Abstract
Cell wall (CW) components of fungus Sporothrix schenckii are the major inductors antigens of immune responses. The immunodominant 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) has been shown to be associated with the virulence of this fungus but its role in experimental sporotrichosis is unknown. In this work, the immunological effects of CW-purified gp60 were investigated in a model of experimental subcutaneous sporotrichosis in normal and gp60-preimmunized C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice strains which were then infected with S. schenckii conidia. Results showed that both mice strains use different cytokine profiles in order to fight S. schenckii infection; C57BL/6 mice seem to use a Th17 response while BALB/c mice tend to depend on a Th1 profile. Preimmunization with gp60 showed a downregulatory effect on the immune response since cytokines levels were diminished in both strains. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of dorsoplantar inflammation between gp60-preimmunized and nonimmunized mice of both strains. However, skin lesions due to the infection in gp60-preimmunized mice were more severe in BALB/c than in C57BL/6 mice, suggesting that the antigen exerts a higher downregulatory effect on the Th1 response.
Highlights
Sporotrichosis is a chronic mycosis that affects skin and subcutaneous tissues, but it can spread to other organs through the lymph vessels [1,2,3,4]
The immunological effects of Cell wall (CW)-purified gp60 were investigated in a model of experimental subcutaneous sporotrichosis in normal and gp60-preimmunized C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice strains which were infected with S. schenckii conidia
Results showed that both mice strains use different cytokine profiles in order to fight S. schenckii infection; C57BL/6 mice seem to use a Th17 response while BALB/c mice tend to depend on a Th1 profile
Summary
Sporotrichosis is a chronic mycosis that affects skin and subcutaneous tissues, but it can spread to other organs through the lymph vessels [1,2,3,4]. It is acquired by traumatic implantation of the etiologic agent, the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The mycelial morphotype is found in soil, wood, and plants [5], while the yeast morphotype is found in host tissues [6, 7]. Surface components of S. schenckii cell wall (CW) have a possible role in its pathogenicity. A lipid antigen has been shown to decrease the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and Journal of Immunology Research IL-12 and IL-10 in experimental models of sporotrichosis [9, 10]; it is capable of inhibiting macrophage phagocytosis in in vitro assays [11]
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