2013
Infection and immunity Infect Immun. 2013 Dec 16. [Epub ahead of print]
The role of Dectin-2 for host defense against systemic infection with Candida glabrata.
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, and Nijmegen Institute for Infection, Inflammation and Immunity (N4i), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Service type: Knockout mice
Abstract
Although Candida glabrata is an important pathogenic Candida species, relatively little is known about its innate immune recognition. Here we explore the potential role of Dectin-2 for host defense against C. glabrata. Dectin-2-deficient (Dectin-2(-/-)) mice were found to be more susceptible to C. glabrata infections, showing a defective fungal clearance in kidneys, but not in the liver. The increased susceptibility to infection was accompanied by lower production of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th17-derived cytokines by splenocytes of Dectin-2(-/-) mice, while macrophage-derived cytokines were less affected. These defects were associated with a moderate, yet significant, decreased phagocytosis of the fungus by the Dectin-2(-/-) macrophages and neutrophils. Neutrophils of Dectin-2(-/-) mice also displayed a lower production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon challenge with opsonized C. glabrata or C. albicans. This study suggests that Dectin-2 is important in host defense against C. glabrata and provides new insights in the host defense mechanisms against this important fungal pathogen.
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