Up-regulation of Dectin-1 in airway epithelial cells promotes mice defense against invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

作者:Liu, Zhi-Cheng; Wang, Min; Sun, Wen-Kui; Xia, Di; Tan, Ming-Ming; Ding, Yuan; Qian, Qian; Su, Xin; Shi, Yi*
来源:International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2015, 8(10): 17489-17497.

摘要

Introduction: With the growing number of immunocompromised patients, the incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis increases. Innate immunity plays a significant role in defensing against fungal infection. Airway epithelial cells induce immune responses like the production of cytokine and chemokine via Dectin-1 signaling pathway in response to Aspergillus fumigatus. Thus, we hypothesized that up-regulation of Dectin-1 on airway epithelium cells would promote the defense against A. fumigatus. Methods: We designed an adenoviral vector encoding full-length Dectin-1, and then transfected it into mice airway epithelial cells via intratracheal injection before the invasion of A. fumigatus. Transfect mice model was verified by using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. And also, we studied the effects of up-regulation of Dectin-1 on the production of proinflammatory cytokines, histological changes, fungal burden and survival rate during A. fumigatus infection. Results: The expression level of Dectin-1 in lungs of mice with Dectin-1 recombinant adenoviral vector significantly increased. And also, the mice had higher production of TNF-alpha, GM-CSF and IL-1 beta, lower fungal burden, more recruitment of neutrophils into lungs and higher survival rate in response to A. fumigatus infection. Conclusions: The administration of Dectin-1 recombinant adenoviral vector through trachea can elevate the expression of Dectin-1 on airway epithelium, and also, its function during the course of A. fumigatus infection was demonstrated.