title: Role of dendritic cell-pathogen interactions in the immune response to pulmonary cryptococcal infection.
abstract: This review discusses the unique contributions of dendritic cells (DCs) to T-cell priming and the generation of effective host defenses against Cryptococcus neoformans (C.neo) infection. We highlight DC subsets involved in the early and later stages of anticryptococcal immune responses, interactions between C.neo pathogen-associated molecular patterns and pattern recognition receptors expressed by DC, and the influence of DC on adaptive immunity. We emphasize recent studies in mouse models of cryptococcosis that illustrate the importance of DC-derived cytokines and costimulatory molecules and the potential role of DC epigenetic modifications that support maintenance of these signals throughout the immune response to C.neo. Lastly, we stipulate where these advances can be developed into new, immune-based therapeutics for treatment of this global pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.|VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.|VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.|Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Osterholzer
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.|VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.|Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Michal A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Olszewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; TLR9; TNF-α; cryptococcal virulence factors; dendritic cells; epigenetics; mouse model