Candida albicans Cell Wall Glycosylation May Be Indirectly Required for Activation of Epithelial Cell Proinflammatory Responses

Abstract

ABSTRACTOral epithelial cells discriminate between the yeast and hyphal forms ofCandida albicansvia the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. This occurs through phosphorylation of the MAPK phosphatase MKP1 and activation of the c-Fos transcription factor by the hyphal form. Given that fungal cell wall polysaccharides are critical in host recognition and immune activation in myeloid cells, we sought to determine whether β-glucan andN- orO-glycosylation was important in activating the MAPK/MKP1/c-Fos hypha-mediated response mechanism and proinflammatory cytokines in oral epithelial cells. Using a series of β-glucan andN- andO-mannan mutants, we found thatN-mannosylation (via Δoch1and Δpmr1mutants) andO-mannosylation (via Δpmt1and Δmnt1Δmnt2mutants), but not phosphomannan (via a Δmnn4mutant) or β-1,2 mannosylation (via Δbmt1to Δbmt6mutants), were required for MKP1/c-Fos activation, proinflammatory cytokine production, and cell damage induction. However, theN- andO-mannan mutants showed reduced adhesion or lack of initial hypha formation at 2 h, resulting in little MKP1/c-Fos activation, or restricted hypha formation/pseudohyphal formation at 24 h, resulting in minimal proinflammatory cytokine production and cell damage. Further, the α-1,6-mannose backbone of theN-linked outer chain (corresponding to a Δmnn9mutant) may be required for epithelial adhesion, while the α-1,2-mannose component of phospholipomannan (corresponding to a Δmit1mutant) may contribute to epithelial cell damage. β-Glucan appeared to play no role in adhesion, epithelial activation, or cell damage. In summary,N- andO-mannosylation defects affect the ability ofC. albicansto induce proinflammatory cytokines and damage in oral epithelial cells, but this may be due to indirect effects on fungal pathogenicity rather than mannose residues being direct activators of the MAPK/MKP1/c-Fos hypha-mediated immune response.