title: Mast cell activation by conidia of Sporothrix schenckii: role in the severity of infection.
abstract: Mast cells are abundant in the skin and other peripheral tissues, where they are one of the first immune cells to make contact with invading pathogens. As a result of pathogen recognition, mast cells can be activated and release different preformed and de novo-synthesized mediators. Sporothrix schenckii is the fungus that causes sporotrichosis, a worldwide-distributed subcutaneous mycosis considered as an important emerging health problem. It remains unknown whether or not mast cells are activated by S. schenckii. Here, we investigated the in vitro response of mast cells to conidia of S. schenckii and their in vivo involvement in sporotrichosis. Mast cells became activated after interaction with conidia, releasing early response cytokines as TNF-α and IL-6. Although histamine release was not significantly stimulated by S. schenckii, we determined that conidia potentiate histamine secretion induced by compound 48/80. Furthermore, functional depletion of peritoneal mast cells before S. schenckii infection significantly reduced the severity of cutaneous lesions of the sporotrichosis. These data demonstrate that mast cells are important contributors in the host response to S. schenckii infection, suggesting a role of these cells in the progress of clinical manifestations in sporotrichosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Basic Science Centre, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Romo-Lozano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hernández-Hernández
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salinas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000276:immunology*; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003189:p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; D006632:Histamine