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Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice
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Role of Toll-like receptors in systemic Candida albicans infections

Maria Luisa Gil1, Celia Murciano1, Alberto Yáñez2

  • 1Departament de Microbiologia i Ecologia, Universitat de Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.

Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark Edition)
|December 29, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) sense the fungus Candida albicans, activating immune cells and influencing host defense. TLRs on stem cells also guide immune cell development, offering new strategies for anti-Candida therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) crucial for detecting microbial pathogens like Candida albicans.
  • TLRs on mature immune cells initiate signaling cascades, producing cytokines essential for innate immunity and adaptive responses.
  • Specific TLRs (TLR2, TLR4, TLR7, TLR9) recognize distinct microbial components, with interactions influenced by fungal strain and morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the complex interactions between Candida albicans and Toll-like receptors (TLRs).
  • To investigate the role of TLRs expressed on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in immune cell differentiation.
  • To explore the potential of TLR-mediated pathways for developing novel anti-Candida immunointerventions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TLR recognition of Candida albicans.
  • Analysis of TLR signaling pathways in mature immune cells and HSPCs.
  • Examination of how fungal morphotype and strain affect TLR ligand expression and immune response.

Main Results:

  • TLR2 and TLR4 recognize cell wall ligands, while TLR7 and TLR9 detect nucleic acids of Candida albicans.
  • TLR engagement with Candida albicans influences the type of adaptive immune response (Th1/Th2/Th17).
  • TLR2 activation on HSPCs promotes differentiation into specific myeloid cell subsets.

Conclusions:

  • TLR recognition of Candida albicans is intricate, involving collaboration with other PRRs and influenced by fungal characteristics.
  • TLRs on HSPCs offer a novel mechanism for modulating hematopoiesis and directing immune cell development.
  • Targeting TLR pathways presents a promising avenue for developing innovative strategies against Candida infections.

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