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McLean SA, Cullen L, Gardam DJ, Schofield CJ, Laucirica DR, Sutanto EN, Ling KM, Stick SM, Peacock CS, Kicic A, Garratt LW. Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus Induce Similar Muco-inflammatory Responses in Primary Airway Epithelial Cells. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10081020. [PMID: 34451484 PMCID: PMC8399118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus is increasingly associated with lung inflammation and mucus plugging in early cystic fibrosis (CF) disease during which conidia burden is low and strains appear to be highly diverse. It is unknown whether clinical Aspergillus strains vary in their capacity to induce epithelial inflammation and mucus production. We tested the hypothesis that individual colonising strains of Aspergillus fumigatus would induce different responses. Ten paediatric CF Aspergillus isolates were compared along with two systemically invasive clinical isolates and an ATCC reference strain. Isolates were first characterised by ITS gene sequencing and screened for antifungal susceptibility. Three clusters (A-C) of Aspergillus isolates were identified by ITS. Antifungal susceptibility was variable, particularly for itraconazole. Submerged CF and non-CF monolayers as well as differentiated primary airway epithelial cell cultures were incubated with conidia for 24 h to allow germination. None of the clinical isolates were found to significantly differ from one another in either IL-6 or IL-8 release or gene expression of secretory mucins. Clinical Aspergillus isolates appear to be largely homogenous in their mucostimulatory and immunostimulatory capacities and, therefore, only the antifungal resistance characteristics are likely to be clinically important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha A. McLean
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Leilani Cullen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
| | - Dianne J. Gardam
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch 6150, Australia;
| | - Craig J. Schofield
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Daniel R. Laucirica
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
| | - Erika N. Sutanto
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
| | - Kak-Ming Ling
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
| | - Stephen M. Stick
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands 6009, Australia
| | - Christopher S. Peacock
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
| | - Anthony Kicic
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (L.C.); (C.S.P.)
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands 6009, Australia
- Occupation and Environment, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia
| | - Luke W. Garratt
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (S.A.M.); (C.J.S.); (D.R.L.); (E.N.S.); (K.-M.L.); (S.M.S.); (A.K.)
- Correspondence:
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Toxicity studies of Aspergillus fumigatus administered by inhalation to B6C3F1/N mice. TOXICITY REPORT SERIES 2021:NTP-TOX-100. [PMID: 34283822 DOI: 10.22427/ntp-tox-100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a thermotolerant, soil-borne fungal species that is ubiquitous in the environment. Mold was nominated to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) by a private individual due to suspected adverse health effects associated with personal exposure in indoor and occupational settings. A. fumigatus is of particular concern in the biowaste industry as the species can contaminate self-heating compost piles. Because of this potential for personal and occupational exposure and the lack of available toxicity data, toxicity studies were conducted in which male and female B6C3F1/N mice were exposed to A. fumigatus conidia (spores) two times a week for 3 months. All in-life procedures, including inhalation exposure, test article preparation, and hematology analysis, were completed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, Morgantown, WV). Battelle (Columbus, OH) conducted terminal necropsies, measured terminal body and organ weights, and evaluated gross lesions on-site at NIOSH. Tissue processing and histopathology were completed at Battelle. Grocott's methenamine silver (GMS) staining was performed at NIOSH. Genetic toxicology studies on mouse peripheral blood erythrocytes were conducted by Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC (Research Triangle Park, NC). (Abstract Abridged).
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Valle Arevalo A, Nobile CJ. Interactions of microorganisms with host mucins: a focus on Candida albicans. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:645-654. [PMID: 32627827 PMCID: PMC7476774 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucus is an important host innate defense factor that lines most epithelial cell layers of the body and provides crucial physical and biological protection against pathogenic microorganisms. Mucins are the main glycoproteins of mucus that are responsible for interacting with microorganisms and are critical for the antimicrobial properties of mucus. The mechanisms by which microorganisms interact with mucins are poorly understood, especially in terms of fungi, and these interactions are continually evolving. Work in bacterial pathogens has shown that mucins inhibit bacterial virulence traits, including quorum sensing, toxin secretion and biofilm formation. Among the fungal clade, the common opportunistic human fungal pathogen and commensal Candida albicans engages in constant battle with the host innate immune system. This battle creates strong selective pressures for C. albicans to evolve in response to the host. Recent work in C. albicans found that mucins inhibit specific virulence traits, such as surface adherence, filamentation, biofilm formation and the production of secreted proteases. Here we review the current knowledge of microbial interactions with mucins, with a special emphasis on the interactions between C. albicans and mucins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Valle Arevalo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California – Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California – Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Clarissa J Nobile
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California – Merced, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
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Wu X, Lee B, Zhu L, Ding Z, Chen Y. Exposure to mold proteases stimulates mucin production in airway epithelial cells through Ras/Raf1/ERK signal pathway. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231990. [PMID: 32320453 PMCID: PMC7176129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental mold (fungus) exposure poses a significant threat to public health by causing illnesses ranging from invasive fungal diseases in immune compromised individuals to allergic hypertensive diseases such as asthma and asthma exacerbation in otherwise healthy people. However, the molecular pathogenesis has not been completely understood, and treatment options are limited. Due to its thermo-tolerance to the normal human body temperature, Aspergillus. fumigatus (A.fumigatus) is one of the most important human pathogens to cause different lung fungal diseases including fungal asthma. Airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness caused by mucus overproduction are the hallmarks of many A.fumigatus induced lung diseases. To understand the underlying molecular mechanism, we have utilized a well-established A.fumigatus extracts (AFE) model to elucidate downstream signal pathways that mediate A.fumigatus induced mucin production in airway epithelial cells. AFE was found to stimulate time- and dose-dependent increase of major airway mucin gene expression (MUC5AC and MUC5B) partly via the elevation of their promoter activities. We also demonstrated that EGFR was required but not sufficient for AFE-induced mucin expression, filling the paradoxical gap from a previous study using the same model. Furthermore, we showed that fungal proteases in AFE were responsible for mucin induction by activating a Ras/Raf1/ERK signaling pathway. Ca2+ signaling, but ROS, both of which were stimulated by fungal proteases, was an indispensable determinant for ERK activation and mucin induction. The discovery of this novel pathway likely contributes to our understanding of the pathogenesis of fungal sensitization in allergic diseases such as fungal asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianxian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Boram Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Lingxiang Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Zhi Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University, Changzhou, China
- * E-mail: (ZD); (YC)
| | - Yin Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ZD); (YC)
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Khakzad MR, Hajavi J, Sadeghdoust M, Aligolighasemabadi F. Effects of lipopolysaccharide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles in mice model of asthma by sublingual immunotherapy. INT J POLYM MATER PO 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2018.1561453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Khakzad
- Innovative Medical Research Center and Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Jafar Hajavi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Mohammadamin Sadeghdoust
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farnaz Aligolighasemabadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mashhad Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
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Cowley AC, Thornton DJ, Denning DW, Horsley A. Aspergillosis and the role of mucins in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol 2017; 52:548-555. [PMID: 27870227 PMCID: PMC5396363 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.23618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of aspergillosis in CF patients has until recently been underestimated, but increasing evidence suggests that it may play an important role in the progression of CF lung disease. In healthy airways, Aspergillus fumigatus can be efficiently removed from the lung by mechanisms such as mucociliary clearance and cough. However, these mechanisms are defective in CF, allowing pathogens such as A. fumigatus to germinate and establish chronic infections within the airways. The precise means by which A. fumigatus contributes to CF lung disease remain largely unclear. As the first point of contact within the lung, and an important component of the innate immune system, it is likely that the mucus barrier plays an important role in this process. Study of the functional interplay between this vital protective barrier, and in particular its principal structural components, the polymeric gel-forming mucins, and CF pathogens such as A. fumigatus, is at an early stage. A. fumigatus protease activity has been shown to upregulate mucus production by inducing mucin mRNA and protein expression, and A. fumigatus proteases and glycosidases are able to degrade mucins. This may allow A. fumigatus to alter mucus barrier properties to promote fungal colonization of the airways and/or utilize mucins as a nutrient source. Moreover, conidial surface lectin binding to mucin glycans is a key aspect of clearance of Aspergillus from the lung in health but may be an important aspect of colonization, where mucociliary clearance is compromised, as in the CF lung. Here we discuss the nature of the mucus barrier and its mucin components in CF, and how they may be implicated in A. fumigatus infection. Pediatr Pulmonol 2017;52:548-555. © 2016 The Authors. Pediatric Pulmonology. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail C Cowley
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David J Thornton
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David W Denning
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Horsley
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Manchester Adult CF Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Allergic Inflammation in Aspergillus fumigatus-Induced Fungal Asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2015; 15:59. [PMID: 26288940 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-015-0561-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Although fungi are pervasive in many environments, few cause disease in humans. Of these, Aspergillus fumigatus is particularly well suited to be a pathogen of the human lung. Its physical and biological characteristics combine to provide an organism that can cause tremendous morbidity and high mortality if left unchecked. Luckily, that is rarely the case. However, repeated exposure to inhaled A. fumigatus spores often results in an immune response that carries significant immunopathology, exacerbating asthma and changing the structure of the lung with chronic impacts to pulmonary function. This review focuses on the current understanding of the mechanisms that are associated with fungal exposure, sensitization, and infection in asthmatics, as well as the function of various inflammatory cells associated with severe asthma with fungal sensitization.
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Gao FS, Cao TM, Gao YY, Liu MJ, Liu YQ, Wang Z. Effects of chronic exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus on epidermal growth factor receptor expression in the airway epithelial cells of asthmatic rats. Exp Lung Res 2014; 40:298-307. [PMID: 24927409 DOI: 10.3109/01902148.2014.918212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologic studies suggest that increased concentrations of airborne spores of Aspergillus fumigatus closely relate to asthma aggravation. Chronic exposure to A. fumigatus aggravates airway inflammation, remodeling, and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic rats. The effects of chronic exposure to A. fumigatus on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in the airway epithelial cells of asthmatic rats remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to A. fumigatus on injury and shedding of airway epithelium, goblet cell metaplasia, and EGFR expression in the airway epithelial cells of asthmatic rats. A rat model of chronic asthma was established using ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Rats with chronic asthma were then exposed to long-term inhalation of spores of A. fumigatus, and the dynamic changes in injury and shedding of airway epithelium, goblet cell metaplasia, and EGFR expression were observed and analyzed. Chronic exposure to A. fumigatus could aggravate airway epithelial cell damage, upregulate the expression of EGFR and its ligands EGF and TGF-α, promote goblet cell metaplasia, and increase airway responsiveness in rats with asthma. Chronic exposure to A. fumigatus upregulates the expression of EGFR and its ligands in asthmatic rats. The EGFR pathway may play a role in asthma aggravation induced by exposure to A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Sheng Gao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang, China
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Liu H, Zheng M, Qiao J, Dang Y, Zhang P, Jin X. Role of prostaglandin D2 /CRTH2 pathway on asthma exacerbation induced by Aspergillus fumigatus. Immunology 2014; 142:78-88. [PMID: 24329550 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/11/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is often associated in asthmatic patients with the exacerbation of asthma symptoms. The pathomechanism of this phenomenon has not been fully understood. Here, we evaluated the immunological mechanisms and the role of the prostaglandin D2 / Chemoattractant Receptor-Homologous Molecule Expressed on Th2 Cells (CRTH2) pathway in the development of Aspergillus-associated asthma exacerbation. We studied the effects of A. fumigatus on airway inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in a rat model of chronic asthma. Inhalation delivery of A. fumigatus conidia increased the airway eosinophilia and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in ovalbumin-sensitized, challenged rats. These changes were associated with prostaglandin D2 synthesis and CRTH2 expression in the lungs. Direct inflammation occurred in ovalbumin-sensitized, challenged animals, whereas pre-treatment with an antagonist against CRTH2 nearly completely eliminated the A. fumigatus-induced worsening of airway eosinophilia and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Our data demonstrate that production of prostaglandin D2 followed by eosinophil recruitment into the airways via a CRTH2 receptor are the major pathogenic factors responsible for the A. fumigatus-induced enhancement of airway inflammation and responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai First People's Hospital Affiliated Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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