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Innate and adaptive immune responses to fungi in the airway
Kathleen R Bartemes1, Hirohito Kita1
1Division of Allergic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, and the Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Abstract:
Fungi are ubiquitous outdoors and indoors. Exposure, sensitization, or both to fungi are strongly associated with development of asthma and allergic airway diseases. Furthermore, global climate change will likely increase the prevalence of fungi and enhance their antigenicity. Major progress has been made during the past several years regarding our understanding of antifungal immunity. Fungi contain cell-wall molecules, such as β-glucan and chitin, and secrete biologically active proteases and glycosidases. Airway epithelial cells and innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells, are equipped with cell-surface molecules that react to these fungal products, resulting in production of cytokines and proinflammatory mediators. As a result, the adaptive arm of antifungal immunity, including TH1-, TH2-, and TH17-type CD4+ T cells, is established, reinforcing protection against fungal infection and causing detrimental immunopathology in certain subjects. We are only in the beginning stages of understanding the complex biology of fungi and detailed mechanisms of how they activate the immune response that can protect against or drive diseases in human subjects. Here we describe our current understanding with an emphasis on airway allergic immune responses. The gaps in our knowledge and desirable future directions are also discussed.
Insights
Fungi exposure is linked to asthma and allergic airway diseases. Understanding antifungal immunity is crucial, especially with climate change potentially increasing fungal prevalence and allergenicity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Mycology
Background:
- Fungi are common indoor and outdoor allergens linked to asthma and allergic airway diseases.
- Climate change may increase fungal prevalence and allergenicity, exacerbating health impacts.
- Antifungal immunity research has advanced, revealing how fungi activate immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of antifungal immunity, focusing on airway allergic responses.
- To highlight knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions in fungal immunology.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on fungal components and immune cell interactions.
- Emphasis on the role of airway epithelial cells and innate immune cells (e.g., dendritic cells).
- Discussion of adaptive immune responses, including T helper cell subsets (TH1, TH2, TH17).
Main Results:
- Fungal cell-wall molecules (β-glucan, chitin) and secreted enzymes trigger immune responses.
- Immune cell recognition of fungal products leads to cytokine and mediator production.
- Adaptive immunity, including CD4+ T cells, is established for fungal defense but can cause immunopathology.
Conclusions:
- Significant progress in understanding antifungal immunity, but complex fungal biology and immune activation mechanisms require further study.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate how fungi trigger protective immunity versus detrimental immunopathology in humans.
- Focus on airway allergic responses is critical for managing fungal-related respiratory diseases.
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