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Lactate signalling regulates fungal ?-glucan masking and immune evasion.

ABSTRACT: As they proliferate, fungi expose antigens at their cell surface that are potent stimulators of the innate immune response, and yet the commensal fungus Candida albicans is able to colonize immuno competent individuals. We show that C. albicans may evade immune detection by presenting a moving immunological target. We report that the exposure of ?-glucan, a key pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) located at the cell surface of C. albicans and other pathogenic Candida species, is modulated in response to changes in the carbon source. Exposure to lactate induces ?-glucan masking in C. albicans via a signalling pathway that has recruited an evolutionarily conserved receptor (Gpr1) and transcriptional factor (Crz1) from other well-characterized pathways. In response to lactate, these regulators control the expression of cell-wall-related genes that contribute to ?-glucan masking. This represents the first description of active PAMP masking by a Candida species, a process that reduces the visibility of the fungus to the immune system.

SUBMITTER: Ballou ER

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5704895 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Lactate signalling regulates fungal β-glucan masking and immune evasion.

Ballou Elizabeth R ER Avelar Gabriela M GM Childers Delma S DS Mackie Joanna J Bain Judith M JM Wagener Jeanette J Kastora Stavroula L SL Panea Mirela D MD Hardison Sarah E SE Walker Louise A LA Erwig Lars P LP Munro Carol A CA Gow Neil A R NA Brown Gordon D GD MacCallum Donna M DM Brown Alistair J P AJ

Nature microbiology 20161212

As they proliferate, fungi expose antigens at their cell surface that are potent stimulators of the innate immune response, and yet the commensal fungus Candida albicans is able to colonize immuno competent individuals. We show that C. albicans may evade immune detection by presenting a moving immunological target. We report that the exposure of β-glucan, a key pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) located at the cell surface of C. albicans and other pathogenic Candida species, is modulat ...[more]

PMID: 27941860

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Project description:The cell wall provides a major physical interface between fungal pathogens and their mammalian host. This extracellular armor is critical for fungal cell homeostasis and survival. Fungus-specific cell wall moieties, such as β-1,3-glucan, are recognized as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that activate immune-mediated clearance mechanisms. We have reported that the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans masks β-1,3-glucan following exposure to lactate, hypoxia, or iron depletion. However, the precise mechanism(s) by which C. albicans masks β-1,3-glucan has remained obscure. Here, we identify a secreted exoglucanase, Xog1, that is induced in response to lactate or hypoxia. Xog1 functions downstream of the lactate-induced β-glucan "masking" pathway to promote β-1,3-glucan "shaving." Inactivation of XOG1 blocks most but not all β-1,3-glucan masking in response to lactate, suggesting that other activities contribute to this phenomenon. Nevertheless, XOG1 deletion attenuates the lactate-induced reductions in phagocytosis and cytokine stimulation normally observed for wild-type cells. We also demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of exoglucanases undermines β-glucan shaving, enhances the immune visibility of the fungus, and attenuates its virulence. Our study establishes a new mechanism underlying environmentally induced PAMP remodeling that can be manipulated pharmacologically to influence immune recognition and infection outcomes.IMPORTANCE The immune system plays a critical role in protecting us against potentially fatal fungal infections. However, some fungal pathogens have evolved evasion strategies that reduce the efficacy of our immune defenses. Previously, we reported that the fungal pathogen Candida albicans exploits specific host-derived signals (such as lactate and hypoxia) to trigger an immune evasion strategy that involves reducing the exposure of β-glucan at its cell surface. Here, we show that this phenomenon is mediated by the induction of a major secreted exoglucanase (Xog1) by the fungus in response to these host signals. Inactivating XOG1-mediated "shaving" of cell surface-exposed β-glucan enhances immune responses against the fungus. Furthermore, inhibiting exoglucanase activity pharmacologically attenuates C. albicans virulence. In addition to revealing the mechanism underlying a key immune evasion strategy in a major fungal pathogen of humans, our work highlights the potential therapeutic value of drugs that block fungal immune evasion.

Project description:Organisms must adapt to changes in oxygen tension if they are to exploit the energetic benefits of reducing oxygen while minimizing the potentially damaging effects of oxidation. Consequently, organisms in all eukaryotic kingdoms display robust adaptation to hypoxia (low oxygen levels). This is particularly important for fungal pathogens that colonize hypoxic niches in the host. We show that adaptation to hypoxia in the major fungal pathogen of humans Candida albicans includes changes in cell wall structure and reduced exposure, at the cell surface, of ?-glucan, a key pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP). This leads to reduced phagocytosis by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and decreased production of IL-10, RANTES, and TNF-? by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, suggesting that hypoxia-induced ?-glucan masking has a significant effect upon C. albicans-host interactions. We show that hypoxia-induced ?-glucan masking is dependent upon both mitochondrial and cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. The decrease in ?-glucan exposure is blocked by mutations that affect mitochondrial functionality (goa1? and upc2?) or that decrease production of hydrogen peroxide in the inner membrane space (sod1?). Furthermore, ?-glucan masking is enhanced by mutations that elevate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (aox1?). The ?-glucan masking defects displayed by goa1? and upc2? cells are suppressed by exogenous dibutyryl-cAMP. Also, mutations that inactivate cAMP synthesis (cyr1?) or PKA (tpk1? tpk2?) block the masking phenotype. Our data suggest that C. albicans responds to hypoxic niches by inducing ?-glucan masking via a mitochondrial cAMP-PKA signaling pathway, thereby modulating local immune responses and promoting fungal colonization.IMPORTANCE Animal, plant, and fungal cells occupy environments that impose changes in oxygen tension. Consequently, many species have evolved mechanisms that permit robust adaptation to these changes. The fungal pathogen Candida albicans can colonize hypoxic (low oxygen) niches in its human host, such as the lower gastrointestinal tract and inflamed tissues, but to colonize its host, the fungus must also evade local immune defenses. We reveal, for the first time, a defined link between hypoxic adaptation and immune evasion in C. albicans As this pathogen adapts to hypoxia, it undergoes changes in cell wall structure that include masking of ?-glucan at its cell surface, and it becomes better able to evade phagocytosis by innate immune cells. We also define the signaling mechanisms that mediate hypoxia-induced ?-glucan masking, showing that they are dependent on mitochondrial signaling and the cAMP-protein kinase pathway. Therefore, hypoxia appears to trigger immune evasion in this fungal pathogen.

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Project description:Candida albicans is among the most prevalent opportunistic human fungal pathogens. The ability to mask the immunogenic polysaccharide ? (1,3)-glucan from immune detection via a layer of mannosylated proteins is a key virulence factor of C. albicans We previously reported that hyperactivation of the Cek1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway promotes ? (1,3)-glucan exposure. In this communication, we report a novel upstream regulator of Cek1 activation and characterize the impact of Cek1 activity on fungal virulence. Lrg1 encodes a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that has been suggested to inhibit the GTPase Rho1. We found that disruption of LRG1 causes Cek1 hyperactivation and ? (1,3)-glucan unmasking. However, when GTPase activation was measured for a panel of GTPases, the lrg1?? mutant exhibited increased activation of Cdc42 and Ras1 but not Rho1 or Rac1. Unmasking and Cek1 activation in the lrg1?? mutant can be blocked by inhibition of the Ste11 MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), indicating that the lrg1?? mutant acts through the canonical Cek1 MAP kinase cascade. In order to determine how Cek1 hyperactivation specifically impacts virulence, a doxycycline-repressible hyperactive STE11?N467 allele was expressed in C. albicans In the absence of doxycycline, this allele overexpressed STE11?N467 , which induced production of proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) from murine macrophages. This in vitro phenotype correlates with decreased colonization and virulence in a mouse model of systemic infection. The mechanism by which Ste11?N467 causes unmasking was explored with RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis. Overexpression of Ste11?N467 caused upregulation of the Cph1 transcription factor and of a group of cell wall-modifying proteins which are predicted to impact cell wall architecture.IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is an important source of systemic infections in humans. The ability to mask the immunogenic cell wall polymer ? (1,3)-glucan from host immune surveillance contributes to fungal virulence. We previously reported that the hyperactivation of the Cek1 MAP kinase cascade promotes cell wall unmasking, thus increasing strain immunogenicity. In this study, we identified a novel regulator of the Cek1 pathway called Lrg1. Lrg1 is a predicted GTPase-activating protein (GAP) that represses Cek1 activity by downregulating the GTPase Cdc42 and its downstream MAPKKK, Ste11. Upregulation of Cek1 activity diminished fungal virulence in the mouse model of infection, and this correlates with increased cytokine responses from macrophages. We also analyzed the transcriptional profile determined during ? (1,3)-glucan exposure driven by Cek1 hyperactivation. Our report provides a model where Cek1 hyperactivation causes ? (1,3)-glucan exposure by upregulation of cell wall proteins and leads to more robust immune detection in vivo, promoting more effective clearance.

Dataset Information

Lactate signalling regulates fungal ?-glucan masking and immune evasion.

Publications

Lactate signalling regulates fungal β-glucan masking and immune evasion.

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