In this study, we investigated the role of protein kinases C (PKCs) in interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion by human lung epithelial A549 cells during infection with the fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Rottlerin and the broad spectrum PKC inhibitor Go 6983 reduced cytokine levels in A549 cell-P. brasiliensis cultures. Next, by western blot, we verified that infection with this fungus led to phosphorylation of PKC δ (Thr(505)). By using a peptide inhibitor for PKC δ or PKC δ short interfering RNA technique, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in A549-P. brasiliensis cultures were also reduced. Together, these results indicate that P. brasiliensis promotes IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by A549 cells in a PKC δ-dependent manner.
Keywords: cell signaling; cytokine; epithelial cell; fungi; innate immunity; protein kinase C.
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