Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>
Neutrophils are critical phagocytic cells in innate immunity, playing a significant role in defending against invasive fungal pathogens. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional activation of human neutrophils in response to different fungal pathogens, including <i>Candida albicans</...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/1014 |
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| author | Tilman E. Klassert Martin Hölzer Cristina Zubiria-Barrera Julia Bethge Esther Klaile Mario M. Müller Manja Marz Hortense Slevogt |
| author_facet | Tilman E. Klassert Martin Hölzer Cristina Zubiria-Barrera Julia Bethge Esther Klaile Mario M. Müller Manja Marz Hortense Slevogt |
| author_sort | Tilman E. Klassert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neutrophils are critical phagocytic cells in innate immunity, playing a significant role in defending against invasive fungal pathogens. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional activation of human neutrophils in response to different fungal pathogens, including <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, compared to the bacterial pathogen <i>Escherichia coli</i>. We identified distinct transcriptional profiles and stress-related pathways in neutrophils during fungal infections, highlighting their functional diversity and adaptability. The transcriptional response was largely redundant across all pathogens in immune-relevant categories and cytokine pathway activation. However, differences in the magnitude of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed, with <i>A. fumigatus</i> inducing a lower transcriptional effect compared to <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. Notably, specific gene signatures associated with cell death were differentially regulated by fungal pathogens, potentially increasing neutrophil susceptibility to autophagy, pyroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex immunological responses of neutrophils during fungal infections, offering new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the management of invasive fungal diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:08:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5bc69bb026a455b96d41bcfbf02bd0f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:08:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5bc69bb026a455b96d41bcfbf02bd0f2023-11-19T17:01:02ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-10-01910101410.3390/jof9101014Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>Tilman E. Klassert0Martin Hölzer1Cristina Zubiria-Barrera2Julia Bethge3Esther Klaile4Mario M. Müller5Manja Marz6Hortense Slevogt7Respiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, GermanyMethodology and Research Infrastructure, Genome Competence Center (MF1), Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, GermanyRespiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, GermanyZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, GermanyZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, GermanyZIK Septomics, Host Septomics, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, GermanyRNA Bioinformatics and High Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, GermanyRespiratory Infection Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research—HZI Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, GermanyNeutrophils are critical phagocytic cells in innate immunity, playing a significant role in defending against invasive fungal pathogens. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional activation of human neutrophils in response to different fungal pathogens, including <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, compared to the bacterial pathogen <i>Escherichia coli</i>. We identified distinct transcriptional profiles and stress-related pathways in neutrophils during fungal infections, highlighting their functional diversity and adaptability. The transcriptional response was largely redundant across all pathogens in immune-relevant categories and cytokine pathway activation. However, differences in the magnitude of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed, with <i>A. fumigatus</i> inducing a lower transcriptional effect compared to <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. Notably, specific gene signatures associated with cell death were differentially regulated by fungal pathogens, potentially increasing neutrophil susceptibility to autophagy, pyroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex immunological responses of neutrophils during fungal infections, offering new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the management of invasive fungal diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/1014neutrophils<i>Candida</i><i>Aspergillus</i>RNAseq |
| spellingShingle | Tilman E. Klassert Martin Hölzer Cristina Zubiria-Barrera Julia Bethge Esther Klaile Mario M. Müller Manja Marz Hortense Slevogt Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> Journal of Fungi neutrophils <i>Candida</i> <i>Aspergillus</i> RNAseq |
| title | Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> |
| title_full | Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> |
| title_short | Differential Transcriptional Responses of Human Granulocytes to Fungal Infection with <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> |
| title_sort | differential transcriptional responses of human granulocytes to fungal infection with i candida albicans i and i aspergillus fumigatus i |
| topic | neutrophils <i>Candida</i> <i>Aspergillus</i> RNAseq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/10/1014 |
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