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Updated: Apr 22, 2026
Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus
Published on: April 19, 2017
Th and Treg response induced by Aspergillus fumigatus pulsed dendritic cells in vitro
Runchao Wang1, Zhe Wan1, Ruoyu Li1
1Department of Dermatology, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Background:
Dendritic cells (DCs) can recognize the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), activating the immune response. During A. fumigatus infection, a Th and Treg response induced in the fungi-pulsed DCs is not yet well understood.
Methods:
In this study, bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were separated and proliferated from C57BL/6 mice. A. fumigatus pulsed DCs were generated and cultured with CD4(+) T cells derived from the spleen of C57BL/6 mice in vitro. CD4(+) T cells differentiation after co-culture were analyzed by flow cytometry, ELISA, and real-time PCR analysis.
Results:
The A. fumigatus pulsed DCs exhibited increased Th1 and Treg frequency, Th1-related cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12), Treg-related cytokines (TGF-β) and T-bet, and Foxp3 mRNA levels compared with the control group. There was no significant difference between A. fumigatus pulsed DCs group and the control group about Th17 and Th2 frequency.
Conclusions:
The inactivated conidia of A. fumigatus were able to activate BMDCs and made them capable of triggering T cell responses in vitro. A. fumigatus loaded DCs was a weak inducer of Th17 and Th2, but induced a strong Th1 and Treg response.
Insights
Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) activates dendritic cells (DCs) to induce strong Th1 and regulatory T cell (Treg) responses, while Th17 and Th2 responses remain weak. This study clarifies DC-mediated immune responses during A. fumigatus infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), initiating immune responses.
- The specific T helper (Th) and regulatory T cell (Treg) responses induced by fungi-pulsed DCs during A. fumigatus infection require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immune response, specifically Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg differentiation, induced by A. fumigatus-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro.
- To analyze the expression of key cytokines and transcription factors associated with T cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were isolated and cultured from C57BL/6 mice.
- BMDCs were pulsed with A. fumigatus and co-cultured with CD4(+) T cells.
- T cell differentiation was assessed using flow cytometry, ELISA, and real-time PCR.
Main Results:
- A. fumigatus-pulsed DCs showed increased frequencies of Th1 and Treg cells compared to controls.
- Elevated levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12), Treg cytokines (TGF-β), and transcription factors (T-bet, Foxp3) were observed.
- No significant differences in Th17 and Th2 cell frequencies were detected between the experimental and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Inactivated A. fumigatus conidia effectively activate BMDCs, enabling them to trigger T cell responses in vitro.
- A. fumigatus-loaded DCs are potent inducers of Th1 and Treg responses but weak inducers of Th17 and Th2 responses.
