title: Gene expression profiles of human dendritic cells interacting with Aspergillus fumigatus in a bilayer model of the alveolar epithelium/endothelium interface.
abstract: The initial stages of the interaction between the host and Aspergillus fumigatus at the alveolar surface of the human lung are critical in the establishment of aspergillosis. Using an in vitro bilayer model of the alveolus, including both the epithelium (human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line, A549) and endothelium (human pulmonary artery epithelial cells, HPAEC) on transwell membranes, it was possible to closely replicate the in vivo conditions. Two distinct sub-groups of dendritic cells (DC), monocyte-derived DC (moDC) and myeloid DC (mDC), were included in the model to examine immune responses to fungal infection at the alveolar surface. RNA in high quantity and quality was extracted from the cell layers on the transwell membrane to allow gene expression analysis using tailored custom-made microarrays, containing probes for 117 immune-relevant genes. This microarray data indicated minimal induction of immune gene expression in A549 alveolar epithelial cells in response to germ tubes of A. fumigatus. In contrast, the addition of DC to the system greatly increased the number of differentially expressed immune genes. moDC exhibited increased expression of genes including CLEC7A, CD209 and CCL18 in the absence of A. fumigatus compared to mDC. In the presence of A. fumigatus, both DC subgroups exhibited up-regulation of genes identified in previous studies as being associated with the exposure of DC to A. fumigatus and exhibiting chemotactic properties for neutrophils, including CXCL2, CXCL5, CCL20, and IL1B. This model closely approximated the human alveolus allowing for an analysis of the host pathogen interface that complements existing animal models of IA.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, School of Science and Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Charles Oliver
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.affiliation: Universität Wuerzburg, Medizinische Klinik & Poliklinik II, WÜ4i, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fliesser
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Universität Wuerzburg, Medizinische Klinik & Poliklinik II, WÜ4i, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kneitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sir Patrick Research Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Thomas Richard
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Universität Wuerzburg, Medizinische Klinik & Poliklinik II, WÜ4i, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Einsele
authors.affiliation: Universität Wuerzburg, Medizinische Klinik & Poliklinik II, WÜ4i, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loeffler
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D063990:Gene Ontology; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055732:Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers