TNF-α-Producing Cryptococcus neoformans Exerts Protective Effects on Host Defenses in Murine Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.

ABSTRACT: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays a critical role in the control of cryptococcal infection, and its insufficiency promotes cryptococcal persistence. To explore the therapeutic potential of TNF-α supplementation as a booster of host anti-cryptococcal responses, we engineered a C. neoformans strain expressing murine TNF-α. Using a murine model of pulmonary cryptococcosis, we demonstrated that TNF-α-producing C. neoformans strain enhances protective elements of host response including preferential T-cell accumulation and improved Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, diminished pulmonary eosinophilia and alternative activation of lung macrophages at the adaptive phase of infection compared to wild type strain-infected mice. Furthermore, TNF-α expression by C. neoformans enhan

SUBMITTER: Fa Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6677034 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature