scholarly journals Innate Lung Defense during Invasive Aspergillosis: New Mechanisms

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaleesa M. Garth ◽  
Chad Steele

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is one of the most difficult to treat and, consequently, one of the most lethal fungal infections known to man. Continued use of immunosuppressive agents during chemotherapy and organ transplantation often leads to the development of neutropenia, the primary risk factor for IA. However, IA is also becoming more appreciated in chronic diseases associated with corticosteroid therapy. The innate immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus, the primary agent in IA, plays a pivotal role in the recognition and elimination of organisms from the pulmonary system. This review highlights recent findings about innate host defense mechanisms, including novel aspects of innate cellular immunity and pathogen recognition, and the inflammatory mediators that control infection with A. fumigatus.

Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2222-2222
Author(s):  
Holger Hebart ◽  
Andreas Mickan ◽  
Ziad Haddad ◽  
Juergen Loeffler ◽  
Jean-Paul Latge ◽  
...  

Abstract Appropriate activation of the innate and adaptive immune system is crucial for the successful control of invasive aspergillosis (IA). Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease as well as corticosteroids were described as major risk factors for the development of IA. In this study, we assessed the impact of immunosuppressive agents (dexamethasone, rapamycin, Cyclosporin A, FK506) on the A. fumigatus induced activation of monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells (iDC) and A. fumigatus-specific T-cell responses in well established cell culture models. Immature DCs were found to be activated and to differentiate into mature DCs in response to A. fumigatus antigens. The upregulation of CD86 was inhibited by dexamethasone (D) in 3 out of 3 experiments, and of CD40 and CD80 in 2/3. CSA and FK506 had a variable impact on the upregulation of CD86, but not on CD40 and CD80, whereas the expression of co-stimulatory molecules was found unchanged upon incubation with rapamycin. Autologous DCs were found to restore A. fumigatus-specific T-cell responses. T-cell proliferation to A. fumigatus hyphae and a cellular extract of the culture filtrate were found to be strongly inhibited by rapamycin and dexamethasone (n=3), whereas the effect of CSA and FK506 (n=3) at the concentrations analysed was variable. The release of IFN-g in culture supernatants upon stimulation with A. fumigatus antigens was strongly reduced in the presence of rapamycin (n=3), whereas the release of IL-4 was found to be increased in the majority of experiments (n=3). Comparable results were observed upon stimulation with tetanus toxoid and a CMV lysate (n=3). These data indicate, that A. fumigatus-spec. T-cell responses may be directed towards a TH2 phenotype in the presence of immunosuppressive agents. In summary, immunosuppressive agents were found to exert differential effects on adaptive and innate immune responses directed against A. fumigatus. Whereas dexamethasone was found to modulate the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on A. fumigatus activated iDCs and to suppress A. fumigatus-specific lymphoproliferation, rapamycin exerted only minor effects on DC-activation but had a strong impact on A. fumigatus-induced T-cell responses. These results may help to tailor immunosuppressive regimens in patients at high risk for invasive aspergillosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
O. P. Kozlova ◽  
M. M. Kostik ◽  
M. D. Kuznetsova ◽  
M. F. Dubko ◽  
L. S. Snegireva ◽  
...  

Introduction. In children with rheumatic diseases, severe fungal infections (invasive mycoses – IM) are not well understood.Objectives. To analyze risk factors, disease course of IM in children with systemic rheumatic diseases.Materials and methods. For diagnosis of IM were used criteria EORTC/MSGERC, 2019. We reviewed the literature over the past 15 years on IM in children with rheumatic diseases from the international databases Pubmed and Web of Science.Results. In retrospective multicenter study were included 8 children with IM and systemic rheumatic diseases: ANCA-associated vasculitis (n=4), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=3), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (n=1). Median age was 13,5 (8-17) y., boys – 67%. Invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed in 5 patients and invasive candidiasis – 3. The risk factors of invasive mycoses were high rheumatic disease activity (100%), corticosteroids (prednisolone ≥ 0,3 mg/kg/d) use for ≥21 d (87,5%), immunosuppressive therapy (87,5%), recent (≤ 2 weeks) pulse steroid therapy (75%), hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (62,5%), prolonged (≥ 10 days) severe neutropenia (≤ 0,5х109/l) (62,5%), and prolonged (≥10 days lymphopenia (≤ 1,0х109/l) (37,5%). In patients with invasive aspergillosis the involved organ was the lung, in patients with invasive candidiasis a candidemia was diagnoses. All patients received antifungal therapy. The overall 30 days survival rate was 37,5%.Сonclusions. Children with high rheumatic diseases activity and intensive treatment with immunosuppressive agents should be considered as patients with a high risk of invasive mycoses with a high mortality. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 382
Author(s):  
Vuvi G. Tran ◽  
Na N. Z. Nguyen ◽  
Byungsuk Kwon

Invasive fungal infections by Candida albicans frequently cause mortality in immunocompromised patients. Neutrophils are particularly important for fungal clearance during systemic C. albican infection, yet little has been known regarding which surface receptor controls neutrophils’ antifungal activities. CD137, which is encoded by Tnfrsf9, belongs to the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily and has been shown to regulate neutrophils in Gram-positive bacterial infection. Here, we used genetic and immunological tools to probe the involvement of neutrophil CD137 signaling in innate defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection. We first found that Tnfrsf9−/− mice were susceptible to C. albicans infection, whereas injection of anti-CD137 agonistic antibody protected the host from infection, suggesting that CD137 signaling is indispensable for innate immunity against C. albicans infection. Priming of isolated neutrophils with anti-CD137 antibody promoted their phagocytic and fungicidal activities through phospholipase C. In addition, injection of anti-CD137 antibody significantly augmented restriction of fungal growth in Tnfrsf9−/− mice that received wild-type (WT) neutrophils. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CD137 signaling contributes to defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection by promoting rapid fungal clearance.


Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Luis Martinez-Sobrido ◽  
David Topham ◽  
Marta DeDiego

Influenza A viruses (IAV) can infect a broad range of animal hosts, including humans. In humans, IAV causes seasonal annual epidemics and occasional pandemics, representing a serious public health and economic problem, which is most effectively prevented through vaccination. The defense mechanisms that the host innate immune system provides restrict IAV replication and infection. Consequently, to successfully replicate in interferon (IFN)-competent systems, IAV has to counteract host antiviral activities, mainly the production of IFN and the activities of IFN-induced host proteins that inhibit virus replication. The IAV multifunctional proteins PA-X and NS1 are virulence factors that modulate the innate immune response and virus pathogenicity. Notably, these two viral proteins have synergistic effects in the inhibition of host protein synthesis in infected cells, although using different mechanisms of action. Moreover, the control of innate immune responses by the IAV NS1 and PA-X proteins is subject to a balance that can determine virus pathogenesis and fitness, and recent evidence shows co-evolution of these proteins in seasonal viruses, indicating that they should be monitored for enhanced virulence. Importantly, inhibition of host gene expression by the influenza NS1 and/or PA-X proteins could be explored to develop improved live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) by modulating the ability of the virus to counteract antiviral host responses. Likewise, both viral proteins represent a reasonable target for the development of new antivirals for the control of IAV infections. In this review, we summarize the role of IAV NS1 and PA-X in controlling the antiviral response during viral infection.


2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2981-2982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Baron ◽  
Jean Marc Zini ◽  
Thibaut Challan Belval ◽  
Marguerite Vignon ◽  
Blandine Denis ◽  
...  

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2510
Author(s):  
Paulina Żelechowska ◽  
Joanna Pastwińska ◽  
Ewa Brzezińska-Błaszczyk ◽  
Justyna Agier

The fungal kingdom includes a group of microorganisms that are widely distributed in the environment, and therefore the exposure to them is almost constant. Furthermore, fungal components of the microbiome, i.e., mycobiome, could serve as a reservoir of potentially opportunistic pathogens. Despite close encounters with fungi, defense mechanisms that develop during fungal infections remain unexplored. The strategic location of mast cells (MCs) close to the external environment places them among the first cells to encounter pathogens along with the other innate immune cells. MCs are directly involved in the host defense through the ability to destroy pathogens or indirectly by activating other immune cells. Most available data present MCs’ involvement in antibacterial, antiviral, or antiparasitic defense mechanisms. However, less is known about their contribution in defense mechanisms against fungi. MCs may support immune responses to fungi or their specific molecules through initiated degranulation, synthesis and release of cytokines, chemokines, mediators, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as immune cells’ recruitment, phagocytosis, or provision of extracellular DNA traps. This review summarizes current knowledge on host defense mechanisms against fungi and MCs’ involvement in those processes. It also describes the effects of fungi or fungus-derived constituents on MCs’ activity.


Author(s):  
Vu Vi Giang Tran ◽  
Zen Na Nu Nguyen ◽  
Byungsuk Kwon

Invasive fungal infections by Candida albicans frequently cause mortality in immunocompromised patients. Neutrophils are particularly important for fungal clearance at the early phase of infections, yet little has been known regarding which surface receptor controls neutrophil phagocytic activities during systemic C. albicans infection. CD137, which is encoded by Tnfrsf9, belongs to the tumor necrosis receptor superfamily and has been shown to regulate neutrophils in Gram-positive bacterial infection. Here, we used genetic and immunological tools to probe the involvement of CD137 signaling in innate defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection. We first found that Tnfrsf9-/- mice were susceptible to C. albicans infection, whereas injection of anti-CD137 agonistic antibody protected the host from infection, suggesting that CD137 signaling is indispensable for innate immunity against C. albicans infection. Priming of isolated neutrophils with anti-CD137 antibody promoted their phagocytic and fungicidal activities through phospholipase C. In addition, injection of anti-CD137 antibody significantly augmented restriction of fungal growth in Tnfrsf9-/- mice that received WT neutrophils. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CD137 signaling contributes to defense mechanisms against systemic C. albicans infection by promoting rapid fungal clearance whereby harmful immunopathology-induced tissue injuries are minimalized.


1976 ◽  
Vol 295 (18) ◽  
pp. 990-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Newhouse ◽  
J. Sanchis ◽  
J. Bienenstock

2018 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten F. de Jong ◽  
Neal M. Alto

ABSTRACT The enteric attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and the invasive pathogens enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and Shigella encode type III secretion systems (T3SS) used to inject effector proteins into human host cells during infection. Among these are a group of effectors required for NF-κB-mediated host immune evasion. Recent studies have identified several effector proteins from A/E pathogens and EIEC/ Shigella that are involved in suppression of NF-κB and have uncovered their cellular and molecular functions. A novel mechanism among these effectors from both groups of pathogens is to coordinate effector function during infection. This cooperativity among effector proteins explains how bacterial pathogens are able to effectively suppress innate immune defense mechanisms in response to diverse classes of immune receptor signaling complexes (RSCs) stimulated during infection.


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