FHL2 deficiency aggravates Candida albicans infection through decreased myelopoiesis

Hematopoiesis is a finely tuned process that generates all blood cell types through self-renewal and differentiation, which is crucial for maintaining homeostasis. Acute infections can prompt a hematopoietic response known as emergency myelopoiesis. In this study, using a Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection model, we demonstrated for the first time that disruption of Fhl2 led to increased fungal burden, heightened inflammatory response and reduced survival rates. Impaired myeloid hematopoiesis and immune cell production were evident, as proved by the decreased numbers of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and granulocytes in the bone marrow of Fhl2-deficient mice. In conclusion, FHL2 regulated emergency myelopoiesis in response to C. albicans, affecting the host's defense against pathogens.