Alterations in stromal cell compartment during thymus atrophy induced by P. brasiliensis infection.

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Alterations in stromal cell compartment during thymus atrophy induced by P. brasiliensis infection. Thiago Alves Da Costa1, Rosaria Di Gangi1, Carolina Francelin1, Rodolfo Thomé1, Ronei L. Mamoni2 and Liana Verinaud1* 1 State University of Campinas, Department of Structural and Functional Biology; Institute of Biology, Brazil 2 State University of Campinas, Department of Clinical Patology; Medical Sciences Faculty, Brazil Thymus is the development site of T lymphocytes, which are important cells of the specific immune response. To perform its function, the thymic microenvironment must be preserved (Ciofani & Zuniga-Pflucker, 2007). Despite its importance, the thymus is a target organ for many infectious diseases, including paracoccidioidomycosis, the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America, caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) (Brito et al., 2003). We have already demonstrated in experimental models that Pb invades the thymic microenvironment, inducing severe atrophy characterized by organ weight decrease and loss of corticomedullary delimitation (Brito et al., 2003, Souto et al. 2003). We have also reported that such atrophy is related to the increased death of immature lymphocytes and to the premature migration of these cells to the periphery. However, the possibility that thymic atrophy during the paracoccidioidomycosis infection is also associated to alterations in non-lymphoid cells, which include dendritic cells (DCs), thymic cortical (cTECs) and medullary epithelial cells (mTECs) cannot be discarded. In this study, we examined the stromal cell compartment of thymuses from BALB/c mice infected with the Pb virulent isolate (Pb18) during the acute phase of the disease. By immunofluorescence technique, our results show an altered pattern of distribution of DCs as well as mTECs (Keratin-5+ cells) and cTECs (Keratin-8+) in thymuses from Pb-infected animals. Also, by flow cytometry technique, we observed phenotypic alterations in DCs and a reduction in the number of mTECs and cTECs. Altogether, these findings show that the stromal compartment is also deeply affected during thymic atrophy caused by Pb infection, complementing previous studies of our laboratory. Acknowledgements Supported by FAPESP(#2012/22131-7 & #2013/08194-9) and CAPES. References Brito, V. N., Souto, P. C. S., Cruz-Höfling, M. A., Ricci, L. C., Verinaud, L. (2003). Thymus invasion and atrophy induced by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in BALB/c mice. Medical Mycology 41, 83-87. Ciofani, M., Zuniga-Pflucker, J. C. (2007). The thymus as an inductive site for T lymphopoiesis. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 23, 463-93. Souto, P. C. S., Brito, V. N., Gameiro, J., Cruz Höfling, M. A., Verinaud, L. (2003). Programmed cell death in thymus during experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. Med Microbiology and Immunology 192, 225-229. Keywords: Thymus Gland, thymus atrophy, stromal cell compartment, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Paracoccidioidomycosis Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Host-pathogen interactions Citation: Alves Da Costa T, Di Gangi R, Francelin C, Thomé R, Mamoni RL and Verinaud L (2013). Alterations in stromal cell compartment during thymus atrophy induced by P. brasiliensis infection.. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.01002 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Jun 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Prof. Liana Verinaud, State University of Campinas, Department of Structural and Functional Biology; Institute of Biology, Campinas, SP, Brazil, verinaud@unicamp.br Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Thiago Alves Da Costa Rosaria Di Gangi Carolina Francelin Rodolfo Thomé Ronei L Mamoni Liana Verinaud Google Thiago Alves Da Costa Rosaria Di Gangi Carolina Francelin Rodolfo Thomé Ronei L Mamoni Liana Verinaud Google Scholar Thiago Alves Da Costa Rosaria Di Gangi Carolina Francelin Rodolfo Thomé Ronei L Mamoni Liana Verinaud PubMed Thiago Alves Da Costa Rosaria Di Gangi Carolina Francelin Rodolfo Thomé Ronei L Mamoni Liana Verinaud Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.