1. Academic Validation
  2. Lacrimal androgen-binding proteins protect against Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis in mice

Lacrimal androgen-binding proteins protect against Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis in mice

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2020 Nov;88:106940. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106940.
Leyu Lyu 1 Liting Hu 1 Lin Han 2 Jie Zhang 1 Jintao Sun 1 Xiaomei Wan 1 Limei Wang 1 Haijing Yan 1 Chengye Che 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
  • 2 Gout Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: chechengye@126.com.
Abstract

Aim: To clarify the regulatory mechanisms of lacrimal androgen-binding proteins (ABPs) in mice with keratitis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus).

Methods: Mouse models of A. fumigatus keratitis were established. Lacrimal glands were removed after 24 h for general and histological comparison. Lacrimal ABPs were detected by qRT-PCR and quantitative proteomic analysis, or were detected by qRT-PCR after subconjunctival or lacrimal gland injection with dexamethasone. Unique inflammatory factors were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot and/or immunofluorescence. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was injected into the lacrimal gland to explore the relationship between IL-1β and lacrimal ABPs.

Results: The lacrimal glands of mice with Fungal keratitis were larger than normal mice and these structures became disorganized. Moreover, the expression of ABP ε and ABP δ were increased. Subconjunctival injection with dexamethasone could reduce the size of the lacrimal gland and increase the expression of ABP ε and ABP δ, while lacrimal gland injection with dexamethasone had no obvious effects. The expression of IL-1β in the lacrimal gland of mice with A. fumigatus keratitis was increased. When IL-1β was injected into the lacrimal gland, the lacrimal gland enlarged and the expression of ABP ε and ABP δ decreased.

Conclusion: Lacrimal glands contributed to protection in Fungal keratitis, which was not due to the involvement of inflammatory cells in mice. ABP δ and ABP ε of mice were involved in reducing the severity of corneal damage in mice with A. fumigatus keratitis. Moreover, the expression of IL-1β and ABP δ and ABP ε were intrinsically linked.

Keywords

Androgen-binding proteins; Fungal keratitis; Inflammation; Interleukin-1β; Lacrimal gland.

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