ArtinM offers new perspectives in the development of antifungal therapy

Autor(es)

Ruas, Luciana P. ^[1] ; Carvalho, Fernanda C. ^[1] ; Roque-Barreira, Maria-Cristina ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogenices, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY; v. 3, 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 7

Resumo

The thermally dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), the most frequent systemic mycosis that affects the rural populations in Latin America. Despite significant developments in antifungal chemotherapy, its efficacy remains limited since drug therapy is prolonged and associated with toxic side effects and relapses. In response to these challenges, it is now recognized that several aspects of antifungal immunity can be modulated to better deal with fungal infections. A common idea for halting fungal infections has been the need to activate a cell-based, pro-inflammatory Th1 immune response to improve the fungal elimination. Artin M, a D-mannose binding lectin from Artocarpus heterophyllus, has the property of modulating immunity against several intracellular pathogens. Here, we review the immunomodulatory activity of Artin M during experimental PCM in mice. Both prophylactic and therapeutic protocols of Artin M administration promotes a Th1 immune response balanced by 11510, which outstandingly reduces the fungal load in organs of the treated mice while maintaining a controlled inflammation at the site of infection. A carbohydrate recognition-based interaction of Artin M with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) accounts for initiating the immunomodulatory effect of the lectin. The precise identification of the TLR2 N-glycan(s) targeted by ArtinM may support novel basis for the development of antifungal therapy. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/60642-2 - Efeitos biológicos e aplicações farmacêuticas de lectinas
• Beneficiário: Maria Cristina Roque Antunes Barreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 00/09333-2 - Reconhecimento de carboidratos: papéis desempenhados na relação parasita-hospedeiro
• Beneficiário: Maria Cristina Roque Antunes Barreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático