title: Aspergillus and Fusarium corneal infections are regulated by Th17 cells and IL-17-producing neutrophils.
abstract: Fusarium and Aspergillus species of mold are major causes of corneal infections in the United States and worldwide, resulting in severe visual impairment and blindness. As there is evidence for T cell responses to these pathogenic fungi in infected individuals, we examined the role of IL-17A (IL-17) and IFN-γ in murine models of fungal keratitis. We found that C57BL/6 mice given intratracheal or s.c. immunization of conidia prior to corneal infection exhibited enhanced fungal killing and lower corneal opacity compared with unimmunized mice. Protective immunity was associated with temporal recruitment of IL-17-producing neutrophils and Th17 and Th1 cells and dependent on production of IL-17 but not IFN-γ. Protection was also impaired in neutrophil-depleted and Rag2(-/-) mice. Together, the results of these studies identify an essential role for IL-17-producing neutrophils and Th17 cells in regulating the growth of fungal hyphae and the severity of corneal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: Patricia R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sixto M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pearlman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005670:Fusarium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D060605:Hyalohyphomycosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007634:Keratitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D020381:Interleukin-17; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D007371:Interferon-gamma