Central Role for Dermal Fibroblasts in Skin Model Protection against Candida albicans

Central Role for Dermal Fibroblasts in Skin Model Protection against Candida albicans

Abstract

The fungal pathogen Candida albicans colonizes basically all human epithelial surfaces, including the skin. Under certain conditions, such as immunosuppression, invasion of the epithelia occurs. Not much is known about defense mechanisms against C. albicans in subepithelial layers such as the dermis. Using immune cell–supplemented 3D skin models we defined a new role for fibroblasts in the dermis and identified a minimal set of cell types for skin protection against C. albicans invasion. Dual RNA sequencing of individual host cell populations and C. albicans revealed that dermal invasion is directly impeded by dermal fibroblasts. They are able to integrate signals from the pathogen and CD4+ T cells and shift toward an antimicrobial phenotype with broad specificity that is dependent on Toll-like receptor 2 and interleukin 1β. These results highlight a central function of dermal fibroblasts for skin protection, opening new possibilities for treatment of infectious diseases.

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Authors
  • Kühbacher, Andreas
  • Henkel, Helena
  • Stevens, Philip
  • Grumaz, Christian
  • Finkelmeier, Doris
  • Burger-Kentischer, Anke
  • Sohn, Kai
  • Rupp, Steffen
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Shortfacts
Category
Journal Paper
Journal or Publication Title
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
ISSN
0022-1899
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Page Range
pp. 1742-1752
Number
11
Volume
215
Date
29 March 2017
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