Abstract
Human beings are continuously exposed to fungi, yet they rarely get fungal diseases. The delicate balance between the host and these otherwise harmless pathogens may turn into a parasitic relationship, resulting in the development of severe infections. The ability to reversibly switch between unicellular and filamentous forms, all of which can be found in infected tissues, is thought to be important for virulence. Efficient responses to the different forms of fungi require different mechanisms of immunity. Dendritic cells (DC) are uniquely able at decoding the fungus-associated information and translating it in qualitatively different T helper (Th) immune responses, in vitro and in vivo. Myeloid DC phagocytosed yeasts and hyphae of Candida albicans and conidia and hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus, both in vitro and in vivo. Phagocytosis occurred through distinct phagocytic morphologies, involving the engagement and cooperativity of distinct recognition receptors. However, receptor engagement and cooperativity were greatly modified by opsonization. The engagement of distinct receptors translated into disparate downstream signaling events, ultimately affecting cytokine production and costimulation. In vivo studies confirmed that the choice of receptor and mode of entry of fungi into DC was responsible for Th polarization and patterns of susceptibility or resistance to infection. Adoptive transfer of different types of DC activated protective, nonprotective and regulatory T cells, ultimately affecting the outcome of infection. The conclusions are that the selective exploitation of receptors and mode of entry into DC may determine the full range of hosts immune relationships with fungi and have important implications in the design of vaccine-based strategies.
Keywords: fungi, dendritic cells, fungal diseases, harmless pathogens, severe infections, immunity, phagocytic morphologies, vaccine-based strategies, receptors, cytokines
Current Molecular Medicine
Title: The Interaction of Fungi with Dendritic Cells: Implications for Th Immunity and Vaccination
Volume: 2 Issue: 6
Author(s): Montagnoli Claudia, Angela Bacci, Bozza Silvia, Roberta Gaziano, Antonio Spreca and Luigina Romani
Affiliation:
Keywords: fungi, dendritic cells, fungal diseases, harmless pathogens, severe infections, immunity, phagocytic morphologies, vaccine-based strategies, receptors, cytokines
Abstract: Human beings are continuously exposed to fungi, yet they rarely get fungal diseases. The delicate balance between the host and these otherwise harmless pathogens may turn into a parasitic relationship, resulting in the development of severe infections. The ability to reversibly switch between unicellular and filamentous forms, all of which can be found in infected tissues, is thought to be important for virulence. Efficient responses to the different forms of fungi require different mechanisms of immunity. Dendritic cells (DC) are uniquely able at decoding the fungus-associated information and translating it in qualitatively different T helper (Th) immune responses, in vitro and in vivo. Myeloid DC phagocytosed yeasts and hyphae of Candida albicans and conidia and hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus, both in vitro and in vivo. Phagocytosis occurred through distinct phagocytic morphologies, involving the engagement and cooperativity of distinct recognition receptors. However, receptor engagement and cooperativity were greatly modified by opsonization. The engagement of distinct receptors translated into disparate downstream signaling events, ultimately affecting cytokine production and costimulation. In vivo studies confirmed that the choice of receptor and mode of entry of fungi into DC was responsible for Th polarization and patterns of susceptibility or resistance to infection. Adoptive transfer of different types of DC activated protective, nonprotective and regulatory T cells, ultimately affecting the outcome of infection. The conclusions are that the selective exploitation of receptors and mode of entry into DC may determine the full range of hosts immune relationships with fungi and have important implications in the design of vaccine-based strategies.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Claudia Montagnoli, Bacci Angela, Silvia Bozza, Gaziano Roberta, Spreca Antonio and Romani Luigina, The Interaction of Fungi with Dendritic Cells: Implications for Th Immunity and Vaccination, Current Molecular Medicine 2002; 2 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524023362203
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566524023362203 |
Print ISSN 1566-5240 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5666 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Design, Synthesis, and Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) δ-Selective Ligands
Current Medicinal Chemistry A Review on Natural Products for Controlling Type 2 Diabetes with an Emphasis on their Mechanisms of Actions
Current Diabetes Reviews Impact of Omega-3 and Trans Fatty Acids on Vascular Remodeling:Opposing Roles in Cardiovascular Health
Current Enzyme Inhibition Targeting Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to Counteract Tumour- Induced ImmuneDysfunction: From Biochemistry to Clinical Development
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Dual-Specificity MAP Kinase Phosphatases as Targets of Cancer Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Does Ligand Symmetry Play a Role in the Stabilization of DNA G-Quadruplex Host-Guest Complexes?
Current Medicinal Chemistry Bispidine as a Privileged Scaffold
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting the SH2 Domain-Containing Inositol Phosphatase (SHIP) for Therapy
Current Enzyme Inhibition Genetics and Vaccines in the Era of Personalized Medicine
Current Genomics Targeting mTOR Pathways in Human Malignancies
Current Pharmaceutical Design New Targeted Therapies for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Neurogenesis in Alzheimers Disease: A Realistic Alternative to Neuronal Degeneration?
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Effects of Antiretroviral Molecules on Survival and Gene Expression of An Osteoblast-like Cell Line
Current HIV Research Neuroimmune Interactions and Psychologycal Stress Induced by Cohabitation with a Sick Partner: A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Design May Oxygen-Ozone Therapy Improves Cardiovascular Disorders?
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Gut Epithelial Lining Makes the First Move
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) A Review of Clinical Management and Laboratory Issues
Current Vascular Pharmacology Dietary Intervention for Allergic Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial [Hot Topic: New Approaches to Treating Cancer: Medicinal Chemistry and Therapeutic Potential (Guest Editor: David J. Weber)]
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Perspectives in Medicinal Chemistry
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry