The Role of Dectin-2 for Host Defense Against Disseminated Candidiasis

Acknowledgments This work was supported by European Union ALLFUN (FP7/2007 2013, HEALTH-2010-260338) (Fungi in the setting of inflammation, allergy and autoimmune diseases: Translating basic science into clinical practices ‘‘ALLFUN’’) to D.C.I., F.C., C.F., M.G.N., and N.A.R.G. M.G.N and J.Q. were supported by a Vici grant of The Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (to M.G.N.). M.G.N. was supported by an ERC Consolidator Grant (nr. 310372). N.A.R.G. was also supported by the Wellcome Trust (086827, 075470, 097377, & 101873).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Variable recognition of Candida albicans strains by TLR4 and lectin recognition receptors.

Contains fulltext : 87523.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The role of TLR4 in the recognition of Candida albicans has been brought into question. In order to assess whether discrepancies in the literature are due to differences in the recognition of various C. albicans strains, we selected 14 different isolates of C. albicans to evaluate their recognition by TLR4 and lectin receptors. We demonstrate that recognition of cell wall structures by lectin receptors is a consistent characteristic independent of the C. albicans strain selected, while recognition by TLR4 is a more variable feature. These data were corroborated by the increased susceptibility of TLR4-/- mice to a C. albicans strain recognized by TLR4, but not to a strain in which recognition has been shown to be independent of this receptor. This suggests a heavier reliance of in vivo antifungal host defense on lectin receptors than on TLRs, a notion compatible with the clinical picture in individuals deficient in MyD88/TLRs or dectin-1/CARD9.1 november 201

Influence of endogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines on neutrophil-mediated damage of Candida albicans pseudohyphae, quantified in a modified tetrazolium dye assay.

Contains fulltext : 48033.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)For quantitative assessment of polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN)-mediated pseudohyphal damage, an improved tetrazolium (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide; XTT) dye assay was developed. The modified assay proved to be a reliable indicator of viable pseudohyphal inoculum sizes. In addition, the influence of various endogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines on the capacity of PMN to damage Candida albicans pseudohyphae was investigated. PMN obtained from mice in which the genes encoding for tumor necrosis factor-alpha/lymphotoxin-alpha (TNF/LT), interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin (IL)-1alpha, or IL-1beta were disrupted, showed a significantly reduced pseudohyphal damage capacity in comparison with control PMN. The reduction amounted 25% for TNF-/- LT-/-, 11% for IFNgamma-/-, 21% for IL-1alpha-/-, and 34% for IL-1alpha-/-beta-/- PMN. In contrast, deficiency of IL-12 or IL-18 did not result in a diminished capacity to damage pseudohyphae and the capacity of PMN to damage Candida pseudohyphae was even slightly increased by 10% in IL-18-/- mice. These data suggest that endogenous pro-inflammatory cytokines are able to modulate antihyphal activity of PMN, the main effector cells against disseminated candidiasis by virtue of their capacity to kill both Candida blastoconidia and pseudohyphae

The role of Dectin-2 for host defense against systemic infection with Candida glabrata

We thank A. Whittington for the useful discussion and H. M. J. Roelofs and E. D. Olthof for the assistance with ROS production. We thank the University of Aberdeen Animal Facility and Microscopy Facility and also D. MacCallum and R. Drummond for technical assistance. This work was supported by European Union ALLFUN (FP7/2007 2013, HEALTH-2010-260338) (Fungi in the setting of inflammation, allergy and autoimmune diseases: Translating basic science into clinical practices ALLFUN) to D.C.I., M.G.N., and N.A.R.G. M.G.N and J.Q. were also supported by a Vici grant of the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (to M.G.N.). N.A.R.G. was also supported by the Wellcome Trust (080088, 086827, 075470, and 097377). L.P.E. is a CSO Senior Clinical Fellow and supported by WT project, programme, and equipment grants (089930 and 094847). G.D.B. was funded by the Wellcome Trust (086558 and 097377).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Deficiency of interleukin-18 in mice leads to hyperphagia, obesity and insulin resistance.

Contains fulltext : 51057.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Here we report the presence of hyperphagia, obesity and insulin resistance in knockout mice deficient in IL-18 or IL-18 receptor, and in mice transgenic for expression of IL-18 binding protein. Obesity of Il18-/- mice resulted from accumulation of fat tissue based on increased food intake. Il18-/- mice also had hyperinsulinemia, consistent with insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Insulin resistance was secondary to obesity induced by increased food intake and occurred at the liver level as well as at the muscle and fat-tissue level. The molecular mechanisms responsible for the hepatic insulin resistance in the Il18-/- mice involved an enhanced expression of genes associated with gluconeogenesis in the liver of Il18-/- mice, resulting from defective phosphorylation of STAT3. Recombinant IL-18 (rIL-18) administered intracerebrally inhibited food intake. In addition, rIL-18 reversed hyperglycemia in Il18-/- mice through activation of STAT3 phosphorylation. These findings indicate a new role of IL-18 in the homeostasis of energy intake and insulin sensitivity