Glycosphingolipids mediate pneumocystis cell wall β-glucan activation of the IL-23/IL-17 axis in human dendritic cells.

ABSTRACT: Pneumocystis species are opportunistic fungal organisms that cause severe pneumonia in immune-compromised hosts, with resultant high morbidity and mortality. Recent work indicates that IL-17 responses are important components of host defense against fungal pathogens. In the present study, we demonstrate that cell-surface β-glucan components of Pneumocystis (PCBG) stimulate human dendritic cells (DCs) to secrete IL-23 and IL-6. These cytokines are well established to stimulate a T helper-17 (Th17) phenotype. Accordingly, we further observe that PCBG-stimulated human DCs interact with lymphocytes to drive the secretion of IL-17 and IL-22, both Th17-produced cytokines. The activation of DCs was shown to involve the dectin-1 receptor with a downstream activation of the Syk kinase and subsequen

SUBMITTER: Carmona EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3402796 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature