Innate Lung Defense during Invasive Aspergillosis: New Mechanisms

Abstract

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is one of the most difficult to treat and, consequently, one of the most lethal fungal infections known to man. Continued use of immunosuppressive agents during chemotherapy and organ transplantation often leads to the development of neutropenia, the primary risk factor for IA. However, IA is also becoming more appreciated in chronic diseases associated with corticosteroid therapy. The innate immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus, the primary agent in IA, plays a pivotal role in the recognition and elimination of organisms from the pulmonary system. This review highlights recent findings about innate host defense mechanisms, including novel aspects of innate cellular immunity and pathogen recognition, and the inflammatory mediators that control infection with A. fumigatus.

Pentraxin 3 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma in non-neutropenic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis

“…We measured PTX3 in BALF and plasma in 431 patients initially suspected of having pulmonary aspergillosis. The morbidity of COPD and bronchiectasis in aspergillosis was significantly greater than in non-aspergillosis, and more patients in the aspergillosis group had a history of corticosteroid use, which was consistent with the findings of previous studies [18,19]. BALF and plasma PTX3 levels in aspergillosis subjects were greater than for the nonaspergillosis groups.…”

Risk Factors of Renal Aspergillosis in Pigeons (Columba livia): Field Study

“…The dysfunction of the immune system that promotes by aspergillosis are neutropenia or heteropenia (Garth and Steele, 2017). Glucocorticoid therapy is known as another factor that impairs the immune system and increases the risk of aspergillosis (Lewis and Kontoyiannis, 2009).…”

Antifungal Drugs Influence Neutrophil Effector Functions

“…Apart from antifungal medication, the antifungal immune response includes cells from the innate as well as from the adaptive immune system (16). Alongside macrophages, fungal infections are mainly fought by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) as a major part of the innate immune response (17). Effector functions, like phagocytosis and generation of ROS, and nonoxidative mechanisms, like degranulation, are essential for executing the antipathogen response of the PMN (18,19).…”