Galactofuranose-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Elicit a Pro-inflammatory Response in Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells and Are Recognized by DC-SIGN

Abstract

Galactofuranose (Gal<i>f</i>) is the five-membered ring form of galactose exclusively found in nonmammalian species, among which several are pathogens. To determine the putative role of this carbohydrate in host–pathogen interactions, we synthesized multivalent gold nanoparticles carrying Gal<i>f</i> (Gal<i>f</i>-GNPs) and show that they are recognized by the EB-A2 antibody, which is widely used to detect Gal<i>f</i>-containing galactomannan in the serum of Aspergillosis patients. We demonstrated that human monocyte-derived dendritic cells bound Gal<i>f</i>-GNPs via interaction with the lectin DC-SIGN. Moreover, interaction of dendritic cells with Gal<i>f</i>-GNPs resulted in increased expression of several maturation markers on these cells and induced secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. These data indicate that Gal<i>f</i> is able to modulate the innate immune response via dendritic cells. In conclusion, Gal<i>f</i>-GNPs are a versatile tool that can be applied in multiple functional studies to gain a better understanding of the role of Gal<i>f</i> in host–pathogen interaction