title: Type-I interferon secretion in the acute phase promotesCryptococcus neoformansinfection-induced Th17 cell polarizationin vitro.
abstract: Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal disease commonly identified in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Cryptococcus infection induces strong pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, i.e. type-I interferon (IFN-I) via the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. However, innate immune responses are insufficient in host defense against fungi infection and the clearance of Cryptococcus is dependent on the T helper (Th)17 cell-mediated mucosal immune response. In this study, IFN-I was identified as the early response cytokine toCryptococcus neoformansinfection via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and IFN-I was demonstrated to be crucial for interleukin (IL)-17A secretion in T cells, but not in innate immune cells. In addition, blockade of IFN-I reduced the protein expression levels of IL-22 and IL-23 in Th17 cellsin vitro. These results suggest additional functions of IFN-I in immune regulation, which may be pivotal for the development of clinical immune therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qi-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
keywords: cryptococcus infection; interleukin-17A; type-I interferon