Host immune responses in the central nervous system during fungal infections

Abstract

Fungal infections in the central nervous system (CNS) cause high morbidity and mortality. The frequency of CNS mycosis has increased over the last two decades as more individuals go through immunocompromised conditions for various reasons.Nevertheless, options for clinical interventions for CNS mycoses are still limited. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the host-pathogen interaction mechanisms in CNS mycoses for developing novel treatments. Although the CNS has been regarded as an immune-privileged site, recent studies demonstrate the critical involvement of immune responses elicited by CNS-resident and CNS-infiltrated cells during fungal infections. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of fungal invasion in the CNS, fungal pathogen detection by CNS-resident cells (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neurons), roles of CNS-infiltrated leukocytes, and host immune responses. We consider that understanding host immune responses in the CNS is crucial for endeavors to develop treatments for CNS mycosis.

Infection of Aspergillus flavus in Brain Tissues of Albino Male Rats

“…In addition, the immune responses were stimulated by these mycoses [30][31]. Neurotransmitter is decreased due to AFB1 leading to affect final protein products besides process of metabolizing amino acids.…”

An introduction to neuroimmunology

“…A fundamental aspect of immune surveillance is detecting and eliminating invading pathogens that can have potentially detrimental consequences to the health and integrity of the CNS. In the next review article, Dr. Shinohara and colleagues discuss the increasing importance of anti‐fungal immunity due to the expanding prevalence of immunocompromising therapies and conditions 6 . To better understand the targetable molecules and pathways to combat CNS mycosis, the authors discuss mechanisms of fungal CNS invasion, the ability of resident and non‐resident CNS cells to detect fungi and highlight potential therapeutic targets.…”

“…In the next review article, Dr. Shinohara and colleagues discuss the increasing importance of anti-fungal immunity due to the expanding prevalence of immunocompromising therapies and conditions. 6 To better understand the targetable molecules and pathways to combat CNS mycosis, the authors discuss mechanisms of fungal CNS invasion, the ability of resident and non-resident CNS cells to detect fungi and highlight potential therapeutic targets. Care for these conditions puts a tremendous financial and societal strain on our healthcare systems.…”

The roles of fungus in CNS autoimmune and neurodegeneration disorders

“…Normally, only a very small percentage of fungi can cause human infections. It has been known that the incidence of fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) increased significantly in the past few years ( 1 , 2 ). This is possibly due to the widely use of immunosuppressive therapies (e.g., chemotherapy or corticosteroid treatment), the stem cells and organ transplants, and the spread of HIV/AIDS ( 3 ).…”