3 as well as TLR4(+) and RAGE(+) macrophages and dendritic cells in mice inoculated with H99γ compared with WT H99. Similar results were observed in the lungs of H99γ-immunized, compared with heat-killed C. neoformans-immunized, mice following challenge with WT yeast. However, IL-22-deficient mice inoculated with H99γ demonstrated antimicrobial peptide production and no change in survival rates compared with WT mice. These studies demonstrate that protection against cryptococcosis is associated with increased production of antimicrobial peptides in the lungs of protected mice that are not solely in response to IL-17A and IL-22 production and may be coincidental rather than functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Wozniak
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Camaron R. Hole
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Junko Yano
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Dental School, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Paul L. Fidel
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Dental School, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Floyd L. Wormley
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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50
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Chaturvedi AK, Wormley FL. Cryptococcus antigens and immune responses: implications for a vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 12:1261-72. [PMID: 24156284 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2013.840094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a fungal disease primarily occurring in immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, cryptococcosis can occur within immunocompetent populations as observed during an outbreak in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the USA and in Mediterranean Europe. Mortality rates due to cryptococcosis have significantly declined in economically developed countries since the widespread implementation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. However, the incidence and mortality of this disease remains high in economically undeveloped areas in Africa and Asia where HIV infections are high and availability of HAART is limited. The continuing AIDS epidemic coupled with the increased usage of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection or to treat autoimmune diseases has resulted in an increase in individuals at risk for developing cryptococcosis. The purpose of this review is to discuss the need, challenges and potential for developing vaccines against cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok K Chaturvedi
- Department of Biology and The South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA
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