Galectin-3 impacts Cryptococcus neoformans infection through direct antifungal effects

Fausto Almeida, Julie M. Wolf, Thiago Aparecido da Silva, Carlos M. DeLeon-Rodriguez, Caroline Patini Rezende, André Moreira Pessoni, Fabrício Freitas Fernandes, Rafael Silva-Rocha, Roberto Martinez, Marcio L. Rodrigues, Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira and Arturo Casadevall ()
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Fausto Almeida: University of Sao Paulo
Julie M. Wolf: Yeshiva University
Thiago Aparecido da Silva: University of Sao Paulo
Carlos M. DeLeon-Rodriguez: Yeshiva University
Caroline Patini Rezende: University of Sao Paulo
André Moreira Pessoni: University of Sao Paulo
Fabrício Freitas Fernandes: University of Sao Paulo
Rafael Silva-Rocha: University of Sao Paulo
Roberto Martinez: University of Sao Paulo
Marcio L. Rodrigues: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira: University of Sao Paulo
Arturo Casadevall: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis, which is a major opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. Mammalian β-galactoside-binding protein Galectin-3 (Gal-3) modulates the host innate and adaptive immunity, and plays significant roles during microbial infections including some fungal diseases. Here we show that this protein plays a role also in C. neoformans infection. We find augmented Gal-3 serum levels in human and experimental infections, as well as in spleen, lung, and brain tissues of infected mice. Gal-3-deficient mice are more susceptible to cryptococcosis than WT animals, as demonstrated by the higher fungal burden and lower animal survival. In vitro experiments show that Gal-3 inhibits fungal growth and exerts a direct lytic effect on C. neoformans extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our results indicate a direct role for Gal-3 in antifungal immunity whereby this molecule affects the outcome of C. neoformans infection by inhibiting fungal growth and reducing EV stability, which in turn could benefit the host.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02126-7

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