The macrophage-inducible C-type lectin, mincle, is an essential component of the innate immune response to Candida albicans

J Immunol. 2008 Jun 1;180(11):7404-13. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.11.7404.

Abstract

The recognition of carbohydrate moieties by cells of the innate immune system is emerging as an essential element in antifungal immunity, but despite the number and diversity of lectins expressed by innate immune cells, few carbohydrate receptors have been characterized. Mincle, a C-type lectin, is expressed predominantly on macrophages, and is here shown to play a role in macrophage responses to the yeast Candida albicans. After exposure to the yeast in vitro, Mincle localized to the phagocytic cup, but it was not essential for phagocytosis. In the absence of Mincle, production of TNF-alpha by macrophages was reduced, both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, mice lacking Mincle showed a significantly increased susceptibility to systemic candidiasis. Thus, Mincle plays a novel and nonredundant role in the induction of inflammatory signaling in response to C. albicans infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Candida albicans / immunology*
  • Candida albicans / metabolism
  • Candidiasis / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Lectins, C-Type / genetics
  • Lectins, C-Type / immunology
  • Lectins, C-Type / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phagocytosis
  • Phagosomes / immunology
  • Phagosomes / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha