title: Aspergillus fumigatus induces immunoglobulin E-independent mast cell degranulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus in chronic lung disease is associated with progressive decline in lung function even in the absence of specific allergic response. We hypothesized that A. fumigatus contributes to this decline by inducing pulmonary mast cell degranulation even in the absence of antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). Therefore, we investigated whether A. fumigatus can induce mast cell degranulation independently of IgE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the interactions of Aspergillus species with mast cells in the absence of IgE in vitro with use of scanning electron microscopy. The extent of mast cell degranulation was quantified by measuring the release of beta-hexosaminidase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mature A. fumigatus hyphae induced mast cell degranulation in the absence of IgE. Hyphae of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus nidulans induced much less mast cell degranulation. Mast cell degranulation required direct contact with mature A. fumigatus hyphae, and was not induced by conidia or immature hyphae. Killed hyphae induced significant degranulation, whereas live hyphae from mutants deficient in the fungal development regulators StuA and MedA induced very little degranulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors expressed on the surface of mature A. fumigatus hyphae that are controlled by StuA and MedA induce mast cell degranulation in the absence of IgE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urb
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: Fabrice N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Gravelat
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sheppard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005912:Gliotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D025301:Hyphae; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005912:Gliotoxin