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Impaired calcineurin signaling in dendritic cells and macrophages increases susceptibility to aspergillosis through pentraxin-3 downregulation

ABSTRACT: Treatment of post-transplant patients with immunosuppressive drugs targeting the calcineurin-NFAT pathway, such as Cyclosporine A or Tacrolimus, are commonly associated with a higher incidence of opportunistic infections, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, which can lead to severe life-threating conditions. A component of the A. fumigatus cell wall, β-glucan, is recognized by dendritic cells via the Dectin-1 receptor, triggering downstream signaling that leads to calcineurin-NFAT binding, NFAT translocation, and transcription of NFAT-regulated genes. Here, we address the question of whether calcineurin signaling in CD11c-expressing cells, such as DCs, has a specific role in the innate control of A. fumigatus. Impairment of calcineurin in CD11c-expressing cells (CD11ccrecnb1loxP) significantly increased susceptibility to systemic A. fumigatus infection and to intranasal infection in irradiated mice undergoing bone marrow transplant. Global expression profiling of bone marrow-derived DCs identified calcineurin-regulated processes in the immune response to infection, including expression of pentraxin-3, an important anti-fungal defense protein. These results suggest that calcineurin inhibition directly impairs important immunoprotective functions of myeloid cells, as shown by the higher susceptibility of CD11ccrecnbloxP mice in models of systemic and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, including after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. These findings are relevant to the clinical management of transplant patients with severe Aspergillus infections.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE71936 | GEO | 2016/12/31

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA292504

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Dendritic cells (DCs) are a special class of leukocytes able to activate both innate and adaptive immune responses. They interact with microbes through germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which recognize molecular patterns expressed by various microorganisms. Upon antigen binding, PRRs instruct DCs for the appropriate priming of natural killer cells, followed by specific T-cell responses. Once completed the effector phase, DCs reach the terminal differentiation stage and eventually die by apoptosis. We have observed that following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulation the initiation of the apoptotic pathway in DCs is due the activation of NFAT proteins. Indeed, LPS induces Src-family kinase and phospholipase C (PLC)Î³2 activation, influx of extracellular Ca2+ and calcineurin-dependent nuclear NFAT translocation. The initiation of this pathway is independent of TLR4 engagement, and dependent exclusively on CD14. According with this observation CD14-deficient DCs do not die following LPS stimulation. Nevertheless, CD14-deficient DC death following LPS activation can be restored by co-stimulating DCs with LPS and thapsigargin. Thapsigargin empties the intracellular calcium stores by blocking calcium pumping into the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum and thereby activates plasma membrane calcium channels. This, in turn, allows an influx of calcium into the cytosol and NFAT activation. To identify the NFAT controlled apoptosis genes in LPS activated DCs we have performed a kinetic microarray analysis (0, 48 and 60 h) in conditions allowing or inhibiting NFAT activation. Four genes have been selected: Nur77, Gadd45g, Ddit3/Gadd153/Chop-10 and Tia1. To identify apoptosis genes selectively modulated by NFAT, a comparative kinetic (time points 0, 48 and 60 h) microarray analysis was performed in the following conditions: 1) wild type bone marrow derived DCs (wtBMDCs) stimulated with LPS; 2) CD14-deficient BMDCs stimulated with LPS; 3) wtBMDCs stimulated with LPS in presence of thapsigargin; 4) CD14-deficient BMDCs stimulated with LPS in presence of thapsigargin.

Project description:Macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) differently contribute to the generation of coordinated immune system responses against infectious agents. They interact with microbes through germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), which recognize molecular patterns expressed by various microorganisms. Upon antigen binding, PRRs instruct DCs for the appropriate priming of natural killer cells, followed by specific T-cell responses. Once completed the effector phase, DCs reach the terminal differentiation stage and eventually die by apoptosis. By contrast, following antigen recognition, macrophages initiate first the inflammatory process and then switch to an anti-inflammatory phenotype for the restoration of tissue homeostasis. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulation the initiation of the apoptotic pathway in DCs is due the activation of NFAT proteins. DC stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces Src-family kinase and phospholipase C (PLC)Î³2 activation, influx of extracellular Ca2+ and calcineurin-dependent nuclear NFAT translocation. The initiation of this pathway is independent of TLR4 engagement, and dependent exclusively on CD14. We asked whether macrophage survival after LPS encounter was due to their inability to activate the Ca2+ pathway. As matter of fact, bone marrow-derived macrophages were unable to mobilize Ca2+ and to translocate NFAT to the. To further investigate whether the Ca2+-NFAT pathway played any role in LPS-stimulated macrophages, we performed a comparative kinetic microarray analysis in conditions allowing or inhibiting NFAT activation. We show here that no modulation of gene expression can be attributed to NFAT. Gene expression analyses were performed using Affymetrix GeneChips in the following groups of murine macrophaghes: 1) CD14-deficient macrophages stimulated with LPS; 2) wt macrophages stimulated with LPS in presence of EGTA; 3) wt macrophages stimulated with LPS. The following kinetic time points were examined: 0, 6 and 24 hours following LPS activation. This experimental setting allowed us to select for effects due to Ca2+ fluxes and exclude the effects due to other causes, particularly the block of TRIF recruitment in CD14-deficient cells and the EGTA effects unrelated to Ca2+ chelation.

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Impaired calcineurin signaling in dendritic cells and macrophages increases susceptibility to aspergillosis through pentraxin-3 downregulation

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