Expression of innate and adaptive immune mediators in human corneal tissue infected with Aspergillus or fusarium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus and Fusarium are major causes of corneal ulcers in the United States and in the developing world and result in significant visual impairment and blindness.

Methods

RNA was extracted from 110 patients with corneal ulcers in southern India within 1 week of infection with either Fusarium solani or Aspergillus flavus, and gene expression was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Posttransplant corneas from later stage disease (>2 weeks after infection) were also examined.

Results

Expression of Dectin-1, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, TLR9, and NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP)3 messenger RNA was elevated >1000-fold compared with uninfected donor corneas, whereas Dectin-2 was constitutively expressed

SUBMITTER: Karthikeyan RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3156922 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature