biostudies-literatureUnknown14Yi W<i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> keratitis is a potential blinding disease associated with <i>A. fumigatus</i> invasion and excessive inflammatory response. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a secondary metabolite with broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity extracted from cruciferous species. However, the role of BITC in <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis has not been discovered yet. This study aims to explore the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of BITC in <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis. Our results provided evidences that BITC exerted antifungal effects against <i>A. fumigatus</i> by damaging cell membranes, mitochondria, adhesion, and biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. <i>In vivo</i>, fungal load and inflammatory response including inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were reduced in BITC-treated <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis. Additionally, BITC significantly decreased Mincle, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression in RAW264.7 cells that stimulated by <i>A. fumigatus</i> or Mincle ligand trehalose-6,6-dibehenate. In summary, BITC possessed fungicidal activities and could improve the prognosis of <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting the inflammatory response mediated by Mincle.Frontiers in microbiology1119568https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9978348biostudies-literatureBenzyl isothiocyanate improves the prognosis of <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting Mincle signal pathway.PMC9978348Chi MWang QDiao WLi CQi YGu LZhao GLin JZhang LWang YYin MYi WfalseBenzyl isothiocyanate improves the prognosis of <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting Mincle signal pathway.<i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> keratitis is a potential blinding disease associated with <i>A. fumigatus</i> invasion and excessive inflammatory response. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is a secondary metabolite with broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity extracted from cruciferous species. However, the role of BITC in <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis has not been discovered yet. This study aims to explore the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of BITC in <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis. Our results provided evidences that BITC exerted antifungal effects against <i>A. fumigatus</i> by damaging cell membranes, mitochondria, adhesion, and biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. <i>In vivo</i>, fungal load and inflammatory response including inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression were reduced in BITC-treated <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis. Additionally, BITC significantly decreased Mincle, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression in RAW264.7 cells that stimulated by <i>A. fumigatus</i> or Mincle ligand trehalose-6,6-dibehenate. In summary, BITC possessed fungicidal activities and could improve the prognosis of <i>A. fumigatus</i> keratitis by reducing fungal load and inhibiting the inflammatory response mediated by Mincle.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-21T23:51:06.282Z2025-04-05T19:15:23.841ZS-EPMC99783483687611510.3389/fmicb.2023.1119568