Low interleukin-17A production in response to fungal pathogens in patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

Smeekens SP, Henriet SS, Gresnigt MS, Joosten LA, Hermans PW, Netea MG, Warris A, van de Veerdonk FL (2012) Low interleukin-17A production in response to fungal pathogens in patients with chronic granulomatous disease. J Interferon Cytokine Res 32(4), 159-168.

Abstract

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) cannot produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to a genetic defect in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system. Dysregulation of the L-tryptophan metabolism in mice with defects in NADPH oxidase, resulting in overproduction of interleukin (IL)-17, has been proposed to link ROS defects with hyperinflammation and susceptibility to pulmonary aspergillosis. In this study, we assessed the L-tryptophan metabolism and cytokine profiles in response to fungal pathogens in CGD patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CGD patients showed increased production of IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ upon stimulation with Aspergillus or Candida species, while IL-17A production was strikingly low compared with healthy controls. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression was similar in PBMCs and neutrophils from CGD patients compared with healthy controls. Conversion of L-tryptophan to L-kynurenine, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, did not differ between CGD patients and healthy controls. Moreover, adding L-kynurenine to the cell cultures did not suppress fungal-induced IL-17A production. Although PBMCs of CGD patients produced more proinflammatory cytokines after stimulation, IL-17A production was strikingly low in response to fungal pathogens when compared with healthy controls. In addition, cells from CGD patients did not display a defective L-tryptophan metabolism.

Leibniz-HKI-Autor*innen

Mark Gresnigt

Identifier

doi: 10.1089/jir.2011.0046

PMID: 22191467