title: Anti-Aspergillus fumigatus efficacy of pentraxin 3 alone and in combination with antifungals.
abstract: The collectin pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an essential component of host resistance to pulmonary aspergillosis. Here we examined the protective effects of administration of PTX3 alone or together with deoxycholate amphotericin B (Fungizone) or liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) against invasive aspergillosis in a murine model of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. PTX3, alone or in combination with the polyenes, was given intranasally or parenterally either before, in concomitance with, or after the intranasal infection with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. Mice were monitored for resistance to infection and parameters of innate and adaptive T-helper immunity. The results showed the following: (i) complete resistance to infection and reinfection was observed in mice treated with PTX3 alone; (ii) the protective effect of PTX3 was similar or superior to that observed with liposomal amphotericin B or deoxycholate amphotericin B, respectively; (iii) protection was associated with accelerated recovery of lung phagocytic cells and T-helper-1 lymphocytes and concomitant decrease of inflammatory pathology; and (iv) PTX3 potentiated the therapeutic efficacy of suboptimal doses of either antimycotic drug. Together, these data suggest the potential therapeutic use of PTX3 either alone or as an adjunctive therapy in A. fumigatus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences-Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gaziano
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellocchio
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perruccio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montagnoli
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pitzurra
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carminati
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Luigina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romani
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D012008:Recurrence; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D000099153:Pentraxins
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins