Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungal pathogen acquired via inhalation of soil-resident spores. Upon exposure to mammalian body temperatures, these fungal elements transform into yeasts that reside primarily within phagocytes. Macrophages (MΦ) provide a permissive environment for fungal replication until T cell-dependent immunity is engaged. MΦ activated by granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induces metallothioneins (MTs) that bind zinc (Zn) and deprive yeast cells of labile Zn, thereby disabling fungal growth. Prior work demonstrated that the zinc transporter, ZRT2, was important for fungal survival in vivo. Hence, we constructed a yeast cell reporter strain that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the ZRT2 zinc-regulated promoter. This reporter accurately responds to a medium devoid of Zn. ZRT2 expression increased in GM-CSF, but not interferon-γ, stimulated MΦ. To examine the in vivo response, we infected mice with a reporter yeast strain and assessed ZRT2 expression at 0, 3, 7, and 14 days post-infection (dpi). ZRT2 expression minimally increased at 3 dpi and peaked at 7 dpi, corresponding with the onset of adaptive immunity. We discovered that the major MΦ populations that restrict Zn from the fungus are interstitial MΦ and exudate MΦ. Neutralizing GM-CSF blunted the control of infection but unexpectedly increased ZRT2 expression. This increase was dependent on another cytokine that activates MΦ to control H. capsulatum replication, M-CSF. These findings illustrate the reporter's ability to sense Zn in vitro and in vivo and correlate ZRT2 expression with GM-CSF and M-CSF activation of MΦ.IMPORTANCEPhagocytes use an arsenal of defenses to control the replication of Histoplasma yeasts, one of which is the limitation of trace metals. On the other hand, H. capsulatum combats metal restriction by upregulating metal importers such as the Zn importer ZRT2. This transporter contributes to H. capsulatum pathogenesis upon activation of adaptive immunity. We constructed a fluorescent ZRT2 transcriptional reporter to probe H. capsulatum Zn sensing during infection and exposed the role for M-CSF activation of macrophages when GM-CSF is absent. These data highlight the ways in which fungal pathogens sense metal deprivation in vivo and reveal the potential of metal-sensing reporters. The work adds a new dimension to study how intracellular pathogens sense and respond to the changing environments of the host.
Keywords: Histoplasma; cytokines; lung defense; macrophages; zinc.