Abstract
Hyalohyphomycosis is a fungal infection characterized by the presence of a hyaline mycelium in the host. It is caused by several agents, such as Purpureocillium lilacinum. Our study aimed to evaluate some cell subsets and inflammatory markers involved in the in situ immune response to subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis by P. lilacinum in C57BL/6 murine models. The fungal isolate was inoculated in mice randomly distributed in immunocompetent/infected (CI) and immunosuppressed/infected (SI) groups. Mice were evaluated on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after inoculation. Histopathological studies showed several lesions in the site of infection as well as the formation of multifocal and mixed inflammatory infiltrates, which differed between the CI and SI groups. This analysis also revealed conidia and hypha-like structures in subcutaneous tissues of mice of both groups. The immunohistochemical analysis showed lower percentages of macrophages and neutrophils in the SI group compared to those in the CI group. Moreover, the intensity of interleukin (IL)-1β and nitric oxide synthase 2 production by cells of immunosuppressed mice was discreet, compared to immunocompetent mice that ranged from moderate to intense over time. The quantitative interference of dexamethasone in the response to the fungus was also demonstrated. We concluded that our results can be useful not only to broaden the knowledge on P. lilacinum but also, based on this host–parasite relationship, to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of infection.
Highlights
Hyalohyphomycosis is a fungal infection characterized by the presence of a hyaline mycelium in the host (Ajello, 1986)
This study aimed to evaluate some cell subsets and inflammatory markers involved in the skin immune response in subcutaneous hyalohyphomycosis by P. lilacinum due to its emerging and opportunistic potential in an immunocompetent and immunosuppressed murine model, characterizing phenotypically and functionally some cells involved in this process
No clinical alterations as apathy and weight and/or hair loss were observed in the immunocompetent (CI/CC) group
Summary
Hyalohyphomycosis is a fungal infection characterized by the presence of a hyaline mycelium in the host (Ajello, 1986). It is caused by several agents, such as Paecilomyces spp., Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Penicillium spp., and Purpureocillium lilacinum. Nov 2011, previously called Paecilomyces lilacinus, is a filamentous, hyaline, anamorphic fungus (Luangsa-Ard et al, 2011) considered as an emerging pathogen for humans, especially for immunosuppressed patients, the number of immunocompetent hosts infected by this fungus has increased in recent years (Shivaprasad et al, 2013; Turner and Conrad, 2015; Borba and Brito, 2016; Juyal et al, 2018). The majority of reported cases were disseminated infections (Pastor and Guarro, 2006; Antas et al, 2011; Ding et al, 2014)
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