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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus
Published on: April 19, 2017
CCPG1 involved in corneal Aspergillus fumigatus infection
Li-Mei Wang1, Xiao-Meng Chen1, Hai-Jing Yan1
1Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China.
Aim:
To investigate whether non-canonical autophagy transport receptor cell cycle progression 1 (CCPG1) is involved in the corneal antifungal immune response.
Methods:
Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and human myeloid leukemia mononuclear cells (THP-1) macrophages stimulated by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) were used as cell models. The expression of CCPG1 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of CCPG1 and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The dectin-1 neutralizing antibody was used to detect the association between dectin-1 and CCPG1. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the colocalization of CCPG1 and C-type lectin-like receptor-1 (CLEC-1) in THP-1 macrophages.
Results:
The expression of CCPG1 started to increase at 4h after infection and increased in a time-dependent manner in HCECs and THP-1 macrophages. With dectin-1 neutralizing antibody pretreatment, the expression of IL-1β was down-regulated. CCPG1 up-regulation in response to A. fumigatus infection was independent of dectin-1. Immunofluorescence showed the colocalization of CCPG1 and CLEC-1 in THP-1 macrophages.
Conclusion:
As a specific autophagy protein of non-canonical autophagy pathway, CCPG1 is involved in corneal infection with A. fumigatus.
Insights
Cell cycle progression 1 (CCPG1) is involved in the corneal antifungal immune response. This non-canonical autophagy protein is upregulated during Aspergillus fumigatus infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- The corneal immune response to fungal infections is critical for maintaining ocular health.
- Autophagy plays a significant role in cellular defense mechanisms.
- Non-canonical autophagy pathways are increasingly recognized for their roles in immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cell cycle progression 1 (CCPG1), a non-canonical autophagy transport receptor, in the corneal antifungal immune response.
- To determine if CCPG1 is involved in the cellular defense against Aspergillus fumigatus infection in the cornea.
Main Methods:
- Utilized human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and THP-1 macrophages stimulated with Aspergillus fumigatus.
- Quantified CCPG1 mRNA and protein expression using qRT-PCR and Western blot.
- Assessed interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and investigated the association between dectin-1 and CCPG1 using neutralizing antibodies and immunofluorescence.
Main Results:
- CCPG1 expression significantly increased in HCECs and THP-1 macrophages in a time-dependent manner following A. fumigatus infection.
- CCPG1 upregulation was independent of the dectin-1 signaling pathway.
- Immunofluorescence confirmed the colocalization of CCPG1 with C-type lectin-like receptor-1 (CLEC-1) in THP-1 macrophages, suggesting a potential interaction.
Conclusions:
- CCPG1 functions as a specific autophagy protein within the non-canonical autophagy pathway.
- CCPG1 is implicated in the corneal immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus infection.
- These findings highlight CCPG1 as a potential target for managing fungal keratitis.
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