How Candida albicans Affects Immune Cell Development
Author Information
Author(s): Yáñez Alberto, Megías Javier, O'Connor José-Enrique, Gozalbo Daniel, Gil M. Luisa
Primary Institution: Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
Hypothesis
Does Candida albicans infection influence the development of immune cells through TLR2 signaling?
Conclusion
Candida albicans infection stimulates the rapid expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which is dependent on TLR2 signaling.
Supporting Evidence
- Candida albicans infection leads to a significant increase in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
- The expansion of these cells is delayed in TLR2−/− mice.
- TLR2 signaling is crucial for the differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells during infection.
- Control mice showed a higher recruitment of inflammatory macrophages compared to TLR2−/− mice.
- Lin− progenitor cells differentiated into functional phagocytes in response to Candida albicans.
Takeaway
When mice get infected with a type of yeast called Candida albicans, their body makes more immune cells to fight it off, and this process needs a special signal called TLR2.
Methodology
Mice were infected with a low-virulence strain of Candida albicans, and changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells were analyzed through flow cytometry at various time points post-infection.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the use of knockout mice which may have different immune responses compared to wild-type mice.
Limitations
The study used a low-virulence strain to avoid high mortality, which may not fully represent responses to more virulent strains.
Participant Demographics
C57BL/6 and TLR2−/− mice, both sexes, aged 8-12 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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