Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
Type
ArticleCopyright
Open access
Collections
- IOC - Artigos de Periódicos [12821]
Metadata
Show full item record
INVOLVEMENT OF THE CAPSULAR GALXM-INDUCED IL-17 CYTOKINE IN THE CONTROL OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS INFECTION
citocina IL-17 capsulada
Infecção
GalXMinduced
Controle
Author
Affilliation
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus that can cause lethal brain infections in immunosuppressed individuals. Infection usually occurs via the inhalation of a spore or desiccated yeast which can then disseminate from the lung to the brain and other tissues. Dissemination and disease is largely influence by the production of copious amounts of cryptococcal polysaccharides, both which are secreted to the extracellular environment or assembled into a thick capsule surrounding the cell body. There are two important polysaccharides: glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and galactoxylomannan, also called as glucuronoxylomanogalactan (GXMGal or GalXM). Although GXM is more abundant, GalXM has a more potent modulatory effect. In the present study, we show that GalXM is a potent activator of murine dendritic cells, and when co-cultured with T cells, induces a Th17 cytokine response. We also demonstrated that treating mice with GalXM prior to infection with C. neoformans protects from infection, and this phenomenon is dependent on IL-6 and IL-17. These findings help us understand the immune biology of capsular polysaccharides in fungal pathogenesis.
Keywords in Portuguese
Cryptococcus neoformanscitocina IL-17 capsulada
Infecção
GalXMinduced
Controle
Share