Expression and arrangement of extracellular matrix proteins in the lungs of mice infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins are important modulators of migration, differentiation and proliferation for the various cell types present in the lungs; they influence the immune response as well as participate in the adherence of several fungi including Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The expression, deposition and arrangement of ECM proteins such as laminin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen and proteoglycans in the lungs of mice infected with P. brasiliensis conidia has been evaluated in this study, together with the elastic fibre system. Lungs of BALB/c mice infected with P. brasiliensis conidia were analysed for the different ECM proteins by histological and immunohistochemical procedures at different times of infection. In addition, laser scanning confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used. During the early periods, the lungs of infected animals showed an inflammatory infiltrate composed mainly of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and macrophages, while during the later periods, mice presented a chronic inflammatory response with granuloma formation. Re-arrangement and increased expression of all ECM proteins tested were observed throughout all studied periods, especially during the occurrence of inflammatory infiltration and formation of the granuloma. The elastic fibre system showed an elastolysis process in all experiments. In conclusion, this study provides new details of pulmonary ECM distribution during the course of paracoccidioidomycosis.
González
Angel
A
Medical and Experimental Mycology Group, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas, Medellín, Colombia. agonzalezm@cib.org.co
Lenzi
Henrique Leonel
HL
Motta
Ester Maria
EM
Caputo
Luzia
L
Restrepo
Angela
A
Cano
Luz Elena
LE
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins