Fungal zymosan and mannan activate the cryopyrin inflammasome

J Biol Chem. 2009 Jul 31;284(31):20574-81. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.023689. Epub 2009 Jun 9.

Abstract

Some fungal species are opportunistic pathogens that can cause infection in people with compromised immune systems. Activation of caspase-1 and the subsequent secretion of mature interleukin (IL)-1beta is a major signaling pathway of the innate immune system, but how yeasts induce caspase-1 activation is unknown. We show here that stimulation of macrophages and dendritic cells with heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae or the purified cell wall components zymosan and mannan induced caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta secretion when combined with ATP. Macrophages deficient for the inflammasome adaptor ASC were defective in caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta secretion, suggesting involvement of an ASC-dependent inflammasome. Indeed, caspase-1 activation was abrogated in macrophages lacking the NOD-like (NLR) protein Cryopyrin/Nalp3 and in wild type macrophages pretreated with the pannexin-1 inhibitor probenecid. IL-1beta secretion further required the Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptors MyD88 and TRIF, and partially relied on TLR2. We previously showed that bacterial molecules such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan induce activation of caspase-7 through the Cryopyrin inflammasome. Similarly, Cryopyrin and ASC were required for activation of caspase-7 in macrophages stimulated with zymosan or mannan and ATP. These results demonstrate that the conserved fungal components zymosan and mannan require ASC and Cryopyrin for caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta secretion and suggest an important role for the Cryopyrin inflammasome during fungal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / pharmacology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Caspase 7 / metabolism
  • Connexins / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects
  • Dendritic Cells / enzymology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Hot Temperature
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mannans / pharmacology*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Zymosan / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Connexins
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Mannans
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Nlrp3 protein, mouse
  • Panx1 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Zymosan
  • Caspase 7
  • Caspase 1