Dectin-1 and IL-17A suppress murine asthma induced by Aspergillus versicolor but not Cladosporium cladosporioides due to differences in β-glucan surface exposure

RA Mintz-Cole, AM Gibson, SA Bass… - The Journal of …, 2012 - journals.aai.org
RA Mintz-Cole, AM Gibson, SA Bass, AL Budelsky, T Reponen, GKK Hershey
The Journal of Immunology, 2012journals.aai.org
There is considerable evidence supporting a role for mold exposure in the pathogenesis
and expression of childhood asthma. Aspergillus versicolor and Cladosporium
cladosporioides are common molds that have been implicated in asthma. In a model of mold-
induced asthma, mice were repeatedly exposed to either A. versicolor or C. cladosporioides
spores. The two molds induced distinct phenotypes, and this effect was observed in both
BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains. C. cladosporioides induced robust airway …
Abstract
There is considerable evidence supporting a role for mold exposure in the pathogenesis and expression of childhood asthma. Aspergillus versicolor and Cladosporium cladosporioides are common molds that have been implicated in asthma. In a model of mold-induced asthma, mice were repeatedly exposed to either A. versicolor or C. cladosporioides spores. The two molds induced distinct phenotypes, and this effect was observed in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains. C. cladosporioides induced robust airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophilia, and a predominately Th2 response, whereas A. versicolor induced a strong Th17 response and neutrophilic inflammation, but very mild AHR. Neutralization of IL-17A resulted in strong AHR and eosinophilic inflammation following A. versicolor exposure. In Dectin-1–deficient mice, A. versicolor exposure resulted in markedly attenuated IL-17A and robust AHR compared with wild-type mice. In contrast, C. cladosporioides induced AHR and eosinophilic inflammation independent of IL-17A and Dectin-1. A. versicolor, but not C. cladosporioides, spores had increased exposure of β-glucans on their surface and were able to bind Dectin-1. Thus, the host response to C. cladosporioides was IL-17A–and Dectin-1–independent, whereas Dectin-1–and IL-17A–dependent pathways were protective against the development of asthma after exposure to A. versicolor.
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