scholarly journals Ficolins Promote Fungal Clearance in vivo and Modulate the Inflammatory Cytokine Response in Host Defense against Aspergillus fumigatus

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 579-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninette Genster ◽  
Elisabeth Præstekjær Cramer ◽  
Anne Rosbjerg ◽  
Katrine Pilely ◽  
Jack Bernard Cowland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Host Defense ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Lectin Pathway ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes severe invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. Innate immunity plays a major role in protection against A. fumigatus. The ficolins are a family of soluble pattern recognition receptors that are capable of activating the lectin pathway of complement. Previous in vitro studies reported that ficolins bind to A. fumigatus, but their part in host defense against fungal infections in vivo is unknown. In this study, we used ficolin-deficient mice to investigate the role of ficolins during lung infection with A. fumigatus. Ficolin knockout mice showed significantly higher fungal loads in the lungs 24 h postinfection compared to wild-type mice. The delayed clearance of A. fumigatus in ficolin knockout mice could not be attributed to a compromised recruitment of inflammatory cells. However, it was revealed that ficolin knockout mice exhibited a decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs compared to wild-type mice following A. fumigatus infection. The impaired clearance and cytokine production in ficolin knockout mice was independent of complement, as shown by equivalent levels of A. fumigatus-mediated complement activation in ficolin knockout mice and wild-type mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ficolins are important in initial innate host defense against A. fumigatus infections in vivo.

scholarly journals The mitochondrial protein Bak is pivotal for gliotoxin-induced apoptosis and a critical host factor of Aspergillus fumigatus virulence in mice

2006 ◽  
Vol 174 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Pardo ◽  
Christin Urban ◽  
Eva M. Galvez ◽  
Paul G. Ekert ◽  
Uwe Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Apoptotic Pathway

Aspergillus fumigatus infections cause high levels of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Gliotoxin (GT), a secondary metabolite, is cytotoxic for mammalian cells, but the molecular basis and biological relevance of this toxicity remain speculative. We show that GT induces apoptotic cell death by activating the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bak, but not Bax, to elicit the generation of reactive oxygen species, the mitochondrial release of apoptogenic factors, and caspase-3 activation. Activation of Bak by GT is direct, as GT triggers in vitro a dose-dependent release of cytochrome c from purified mitochondria isolated from wild-type and Bax- but not Bak-deficient cells. Resistance to A. fumigatus of mice lacking Bak compared to wild-type mice demonstrates the in vivo relevance of this GT-induced apoptotic pathway involving Bak and suggests a correlation between GT production and virulence. The elucidation of the molecular basis opens new strategies for the development of therapeutic regimens to combat A. fumigatus and related fungal infections.

scholarly journals TLR7 expression aggravates invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis by suppressing anti-Aspergillus immunity of macrophages

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banglao Xu ◽  
Qin Luo ◽  
Yi Gong ◽  
Jiaxi Li ◽  
Ju Cao
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Immune Recognition ◽  
Wild Type

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in early immune recognition of Aspergillus, which can regulate host defense during invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA). However, the role of TLR7 in the pathogenesis of IPA remains unknown. In this study, an in vivo model of IPA was established to investigate the contribution of TLR7 to host anti-Aspergillus immunity upon invasive pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection. The effects of TLR7 on phagocytosis and killing capacities of A. fumigatus by macrophages and neutrophils were investigated in vitro. We found that TLR7 knockout mice exhibited lower lung inflammatory response and tissue injury, higher fungal clearance, and greater survival in an in vivo model of IPA as compared with wild-type mice. TLR7 activation by R837 ligand led wild-type mice more susceptible to invasive pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Macrophages, but not neutrophils, were required for the protection against IPA observed in TLR7 knockout mice. Mechanistically, TLR7 impaired phagocytosis and killing of A. fumigatus by macrophages, but not neutrophils. Together, these data identify TLR7 as an important negative regulator of anti-Aspergillus innate immunity in IPA, and we propose that targeting TLR7 may be beneficial in treatment of IPA.

scholarly journals Efficient Clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus in Murine Lungs by an Ultrashort Antimicrobial Lipopeptide, Palmitoyl-Lys-Ala-dAla-Lys

2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 3118-3126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Vallon-Eberhard ◽  
Arik Makovitzki ◽  
Anne Beauvais ◽  
Jean-Paul Latgé ◽  
Steffen Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
New Family ◽  
Therapeutic Properties ◽  
Survival Assay ◽  
Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

ABSTRACT Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. The inefficiency of antifungal agents and high mortality rate resulting from invasive aspergillosis remain major clinical concerns. Recently, we reported on a new family of ultrashort cationic lipopeptides active in vitro against fungi. Mode of action studies supported a membranolytic or a detergent-like effect. Here, we screened several lipopeptides in vitro for their anti-A. fumigatus activity. To investigate the therapeutic properties of the selected peptides in vivo, we challenged immunosuppressed C57BL/6 wild-type mice intranasally with DsRed-labeled A. fumigatus conidia and subsequently treated the animals locally with the lipopeptides. Confocal microscopic analysis revealed the degradation of DsRed-labeled hyphal forms and residual conidia in the lungs of the mice. The most efficient peptide was tested further using a survival assay and was found to significantly prolong the life of the treated animals, whereas no mice survived with the current standard antifungal treatment with amphotericin B. Moreover, as opposed to the drug-treated lungs, the peptide-treated lungs did not display any toxicity of the peptide. Our results highlight the potential of this family of lipopeptides for the treatment of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis.

Impaired functional activity of alveolar macrophages from GM-CSF-deficient mice

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (5) ◽  
pp. L1210-L1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Paine ◽  
Susan B. Morris ◽  
Hong Jin ◽  
Steven E. Wilcoxen ◽  
Susan M. Phare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Defense ◽  
Alveolar Macrophages ◽  
Phagocytic Activity ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Gm Csf ◽  
Functional Capabilities ◽  
Tnf Α

We hypothesized that pulmonary granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is critically involved in determining the functional capabilities of alveolar macrophages (AM) for host defense. To test this hypothesis, cells were collected by lung lavage from GM-CSF mutant mice [GM(−/−)] and C57BL/6 wild-type mice. GM(−/−) mice yielded almost 4-fold more AM than wild-type mice. The percentage of cells positive for the β2-integrins CD11a and CD11c was reduced significantly in GM(−/−) AM compared with wild-type cells, whereas expression of CD11b was similar in the two groups. The phagocytic activity of GM(−/−) AM for FITC-labeled microspheres was impaired significantly compared with that of wild-type AM both in vitro and in vivo (after intratracheal inoculation with FITC-labeled beads). Stimulated secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and leukotrienes by AM from the GM(−/−) mice was greatly reduced compared with wild-type AM, whereas secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 was increased. Transgenic expression of GM-CSF exclusively in the lungs of GM(−/−) mice resulted in AM with normal or supranormal expression of CD11a and CD11c, phagocytic activity, and TNF-α secretion. Thus, in the absence of GM-CSF, AM functional capabilities for host defense were significantly impaired but were restored by lung-specific expression of GM-CSF.

scholarly journals Antifungal effect of all-trans retinoic acid against Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro and in a pulmonary aspergillosis in vivo model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Campione ◽  
Roberta Gaziano ◽  
Elena Doldo ◽  
Daniele Marino ◽  
Mattia Falconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽  
Fungistatic Activity

AIM: Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen and causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), with high mortality among immunosuppressed patients. Fungistatic activity of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been recently described in vitro. We evaluated the efficacy of ATRA in vivo and its potential synergistic interaction with other antifungal drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat model of IPA and in vitro experiments were performed to assess the efficacy of ATRA against Aspergillus in association with classical antifungal drugs and in silico studies used to clarify its mechanism of action. RESULTS: ATRA (0.5 and 1 mM) displayed a strong fungistatic activity in Aspergillus cultures, while at lower concentrations, synergistically potentiated fungistatic efficacy of sub-inhibitory concentration of Amphotericin B (AmB) and Posaconazole (POS). ATRA also enhanced macrophagic phagocytosis of conidia. In a rat model of IPA, ATRA reduced mortality similarly to Posaconazole. CONCLUSION: Fungistatic efficacy of ATRA alone and synergistically with other antifungal drugs was documented in vitro, likely by inhibiting fungal Hsp90 expression and Hsp90-related genes. ATRA reduced mortality in a model of IPA in vivo. Those findings suggest ATRA as suitable fungistatic agent, also to reduce dosage and adverse reaction of classical antifungal drugs, and new therapeutic strategies against IPA and systemic fungal infections.

Niacin stimulates adiponectin secretion through the GPR109A receptor

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. E549-E558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P. Plaisance ◽  
Martina Lukasova ◽  
Stefan Offermanns ◽  
Youyan Zhang ◽  
Guoqing Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Serum Adiponectin ◽  
Cell Surface Expression ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
In The Wild

Niacin (nicotinic acid) has recently been shown to increase serum adiponectin concentrations in men with the metabolic syndrome. However, little is known about the mechanism(s) by which niacin regulates the intracellular trafficking and secretion of adiponectin. Since niacin appears to exert its effects on lipolysis through receptor (GPR109A)-dependent and -independent pathways, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the role of the recently identified GPR109A receptor in adiponectin secretion. Initial in vivo studies in rats demonstrated that niacin (30 mg/kg po) acutely increases serum adiponectin concentrations, whereas it decreases NEFAs. Further in vitro studies demonstrated an increase in adiponectin secretion and a decrease in lipolysis in primary adipocytes following treatment with niacin or β-hydroxybutyrate (an endogenous ligand of the GPR109A receptor), but these effects were blocked when adipocytes were pretreated with pertussis toxin. Niacin had no effect on adiponectin secretion or lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which have limited cell surface expression of the GPR109A receptor. To further substantiate these in vitro findings, wild-type and GPR109A receptor knockout mice were administered a single dose of niacin or placebo, and serum was obtained for the determination of adiponectin and NEFA concentrations. Serum adiponectin concentrations increased and serum NEFAs decreased in the wild-type mice within 10 min following niacin administration. However, niacin administration had no effect on adiponectin and NEFA concentrations in the GPR109A receptor knockout mice. These results demonstrate that the GPR109A receptor plays an important role in the dual regulation of adiponectin secretion and lipolysis.

scholarly journals Deficiency of MicroRNA-181a Results in Transcriptome-Wide Cell Specific Changes in the Kidney that Lead to Elevated Blood Pressure and Salt Sensitivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine R. Paterson ◽  
Kristy L. Jackson ◽  
Malathi I. Dona ◽  
Gabriella E. Farrugia ◽  
Bruna Visniauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Salt Sensitivity ◽  
Juxtaglomerular Cells ◽  
Renal Cells ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Knockout Mouse Model

AbstractMicroRNA miR-181a is down-regulated in the kidneys of hypertensive patients and hypertensive mice. In vitro, miR-181a is a posttranslational inhibitor of renin expression, but pleiotropic mechanisms by which miR-181a may influence blood pressure (BP) are unknown. Here we determined whether deletion of miR-181a/b-1 in vivo changes BP and the molecular mechanisms involved at the single-cell level. We developed a knockout mouse model lacking miR-181a/b-1 genes using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Radio-telemetry probes were implanted in twelve-week-old C57BL/6J wild-type and miR-181a/b-1 knockout mice. Systolic and diastolic BP were 4-5mmHg higher in knockout compared with wild-type mice over 24-hours (P<0.01). Compared with wild-type mice, renal renin was higher in the juxtaglomerular cells of knockout mice. BP was similar in wild-type mice on a high (3.1%) versus low (0.3%) sodium diet (+0.4±0.8mmHg) but knockout mice showed salt sensitivity (+3.3±0.8mmHg, P<0.001). Since microRNAs can target several mRNAs simultaneously, we performed single-nuclei RNA-sequencing in 6,699 renal cells. We identified 12 distinct types of renal cells, all of which had genes that were dysregulated. This included genes involved in renal fibrosis and inflammation such as Stat4, Col4a1, Cd81, Flt3l, Cxcl16, Smad4. We observed up-regulation of pathways related to the immune system, inflammatory response, reactive oxygen species and nerve development, consistent with higher tyrosine hydroxylase. In conclusion, downregulation of the miR-181a gene led to increased BP and salt sensitivity in mice. This is likely due to an increase in renin expression in juxtaglomerular cells, as well as microRNA-driven pleiotropic effects impacting renal pathways associated with hypertension.

scholarly journals Effect of Quarum Sensing Molecules on Aspergillus fumigatus

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-358
Author(s):  
Thanwa WONGSUK ◽  
Passanesh SUKPHOPETCH
Keyword(s):  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
A549 Cells ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cytotoxic Activities ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen to which immunocompromised patients are especially susceptible. A. fumigatus can form biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) have activity against some fungi. This study aimed to determine the activity of the QSMs farnesol, tyrosol, phenylethanol and tryptophol against the growth A. fumigatus on solid media, and against its ability to form biofilms. The activity of each QSM against planktonic A. fumigatus growth was assessed using the CLSI M38-A2 broth microdilution assay, while QSM inhibition of A. fumigatus’s biofilm formation was measured in crystal violet, and 2, 3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-caboxanilide (XTT) assays. The QSMs reduced the colony diameter of the studied strains in a QSM-dependent pattern. Tryptophol showed the best effect and tyrosol showed the poorest effect. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for farnesol, tyrosol, phenylethanol and tryptophol tested against A. fumigatus were > 32, > 32, 16 and 8 mM, respectively. The effective concentration each QSM required to inhibit A. fumigatus biofilm formation were higher than the planktonic MICs. In this study, the performance of QSMs against A. fumigatus ranked from best to worst as follows: tryptophol, phenylethanol, farnesol and tyrosol. Because of phenylethanol and tryptophol showed the strongest effect to the growth and biofilm formation of A. fumigatus. Therefore, the cytotoxic activities of phenylethanol and tryptophol in A549 cells (lung alveolar epithelial cells) were determined. However, phenylethanol and tryptophol induced A549 cell damage (at MIC level), as demonstrated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays.

ADAMTS13 Regulates Neutrophil Recruitment in a Mouse Model of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 4109-4109
Author(s):  
Markus Radsak ◽  
Steve Prüfer ◽  
Katharina Ebner ◽  
Michael Weber ◽  
Sebastian Reuter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ◽  
Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils ◽  
Formyl Peptide Receptor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Abstract Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is secreted as an acute phase protein during inflammation. The main mechanism regulating the size and prothrombotic activity of VWF is the specific proteolytic activity of ADAMTS-13. To determine the relevance of this regulatory pathway for the innate inflammatory response by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), we employed a mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) where PMN functionality is crucial for fungal clearance and survival. IPA was induced by intratracheal application of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia in wild-type (129/Sv/Pas) or Adamts13 deficient (Adamts13-/-) mice. After PMN depletion using a anti-Gr-1 specific antibody, all mice infected with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia developed neutropenia and succumbed due to lethal IPA. In contrast, all undepleted wild-type mice survived the infection. Interestingly, Aspergillus fumigatus infection in Adamts13-/- mice was lethal in 20% of the animals displaying a more severe course of IPA, as indicated by an increased fungal burden in lung homogenates along with increased levels of albumin and the inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, KC and MCP-1 in the bronchio-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) compared to wild-type controls. Beyond this, we observed a decreased number of PMN in BALF of infected Adamts13-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Lung histology sections demonstrated a more pronounced perivascular leukocyte infiltration in further support of a dysregulated inflammatory response in Adamts13-/- mice. Importantly, we observed no general defect in the activation of neutrophil effector functions as demonstrated by the normal induction of the oxidative burst, phagocytosis, degranulation, L-selectin shedding and apoptosis in response to formyl-peptide receptor agonists or exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus conidia or hyphae in vitro. Therefore, we conclude that the proteolytic regulation of VWF by ADAMTS-13 in an important mechanism to control PMN recruitment in the regulation of the innate inflammatory response in invasive fungal infections. Disclosures Radsak: Celgene: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Development of a novel β-1,6-glucan–specific detection system using functionally-modified recombinant endo-β-1,6-glucanase

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (16) ◽  
pp. 5362-5376
Author(s):  
Daisuke Yamanaka ◽  
Kazushiro Takatsu ◽  
Masahiro Kimura ◽  
Muthulekha Swamydas ◽  
Hiroaki Ohnishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Sandwich Elisa ◽  
Coagulation System ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

β-1,3-d-Glucan is a ubiquitous glucose polymer produced by plants, bacteria, and most fungi. It has been used as a diagnostic tool in patients with invasive mycoses via a highly-sensitive reagent consisting of the blood coagulation system of horseshoe crab. However, no method is currently available for measuring β-1,6-glucan, another primary β-glucan structure of fungal polysaccharides. Herein, we describe the development of an economical and highly-sensitive and specific assay for β-1,6-glucan using a modified recombinant endo-β-1,6-glucanase having diminished glucan hydrolase activity. The purified β-1,6-glucanase derivative bound to the β-1,6-glucan pustulan with a KD of 16.4 nm. We validated the specificity of this β-1,6-glucan probe by demonstrating its ability to detect cell wall β-1,6-glucan from both yeast and hyphal forms of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, without any detectable binding to glucan lacking the long β-1,6-glucan branch. We developed a sandwich ELISA-like assay with a low limit of quantification for pustulan (1.5 pg/ml), and we successfully employed this assay in the quantification of extracellular β-1,6-glucan released by >250 patient-derived strains of different Candida species (including Candida auris) in culture supernatant in vitro. We also used this assay to measure β-1,6-glucan in vivo in the serum and in several organs in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Our work describes a reliable method for β-1,6-glucan detection, which may prove useful for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections.

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