Hemolymph of triatomines presents fungistatic activity against
Cryptococcus neoformans and improves macrophage function through MCP-I/TNF-α increase.
J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2022;
28:e20210124. [PMID:
35910486 PMCID:
PMC9302513 DOI:
10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0124]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:
Triatomines are blood-feeding arthropods belonging to the subfamily Triatominae
(Hemiptera; Reduviidae), capable of producing immunomodulatory and water-soluble
molecules in their hemolymph, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In this
work, we evaluated the antifungal and immunomodulatory activity of the hemolymph
of Meccus pallidipennis (MPH) and Rhodnius
prolixus (RPH) against Cryptococcus neoformans.
Methods:
We assessed the activity of the hemolymph of both
insects on fungal growth by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay.
Further, RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultivated with hemolymph and challenged
with C. neoformans. Then, their phagocytic and killing
activities were assessed. The cytokines MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, and
IL-6 were measured in culture supernatants 4- and 48-hours post-infection.
Results:
Both hemolymph samples directly affected the growth
rate of the fungus in a dose-dependent manner. Either MPH or RPH was capable of
inhibiting fungal growth by at least 70%, using the lowest dilution (1:20).
Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with hemolymph of both insects was capable of
increasing the production of MCP-I and TNF-α. In addition, when these cells were
stimulated with hemolymph in the presence of C. neoformans, a
2- and a 4-fold increase in phagocytic rate was observed with MPH and RPH,
respectively, when compared to untreated cells. For the macrophage killing
activity, MPH decreased in approximately 30% the number of viable yeasts inside
the cells compared to untreated control; however, treatment with RPH could not
reduce the total number of viable yeasts. MPH was also capable of increasing
MHC-II expression on macrophages. Regarding the cytokine production, MCP-I and
TNF-α, were increased in the supernatant of macrophages treated with both
hemolymphs, 4 and 48 hours after stimulation.
Conclusion:
These
results suggested that hemolymph of triatomines may represent a source of
molecules capable of presenting antifungal and immunomodulatory activity in
macrophages during fungal infection.
Collapse