Antibody immunity andCryptococcus neoformans

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1180-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Casadevall
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Protein Vaccine ◽  
Polysaccharide Antigen ◽  
Chimeric Antibodies ◽  
Protective Antibodies ◽  
Human Infections

Recently there has been renewed interest in the potential of antibody immunity for the prevention and therapy of human Cryptococcus neoformans infections. Historically, the role of antibody immunity in protection against C. neoformans has been controversial. Experiments with polyclonal sera have produced evidence for and against the importance of antibody immunity in host defence. However, three groups have now shown that administration of monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the C. neoformans capsular polysaccharide (CPS) can modify the course of infection in mice. The quantity, isotype, and specificity of mAb appear to be important parameters of antibody efficacy against C. neoformans. Protective and nonprotective mAbs to CPS have been identified, suggesting a possible explanation for the divergent results obtained with polyclonal preparations, which presumably contain both types of antibodies. mAb administration has been shown to prolong survival, decrease organ fungal burden, and reduce serum polysaccharide antigen. The mechanism(s) by which mAb modify the course of infection is uncertain. In vitro experiments strongly suggest that antibodies mediate protection by enhancing effector cell function. The combination of antibody and amphotericin B is more effective than either agent alone for the treatment of murine cryptococcosis. Human–mouse chimeric antibodies with activity against C. neoformans have been constructed that may have advantages over mouse mAbs for therapy of human infections. A highly immunogenic capsular polysaccharide–protein vaccine has been made that can elicit protective antibodies in mice. Antibody immunity can modify the course of infection to the benefit of the host and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of human cryptococcosis. Key words: antibody, Cryptococcus neoformans, macrophage, vaccine, AIDS.

scholarly journals The enigmatic role of fungal annexins: the case of Cryptococcus neoformans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Maryam ◽  
Man Shun Fu ◽  
Alexandre Alanio ◽  
Emma Camacho ◽  
Diego S. Goncalves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Membrane Repair

AbstractAnnexins are multifunctional proteins that bind to phospholipid membranes in a calcium-dependent manner. Annexins play a myriad of critical and well-characterized roles in mammals, ranging from membrane repair to vesicular secretion. The role of annexins in the kingdoms of bacteria, protozoa and fungi have been largely overlooked. The fact that there is no known homologue of annexins in the model organism may contribute to this gap in knowledge. However, annexins are found in most medically important fungal pathogens, with the notable exception of Candida albicans. In this study we evaluated the function of the one annexin gene in Cryptococcus neoformans, a causative agent of cryptococcosis. This gene CNAG_02415, is annotated in the C. neoformans genome as a target of calcineurin through its transcription factor Crz1, and we propose to update its name to cryptococcal annexin, AnnexinC1. C. neoformans strains deleted for AnnexinC1 revealed no difference in survival after exposure to various chemical stressor relative the wild type, as well as no major alteration in virulence or mating. The only alteration observed in strains deleted for AnnexinC1 was a small increase in the titan cells formation in vitro. The preservation of annexins in many different fungal species suggests an important function, and therefore the lack of a strong phenotype for annexin-deficient C. neoformans is suggestive of either redundant genes that can compensate for the absence of AnnexinC1 function or novel functions not revealed by standard assays of cell function and pathogenicity.ImportanceCryptococcus neoformans is the deadliest human fungal pathogen, causing almost 200,000 deaths each year. Treatment of this lethal infection is lengthy, and in some patients therapy is not curative and patients require lifelong therapy. Fundamental research in this yeast is needed so that we can understand mechanisms of infection and disease and ultimately devise better therapies. In this work we investigated a fungal representative of the annexin family of proteins, specifically in the context of virulence and mating. We find that the cryptococcal annexin does not seem to be involved in virulence or mating but affects generation of titan cells, enlarged yeast cells that are detected in the lungs of mammalian hosts. Our data provides new knowledge in an unexplored area of fungal biology.

scholarly journals The role of IGFs in the regulation of ovarian follicular growth in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Lisa J Haydon ◽  
Brigitta Mester ◽  
Brian P Thomson ◽  
Michael Beaumont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Follicular Growth ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Ovarian Follicular Growth

IGFs are known to be key regulators of ovarian follicular growth in eutherian mammals, but little is known regarding their role in marsupials. To better understand the potential role of IGFs in the regulation of follicular growth in marsupials, expression of mRNAs encoding IGF1, IGF2, IGF1R, IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), IGFBP4 and IGFBP5 was localized by in situ hybridization in developing ovarian follicles of the brushtail possum. In addition, the effects of IGF1 and IGF2 on granulosa cell function were tested in vitro. Both granulosa and theca cells synthesize IGF mRNAs, with the theca expressing IGF1 mRNA and granulosa cell expressing IGF2 mRNA. Oocytes and granulosa cells express IGF1R. Granulosa and theca cells expressed IGFBP mRNAs, although the pattern of expression differed between the BPs. IGFBP5 mRNA was differentially expressed as the follicles developed with granulosa cells of antral follicles no longer expressing IGFBP5 mRNA, suggesting an increased IGF bioavailability in the antral follicle. The IGFBP protease, PAPPA mRNA, was also expressed in granulosa cells of growing follicles. Both IGF1 and IGF2 stimulated thymidine incorporation but had no effect on progesterone production. Thus, IGF may be an important regulator of ovarian follicular development in marsupials as has been shown in eutherian mammals.

Anti-Aging Effect of Siraitia grosuenorii by Enhancement of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (04) ◽  
pp. 803-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Bai ◽  
Guiying Shi ◽  
Yajun Yang ◽  
Wei Chen ◽  
Lianfeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Aging Process ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Whooping Cough ◽  
Aging Effect ◽  
Guangxi Province ◽  
Facs Analysis ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Associated Proteins

Anti-aging has always been a popular topic, and there are many claims about the existence of factors that can slow, stop, or even reverse the aging process. Siraitia grosuenorii, a local fruit in china, has been used for the treatment of gastritis, sore throats, and whooping cough in traditional Chinese medicine. The individuals who took the juice of Siraitia grosuenorii regularly had increased longevity in the Guangxi Province, which is located in the Southern part of China. In this paper, we fed mice with Siraitia grosuenorii for 10 months to identify the role of Siraitia grosuenorii in anti-aging and to investigate its corresponding mechanism. The results showed that mice fed with Siraitia grosuenorii displayed a slower aging process. The extension of the aging process was due to the enhanced function of HSCs. FACS analysis showed that the number of LSKs, LT-HSCs, ST-HSCs and MPPs from Siraitia grosuenorii mice was decreased. In vitro, a clonigenic assay showed that LT-HSCs from Siraitia grosuenorii mice increased the ability of self-renewal. Moreover, Siraitia grosuenorii mice maintained the quiescence of LSKs, decreased the level of ROS and reduced the amount of senescence associated β-gal positive cells. Furthermore, Siraitia grosuenorii mice decreased the expression of senescence-associated proteins. Siraitia grosuenorii maintained quiescence, decreased senescence and enhanced the function of HSCs, slowing the aging process of mice.

Group B Streptococcal and Pneumococcal Sepsis in Newborn Infants: The Role of Pneumococcal Antibody

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 620-621
Author(s):  
Gerald W. Fischer ◽  
James W. Bass ◽  
George H. Lowell ◽  
Martin H. Crumrine
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Hydrochloric Acid ◽  
Group B Streptococcus ◽  
Newborn Infants ◽  
Polysaccharide Antigen ◽  
Type Iii ◽  
Pneumococcal Sepsis ◽  
Group B

The article by Bortolussi et al. on pneumococcal septicemia and meningitis in the neonat (Pediatrics 60:352, September 1977) was of great interest to us, since we have been analyzing the effect of antibody directed against Streptococcus pneumoniae on group B Streptococcus type III. We have recently shown (unpublished data) that antibody directed against S. pneumoniae type 14 precipitates the hot hydrochloric acid-extracted polysaccharide antigen of group B Streptococcus type III. Further studies have shown that this antibody is opsonic for group B Streptococcus type III in an in vitro bactericidal assay and protective in a suckling rat model of group B Streptococcus type III sepsis.1

Enhanced Vascular Endothelial Cell Function on Nanostructured Titanium Surface Features: The Role of Nano to Submicron Roughness

2008 ◽  
Vol 1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Lu ◽  
Dongwoo Khang ◽  
Thomas J. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cell ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Endothelial Cell Function ◽  
Titanium Surfaces ◽  
Endothelial Cell Adhesion

ABSTRACTTo study the contribution of different surface feature properties in improving vascular endothelial cell adhesion, rationally designed nano/sub-micron patterns with various dimensions were created on titanium surfaces in this study. In vitro results indicated that endothelial cell adhesion was improved when the titanium pattern dimensions decreased into the nano-scale. Specifically, endothelial cells preferred to adhere on sub-micron and nano rough titanium substrates compared to flat titanium. Moreover, titanium with nano and sub-micron roughness and with the same chemistry as compared to flat titanium, had significantly greater surface energy. Thus, the present study indicated the strong potential of surface nanotopography and nano/sub-micron roughness for improving current vascular stent design.

scholarly journals Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1alpha) inhibition modulates cumulus cell function and affects bovine oocyte maturation in vitro†

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslihan Turhan ◽  
Miguel Tavares Pereira ◽  
Gerhard Schuler ◽  
Ulrich Bleul ◽  
Mariusz P Kowalewski
Keyword(s):  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Cumulus Cell ◽  
Cumulus Cells ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Maturation In Vitro

Abstract Various metabolic and hormonal factors expressed in cumulus cells are positively correlated with the in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes. However, the role of hypoxia sensing both during maturation of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) as well as during the resumption of meiosis remains uncertain. HIF1alpha plays major roles in cellular responses to hypoxia, and here we investigated its role during bovine COC maturation by assessing the expression of related genes in cumulus cells. COCs were divided into the following groups: immature (control), in vitro matured (IVM/control), or matured in the presence of a blocker of HIF1alpha activity (echinomycin, IVM/E). We found an inhibition of cumulus cell expansion in IVM/E, compared with the IVM/control. Transcript levels of several factors (n = 13) were assessed in cumulus cells. Decreased expression of HAS2, TNFAIP6, TMSB4, TMSB10, GATM, GLUT1, CX43, COX2, PTGES, and STAR was found in IVM/E (P < 0.05). Additionally, decreased protein levels were detected for STAR, HAS2, and PCNA (P < 0.05), while activated-Caspase 3 remained unaffected in IVM/E. Progesterone output decreased in IVM/E. The application of PX-478, another blocker of HIF1alpha expression, yielded identical results. Negative effects of HIF1alpha suppression were further observed in the significantly decreased oocyte maturation and blastocyst rates from COCs matured with echinomycin (P < 0.05) or PX-478 (P < 0.05). These results support the importance of HIF1alpha for COC maturation and subsequent embryo development. HIF1alpha is a multidirectional factor controlling intercellular communication within COCs, steroidogenic activity, and oocyte development rates, and exerting effects on blastocyst rates.

Normal Hematopoietic Stem Cell Functioning in p21−/− Mice.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1701-1701
Author(s):  
Leonie M. Kamminga ◽  
Kyrjon van Pelt ◽  
Bert Dontje ◽  
Gerald de Haan
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Homozygous Deletion ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Mixed Genetic Background ◽  
Senescent Phenotype

Abstract Recently, several studies have suggested that the family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors plays a crucial role in regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor pool size. However, due to a lack of appropriate transplantation models, competitive repopulation assays have not been performed. In the present study we have backcrossed a p21 null allele from mice with a mixed genetic background to inbred C57BL/6 mice. As expected, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from B6p21−/− mice failed to undergo senescence, whereas B6p21+/+ MEFs show a normal senescent phenotype. Moreover, B6p21−/− CFU-GM were more resistant to radiation compared to B6p21+/+. In contrast, homozygous deletion of the p21 allele did not affect the percentage of Lin− Sca-1+ c-kit+ cells in S-phase when measured by 7-AAD staining, and did not result in any alterations of in vitro cobblestone area forming cell activity. In a competitive repopulating assay different ratios of Ly5.2 BM cells from B6p21−/− or B6p21+/+ littermates were competed with 2 x 106 Ly5.1 B6 BM cells. Assuming similar repopulating capacity of both cell populations, expected chimerism was calculated. Surprisingly, observed and expected chimerism were identical, strongly suggesting that B6p21−/− stem cells had completely normal competitive repopulating activity for up to 1 year after transplant. Our data argue against an important role of p21 in maintaining stem cell function during steady-state hematopoiesis.

ASXL2 Is a Novel Mediator of RUNX1-ETO Transcriptional Function and Collaborates with RUNX1-ETO to Promote Leukemogenesis

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 302-302
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Micol ◽  
Nicolas Duployez ◽  
Alessandro Pastore ◽  
Robert Williams ◽  
Eunhee Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cell ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

Abstract Mutations in Addition of Sex Combs Like 1 (ASXL1) are common in patients with myeloid leukemias. More recently, mutations in ASXL2, a paralog of ASXL1 with ~40% shared amino acid homology, have been discovered to occur specifically in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients bearing the RUNX1-ETO (AML1-ETO; RUNX1-RUNX1T1) translocation and are amongst the most common mutations in RUNX1-ETO AML (mutated in 20-25% of patients). Although ASXL1 is critical for Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 function in myeloid hematopoietic cells and loss of Asxl1 recapitulates key aspects of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), the function of ASXL2 in normal or malignant hematopoiesis is unknown. We therefore set out to perform a functional comparison of ASXL1and ASXL2on hematopoiesis and transcription and determine the functional basis for frequent mutations in RUNX1-ETO AML. In vitro analyses of ASXL2 insertion/deletion mutations revealed that these mutations resulted in substantial reduction of ASXL2 protein expression, stability, and half-life. We therefore generated Asxl2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice to delineate the effect of ASXL2 loss on hematopoiesis. Competitive (Fig. 1A) and noncompetitive transplantation revealed that Asxl2 or compound Asxl1/2 loss resulted in cell-autonomous, rapid defects of hematopoietic stem cell function, self-renewal, and number with peripheral blood leukopenia and thrombocytopenia but without any obvious MDS features- phenotypes distinct from Asxl1 cKO mice. Mice with heterozygous deletion of Asxl2 demonstrated an intermediate phenotype between control and homozygous cKO mice indicating a gene dosage effect of Asxl2 loss. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from Asxl2- and Asxl1-deficient mice revealed twenty-fold greater differentially expressed genes in Asxl2 cKO mice relative to Asxl1 cKO mice. Interestingly, genes differentially expressed with Asxl2 loss significantly overlapped with direct transcriptional targets of RUNX1-ETO, findings not seen in Asxl1 cKO mice (Fig. 1B). Asxl2 target genes appeared to also be targets of RUNX1, a key gene repressed by RUNX1-ETO to promote leukemogenesis. Consistent with this, genome-wide analysis of Asxl2 binding sites through anti-Asxl2 ChIP-seq revealed that Asxl2 binding sites substantially overlap with those of Runx1. Overall, the above data suggest that Asxl2 may be a critical mediator of RUNX1-ETO mediated leukemogenesis by affecting the expression of RUNX1 and/or RUNX1-ETO target genes. RNA-seq of primary RUNX1-ETO AML patient samples revealed that ASXL2-mutant RUNX1-ETO patients form a distinct transcriptional subset of RUNX1-ETO AML (Fig. 1C) suggesting a specific role of ASXL2 in leukemogenesis. To functionally interrogate the role of ASXL2 loss in RUNX1-ETO mediated leukemogenesis we first utilized an in vitro model with RNAi-mediated depletion of ASXL1 or ASXL2 in the SKNO1 cell line (the only ASXL-wildtype human RUNX1-ETO cell line). RNA-seq revealed distinct target genes dysregulated by ASXL1 versus ASXL2 loss in these cells without any significant overlap. Anti-ASXL2, RUNX1, and RUNX1-ETO ChIPSeq in SKNO1 cells revealed significant co-occupancy of ASXL2 with RUNX1 and RUNX1-ETO binding sites. Moreover, analysis of histone modification ChIPSeq revealed an enrichment in intergenic and enhancer H3K4me1 abundance following ASXL2 loss in SKNO1 cells. Next, to understand the in vivo effects of Asxl2 loss in the context of RUNX1-ETO, we performed retroviral bone marrow (BM) transplantation assays using RUNX1-ETO9a in Asxl2 cKO mice. In contrast to the failure of hematopoietic stem cell function with Asxl2 deletion alone, mice reconstituted with BM cells expressing RUNX1-ETO9a in Asxl2-deficient background had a shortened leukemia-free survival compared to Asxl2 -wildtype control. Overall, these data reveal that ASXL2 is required for hematopoiesis and has differing biological and transcriptional functions from ASXL1. Moreover, this work identifies ASXL2 as a novel mediator of RUNX1-ETOtranscriptional function and provides a new model of penetrant RUNX1-ETO AML based on genetic events found in a substantial proportion of t(8;21) AML patients. Further interrogation of the enhancer alterations generated by ASXL2 loss in RUNX1-ETO AML may highlight new therapeutic approaches for this subset of AML. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Lipophilic Dye Staining of Cryptococcus neoformans Extracellular Vesicles and Capsule

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1373-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Moraes Nicola ◽  
Susana Frases ◽  
Arturo Casadevall
Keyword(s):  
Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Capsular Polysaccharide ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Acid Dyes ◽  
Whole Cells ◽  
Direct Binding

ABSTRACT Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that causes systemic mycosis in immunosuppressed individuals. Recent studies have determined that this fungus produces vesicles that are released to the extracellular environment both in vivo and in vitro. These vesicles contain assorted cargo that includes several molecules associated with virulence and implicated in host-pathogen interactions, such as capsular polysaccharides, laccase, urease, and other proteins. To date, visualization of extracellular vesicles has relied on transmission electron microscopy, a time-consuming technique. In this work we report the use of fluorescent membrane tracers to stain lipophilic structures in cryptococcal culture supernatants and capsules. Two dialkylcarbocyanine probes with different spectral characteristics were used to visualize purified vesicles by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Dual staining of vesicles with dialkylcarbocyanine and RNA-selective nucleic acid dyes suggested that a fraction of the vesicle population carried RNA. Use of these dyes to stain whole cells, however, was hampered by their possible direct binding to capsular polysaccharide. A fluorescent phospholipid was used as additional membrane tracer to stain whole cells, revealing punctate structures on the edge of the capsule which are consistent with vesicular trafficking. Lipophilic dyes provide new tools for the study of fungal extracellular vesicles and their content. The finding of hydrophobic regions in the capsule of C. neoformans adds to the growing evidence for a structurally complex structure composed of polysaccharide and nonpolysaccharide components.

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