Down-regulation of dendritic cell activation induced by Paracoccidio ides brasiliensis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) endemic in Latin America, is a progressive systemic mycosis caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). the infection can evolve to different clinical forms that are associated to various degrees of suppressed cell-mediated immunity. With the recognition that DCs are able to initiate response in naive T cells and that they also participate in Th cell education, the present study was undertaken to check whether DCs interact with P. brasiliensis, as well as to elucidate possible mechanisms and consequences of this interaction. Our results indicate that P. brasiliensis infection and purified gp43, its main antigenic component, lead to down-regulation of MHC-II and adhesion properties of immature DCs. the down-regulation was also observed in LPS-induced DC maturation. in addition, an inhibition of IL-12 and TNF-alpha production by both P. brasileinsis or gp43, was observed in LPS-induced DC maturation. These results suggest that protein, released in great amounts by the fungus, might be used, to reduce the effectiveness of the immune response. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Univ São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Anal Clin & Toxicol, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc