Interleukin-17-induced protein lipocalin 2 is dispensable for immunity to oral candidiasis

MC Ferreira, N Whibley, AJ Mamo… - Infection and …, 2014 - Am Soc Microbiol
MC Ferreira, N Whibley, AJ Mamo, U Siebenlist, YR Chan, SL Gaffen
Infection and immunity, 2014Am Soc Microbiol
Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC; thrush) is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by the
commensal microbe Candida albicans. Immunity to OPC is strongly dependent on CD4+ T
cells, particularly those of the Th17 subset. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) deficiency in mice or
humans leads to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, but the specific downstream
mechanisms of IL-17-mediated host defense remain unclear. Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2; 24p3;
neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL]) is an antimicrobial host defense factor …
Abstract
Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC; thrush) is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by the commensal microbe Candida albicans. Immunity to OPC is strongly dependent on CD4+ T cells, particularly those of the Th17 subset. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) deficiency in mice or humans leads to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, but the specific downstream mechanisms of IL-17-mediated host defense remain unclear. Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2; 24p3; neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL]) is an antimicrobial host defense factor produced in response to inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-17. Lcn2 plays a key role in preventing iron acquisition by bacteria that use catecholate-type siderophores, and lipocalin 2−/− mice are highly susceptible to infection by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The role of Lcn2 in mediating immunity to fungi is poorly defined. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the role of Lcn2 in immunity to oral infection with C. albicans. Lcn2 is strongly upregulated following oral infection with C. albicans, and its expression is almost entirely abrogated in mice with defective IL-17 signaling (IL-17RA−/− or Act1−/− mice). However, Lcn2−/− mice were completely resistant to OPC, comparably to wild-type (WT) mice. Moreover, Lcn2 deficiency mediated protection from OPC induced by steroid immunosuppression. Therefore, despite its potent regulation during C. albicans infection, Lcn2 is not required for immunity to mucosal candidiasis.
American Society for Microbiology