Fungal melanin suppresses airway epithelial chemokine secretion through blockade of calcium fluxing.

ABSTRACT: Respiratory infections caused by the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus are a major cause of mortality for immunocompromised patients. Exposure to these pathogens occurs through inhalation, although the role of the respiratory epithelium in disease pathogenesis has not been fully defined. Employing a primary human airway epithelial model, we demonstrate that fungal melanins potently block the post-translational secretion of the chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL8 independent of transcription or the requirement of melanin to be phagocytosed, leading to a significant reduction in neutrophil recruitment to the apical airway both in vitro and in vivo . Aspergillus -derived melanin, a major constituent of the fungal cell wall, dampened airway epithelial chemokine sec

SUBMITTER: Reedy JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10081279 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature