title: Effects of retinoic acid receptor-γ on theAspergillus fumigatusinduced innate immunity response in human corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of retinoic acid receptor-γ (RARγ) on innate immune responses againstAspergillus fumigatus(A. fumigatus) in cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The HCECs were stimulated withA. fumigatushyphae for 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16h. RARγ mRNA and protein levels were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Then HCECs were pretreated with or without BMS961 (RARγ agonist, 1 µg/mL). The mRNA and protein expression of Dectin-1 and the downstream cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were determined by qRT-PCR, Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of RARγ was upregulated after stimulation withA. fumigatus. RARγ mRNA began to rise at 4h and peaked at 8h (P<0.001). The protein of RARγ reached to the peak at 16h (P<0.001). Pretreated with BMS961 beforeA. fumigatushyphae stimulation, expression of Dectin-1, TNF-α and IL-6 decreased dramatically at mRNA and protein levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCECs can express RARγ andA. fumigatushyphae infection can increase RARγ expression. BMS961 can inhibit the expression of Dectin-1 and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and play an anti-inflammatory role in innate immune responses againstA. fumigatus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Qiu
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; corneal epithelium; innate immunity; retinoic acid receptor-γ