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Efficient Method for Imaging Murine Lungs that Preserves Spatial Dynamics of Fungal Spores in the Airways
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Characterisation of innate fungal recognition in the lung

Inês Faro-Trindade1, Janet A Willment, Ann M Kerrigan

  • 1Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa.

Plos One
|April 27, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pulmonary surfactant limits fungal inflammation by reducing leukocyte interactions. Innate fungal recognition occurs via Dectin-1 and other PRRs within acidified phagolysosomes, not through surfactant opsonization.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Leukocyte recognition of fungi involves pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) like Dectin-1, initiating host defense.
  • Pulmonary surfactant influences inflammation and lung function, but its role in fungal recognition is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate pulmonary innate recognition of fungi.
  • To determine the role of surfactant in fungal recognition and inflammation.
  • To identify the cellular compartments involved in sensing fungal pathogens.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of leukocytes to fungal particles (zymosan, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus).
  • Assessment of fungal recognition and inflammatory responses.
  • Analysis of surfactant opsonization effects on host-cell fungal interactions.
  • Investigation of PRR involvement and intracellular signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Surfactant opsonization limits inflammation by reducing host-cell fungal interactions but does not mediate direct innate recognition.
  • Innate fungal recognition is mediated by non-opsonic PRRs, including Dectin-1.
  • Pulmonary inflammatory responses to Aspergillus conidia are initiated by PRRs within acidified phagolysosomes after fungal uptake.

Conclusions:

  • Surfactant maintains pulmonary function during fungal challenge by modulating inflammatory responses.
  • Acidified phagolysosomes are identified as a novel intracellular site for innate sensing of extracellular fungal pathogens by leukocytes.

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