Study of the communication between receptors, and their signaling pathways, in fungus-induced cytokine secretion in epithelial cells

• Grant number: 15/25652-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Erika Suzuki de Toledo
• Grantee: Erika Suzuki de Toledo
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo

Abstract

During an infection, epithelial cells interact with pathogens or their products, and can secrete cytokines and chemokines, these molecules, in turn, modulate the immune system. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum are two dimorphic fungi that cause systemic mycoses in humans. Recently, we found that both species induce the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines in human lung epithelial cells A549. And besides, this secretion is dependent on integrins, protease-activated receptors (PARs), and activation of the kinases p38 MAPK, ERK 1/2 and PKC delta. This project aims to study the interaction between receptors that can lead to modulation of secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines during infection of epithelial cells with P. brasiliensis or H. capsulatum yeasts. Using different methodologies, integrin alpha 3 and alpha 5, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR), TLR4, dectin-1 and PARs will be analyzed to identify whether these receptors: i) interact with each other, ii) are recruited to membrane rafts, iii ) are important in the modulation of protein expression of other receptors (e.g., the interaction of the fungus with TLR2 stimulates the expression of dectin-1), and iv) are involved in cytokine secretion by epithelial cells. Moreover, it is also analyzed how communication is established between the signaling pathways of these receptors, and which microRNAs modulate these pathways. Together, these results will elucidate some mechanisms by which pathogenic fungi promote cytokine secretion in epithelial cells, and we also understand some processes that are used by these cells for host defense. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE OLIVEIRA, PRISCILA; JULIANO, MARIA APARECIDA; TANAKA, APARECIDA SADAE; CARMONA, ADRIANA KARAOGLANOVIC; BATISTA DOS SANTOS, SAARA MARIA; SILVA CAMPITELLI DE BARROS, BIANCA CARLA; MAZA, PALOMA KOREHISA; PUCCIA, ROSANA; SUZUKI, ERIKA. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis induces cytokine secretion in epithelial cells in a protease-activated receptor-dependent (PAR) manner. MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, v. 206, n. 2, p. 149-156, APR 2017. (11/23096-8, 11/22773-6, 15/25652-6)

ALCANTARA, CRISTIANE; ALMEIDA, BRUNA ROCHA; SILVA CAMPITELLI BARROS, BIANCA CARLA; ORIKAZA, CRISTINA MARY; TOLEDO, MARCOS SERGIO; SUZUKI, ERIKA. Histoplasma capsulatum chemotypes I and II induce IL-8 secretion in lung epithelial cells in distinct manners. Medical Mycology, v. 58, n. 8, p. 1169-1177, NOV 2020. (15/25652-6, 16/06285-5)

SILVA CAMPITELLI DE BARROS, BIANCA CARLA; ALMEIDA, BRUNA ROCHA; SUZUKI, ERIKA. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis downmodulates alpha 3 integrin levels in human lung epithelial cells in a TLR2-dependent manner. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1, NOV 10 2020. (19/26693-9, 16/06285-5, 15/25652-6)

ALMEIDA, BRUNA ROCHA; CAMPITELLI BARROS, BIANCA CARLA SILVA; LIGUORI ARAUJO, ANA CLARA; ALCANTARA, CRISTIANE; SUZUKI, ERIKA. Paracoccidioides species present distinct fungal adherence to epithelial lung cells and promote different IL-8 secretion levels. MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, v. 209, n. 1, OCT 2019. (15/25652-6, 16/06285-5)

MAZA, PALOMA K.; BONFIM-MELO, ALEXIS; PADOVAN, ANA C. B.; MORTARA, RENATO A.; ORIKAZA, CRISTINA M.; DAMAS RAMOS, LILIAN M.; MOURA, TAUANY R.; SORIANI, FREDERICO M.; ALMEIDA, RICARDO S.; SUZUKI, ERIKA; et al. Candida albicans: The Ability to Invade Epithelial Cells and Survive under Oxidative Stress Is Unlinked to Hyphal Length. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 8, JUL 17 2017. (15/25652-6, 11/22773-6)