1. Talaromyces marneffeiactivates the AIM2-caspase-1/-4-GSDMD axis to induce pyroptosis in hepatocytes
- Author
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Wang, Gang, Wei, Wudi, Jiang, Zhongsheng, Jiang, Junjun, Han, Jing, Zhang, Hong, Hu, Jiaguang, Zhang, Peng, Li, Xu, Chen, Tao, He, Jinhao, Li, Zhen, Lai, Jingzhen, Liang, Hao, Ning, Chuanyi, and Ye, Li
- Abstract
ABSTRACTTalaromyces marneffeitends to induce systemic infection in immunocompromised individuals, which is one of the causes of the high mortality. The underlying molecular mechanisms of T.marneffei-induced abnormal liver function are still poorly understood. In this study, we found that T.marneffei-infected patients could develop abnormal liver function, evidenced by reduced albumin and increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and AST/alanine aminotransferase (ALT). T. marneffei-infected mice exhibited similar characteristics. In vitroinvestigations showed that T.marneffeiinduced the death of AML-12 cells. Furthermore, we determined that T.marneffeiinfection induced pyroptosis in hepatocytes of C57BL/6J mice and AML-12 cells, demonstrated by the increase of AIM2, caspase-1/-4, Gasdermin D(GSDMD) and pyroptosis-related cytokines in T.marneffei-infected mice/cells. Importantly, cell death was markedly suppressed in the presence of VX765 (an inhibitor of caspase-1/-4). Furthermore, in the presence of VX765, T.marneffei-induced pyroptosis was blocked. Nevertheless, necroptosis and apoptosis were also detected in infected animal model at 14 days post-infection. In conclusion, T.marneffeiinduces pyroptosis in hepatocytes through activation of the AIM2-caspase-1/-4-GSDMD axis, which may be an important cause of liver damage, and other death pathways including necroptosis and apoptosis may also be involved in the later stage of infection.
- Published
- 2022
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