Histoplasma capsulatum Activates Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Their Progenitors through a Mechanism Dependent on TLR2, TLR4, and Dectin-1

Carolina Rodríguez-Echeverri, Beatriz L. Gómez, Ángel González

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch Articlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), a multipotent and self-renewing population responsible for the generation and maintenance of blood cells, have been the subject of numerous investigations due to their therapeutic potential. It has been shown that these cells are able to interact with pathogens through the TLRs that they express on their surface, affecting the hematopoiesis process. However, the interaction between hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) with fungal pathogens such as Histoplasma capsulatum has not been studied. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to determine if the interaction of HSPCs with H. capsulatum yeasts affects the hematopoiesis, activation, or proliferation of these cells. The results indicate that HSPCs are able to adhere to and internalize H. capsulatum yeasts through a mechanism dependent on TLR2, TLR4, and Dectin-1; however, this process does not affect the survival of the fungus, and, on the contrary, such interaction induces a significant increase in the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, and TGF-β, as well as the immune mediators Arg-1 and iNOS. Moreover, H. capsulatum induces apoptosis and alters HSPC proliferation. These findings suggest that H. capsulatum directly modulates the immune response exerted by HPSC through PRRs, and this interaction could directly affect the process of hematopoiesis, a fact that could explain clinical manifestations such as anemia and pancytopenia in patients with severe histoplasmosis, especially in those with fungal spread to the bone marrow.

Translated title of the contributionHistoplasma capsulatum activa las células madre hematopoyéticas y sus progenitores mediante un mecanismo dependiente de TLR2, TLR4 y Dectin-1
Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1108
JournalJournal of Fungi
Volume8
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Plant Science
  • Microbiology (medical)

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