The complement system in Aspergillus fumigatus infections and its crosstalk with pentraxins.

The complement system in Aspergillus fumigatus infections and its crosstalk with pentraxins.

FEBS Lett. 2020 Jan 28;:

Authors: Parente R, Doni A, Bottazzi B, Garlanda C, Inforzato A

Abstract
Aspergillosis are life-threatening infections mostly affecting immunocompromised individuals and primarily caused by the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. At the host-pathogen interface both cellular and humoral components of the innate immune system are increasingly acknowledged as essential players in the recognition and disposal of this opportunistic mold. Fundamental hereof is the contribution of the complement system, which deploys all three activation pathways in the battle against Aspergillus fumigatus, and functionally cooperates with other soluble pattern recognition molecules, including pentraxins. In particular, pre-clinical and clinical observations point to the long pentraxin PTX3 as a non-redundant and complement-dependent effector with protective functions against Aspergillus fumigatus. Based on past and current literature, here we discuss how the complement participates in the immune response to this fungal pathogen, and illustrate its crosstalk with the pentraxins, with a focus on PTX3. Emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms underlying such processes, the genetic evidence from human epidemiology, and the translational potential of the currently available knowledge.

PMID: 31994174 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Source: Industry