Cholesterol and sphingomyelin are critical for Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans by macrophages.

ABSTRACT: Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening meningoencephalitis in lymphopenic patients. Pulmonary macrophages comprise the first line of host defense upon inhalation of fungal spores by aiding in clearance but can also potentially serve as a niche for their dissemination. Given that macrophages play a key role in the outcome of a cryptococcal infection, it is crucial to understand factors that mediate phagocytosis of C. neoformans. Since lipid rafts (high-order plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin [SM]) have been implicated in facilitating phagocytosis, we evaluated whether these ordered domains govern macrophages' ability to phagocytose C. neoformans. We found that cholesterol or SM depletion resulted in significantly deficient i

SUBMITTER: Bryan AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8661020 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature