Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Promotes CD146 Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells and Cryptococcus neoformans Pulmonary Infection

Zhixiao Sun; Ningfei Ji; Jingxian Jiang; Yuan Tao; Enrui Zhang; Xiaofan Yang; Zhengxia Wang; Zhongqi Chen; Mao Huang; Mingshun Zhang

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.525976

Frontiers in Microbiology (Jan 2021)

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Promotes CD146 Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells and Cryptococcus neoformans Pulmonary Infection

Zhixiao Sun,
Ningfei Ji,
Jingxian Jiang,
Yuan Tao,
Enrui Zhang,
Xiaofan Yang,
Zhengxia Wang,
Zhongqi Chen,
Mao Huang,
Mingshun Zhang

Affiliations

Zhixiao Sun: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Ningfei Ji: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Jingxian Jiang: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Yuan Tao: NHC Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Enrui Zhang: NHC Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Xiaofan Yang: Laboratory Center for Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Zhengxia Wang: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Zhongqi Chen: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Mao Huang: Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Mingshun Zhang: NHC Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique, Department of Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.525976
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

Air pollution is a leading cause of increasing infectious lung diseases. Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a fatal fungal pneumonia in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. In some cases, the pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans also develops dormant nodules in immunocompetent individuals. In the present study, we demonstrated that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased CD146 expression in alveolar epithelial cells and promoted C. neoformans pulmonary infection. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling was required for increased expression of CD146 in epithelial cells treated with PM2.5. In a murine model of pulmonary infection, PM2.5 promoted fungal infection, and CD146 deficiency decreased the fugal burden of C. neoformans. Our study may highlight the importance of air pollution to lung mycosis and CD146 as a target for preventing infectious lung diseases.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords