title: Histoplasma capsulatum, lung infection and immunity.
abstract: Histoplasma capsulatum, an environmental fungus, is the most common endemic pulmonary mycosis in the USA. Disease is most frequently observed in immunocompromised patients living in endemic areas. We present the mechanisms of fungal recognition, innate immune response and adaptive immune response that lead to protection or exacerbation of disease. Current understanding of these mechanisms is the result of a continuing dialogue between clinical observations and murine studies. Mice are a powerful model to study the immune response to H. capsulatum alone or in the presence of immunomodulatory drugs. Vigilance for histoplasmosis should be exercised with novel immunosuppressive agents that target the important immune pathways identified here.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.|Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Horwath
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.|Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fecher
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3230 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.|Medical Service, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45220, USA.
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Deepe
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006658:Histoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Histoplasma capsulatum; T-cell-mediated immunity; chemokines; cytokines; dendritic cells; fungal disease; macrophages