title: Aspergillus fumigatus conidia upregulates NOD2 protein expression both in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if NOD2 is involved in host recognition of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) conidia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Af conidia pulmonary infection murine model was established by intranasal inoculation of Af conidia suspensions. Protein levels of NOD2 in lung tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry. A549 and phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-activated THP-1 cell lines were treated with heat-killed Af conidia, then the presence of NOD2 protein in these cell lines was detected by Western blotting. The ability of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) to induce the secretion of TNF-alpha after incubation with heatkilled Af conidia was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of NOD2 protein in lung tissue increased after Af conidia infection. Heat-killed Af conidia significantly upregulated NOD2 protein expression in A549 cells and PMA-activated THP-1 cells. Additionally, Af conidia in conjuction with MDP, significantly increased the secretion of TNF-alpha in A549 cells and PMA-activated THP-1 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Af conidia upregulates NOD2 protein expression in vitro and in vivo. These findings indicate that NOD2 protein may respond to Af conidia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Hui-jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Chang-zhou
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li-xian
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zheng-hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha