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Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Assessing Anti-fungal Activity of Isolated Alveolar Macrophages by Confocal Microscopy
Published on: July 9, 2014
Anti-fungal T cell responses in the lung and modulation by the gut-lung axis
Alexander Scheffold1, Petra Bacher2
1Institute of Immunology, Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel & Universitätsklinik Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
The lung is a central organ for immune-environmental interactions ranging from tolerance against harmless substances to protection against pathogens, which are particularly sensitive to regulation by the intestinal microbiota. Airborne fungi, can cause variety of diseases, including allergies and inflammatory disorders, as well as life-threatening invasive infections. Remarkable differences exist between ubiquitous fungal species with regard to protective immune mechanisms. Recent data have surprisingly identified Aspergillus-specific regulatory T cells as an essential tolerance checkpoint and provided mechanistic insight for the loss of tolerance in the course of immune pathologies. Furthermore, pathogenic Th17 cells in Aspergillus-associated inflammatory disease seem to be induced by cross-reactivity to the intestinal commensal Candida albicans. Here we review and discuss what is known about fungus-specific T cell responses in the lung how they are modulated by the gut-lung axis and in particular discussing the modulation of adaptive immune responses by cross-reactivity to the microbiota.
Insights
The gut microbiota influences lung immunity, affecting responses to airborne fungi like Aspergillus. Cross-reactivity between gut microbes and fungi can trigger inflammatory lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- The lung is crucial for immune responses to environmental factors, influenced by gut microbiota.
- Airborne fungi cause lung diseases, with varying immune responses depending on the species.
- Regulatory T cells and Th17 cells play roles in lung immunity and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review fungus-specific T cell responses in the lung.
- To discuss the modulation of lung immunity by the gut-lung axis.
- To explore cross-reactivity between microbiota and fungi in lung inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on T cell responses to fungi.
- Analysis of mechanisms linking gut microbiota to lung immunity.
- Discussion of cross-reactivity in fungal-associated lung diseases.
Main Results:
- Aspergillus-specific regulatory T cells are key for immune tolerance in the lung.
- Loss of tolerance is linked to immune pathologies.
- Pathogenic Th17 cells in Aspergillus-associated disease may arise from Candida albicans cross-reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Fungus-specific T cell responses in the lung are modulated by the gut-lung axis.
- Microbiota-fungi cross-reactivity significantly impacts adaptive immune responses in the lung.
- Understanding these interactions is vital for managing lung inflammatory diseases.
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