Progranulin aggravates lethal Candida albicans sepsis by regulating inflammatory response and antifungal immunity

PLoS Pathog. 2022 Sep 19;18(9):e1010873. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010873. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Candida albicans is the most frequent pathogen of fungal sepsis associated with substantial mortality in critically ill patients and those who are immunocompromised. Identification of novel immune-based therapeutic targets from a better understanding of its molecular pathogenesis is required. Here, we reported that the production of progranulin (PGRN) levels was significantly increased in mice after invasive C.albicans infection. Mice that lacked PGRN exhibited attenuated kidney injury and increased survival upon a lethal systemic infection with C. albicans. In mice, PGRN deficiency protected against systemic candidiasis by decreasing aberrant inflammatory reactions that led to renal immune cell apoptosis and kidney injury, and by enhancing antifungal capacity of macrophages and neutrophils that limited fungal burden in the kidneys. PGRN in hematopoietic cell compartment was important for this effect. Moreover, anti-PGRN antibody treatment limited renal inflammation and fungal burden and prolonged survival after invasive C. albicans infection. In vitro, PGRN loss increased phagocytosis, phagosome formation, reactive oxygen species production, neutrophil extracellular traps release, and killing activity in macrophages or neutrophils. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that PGRN loss up-regulated Dectin-2 expression, and enhanced spleen tyrosine kinase phosphorylation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in macrophages and neutrophils. In summary, we identified PGRN as a critical factor that contributes to the immunopathology of invasive C.albicans infection, suggesting that targeting PGRN might serve as a novel treatment for fungal infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Candida albicans*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Mice
  • Neutrophils
  • Progranulins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sepsis* / pathology
  • Syk Kinase

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Progranulins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Syk Kinase
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (https://www.nsfc.gov.cn/) 82070014 (J.C.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.