The Human Blood ‐Brain Barrier Internalizes Cryptococcus neoformans via the EphA2‐Tyrosine Kinase Receptor

Abstract Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes life‐threatening meningitis most commonly in populations with impaired immunity. Here we resolved the transcriptome of the human brain endothelium challenged with C. neoformans to establish whether C. neoformans invades the CNS by co‐opting particular signaling pathways as a means to promote its own entry. Among the 5 major pathways targeted by C. neoformans, the EPH‐EphrinA1 (EphA2) tyrosine kinase receptor‐signaling pathway was examined further. Silencing the EphA2 receptor transcript in a human brain endothelial cell line or blocking EphA2 activity with an antibody or chemical inhibitor prevented transmigration of C. neoformans in an in vitro model of the BBB. In contrast, treating brain endothelial cells with an EphA2 chemical agonist or an EphA2 ligand promoted greater migration of fungal cells across the BBB. C. neoformans activated the EPH‐tyrosine kinase pathway through a CD44‐dependent phosphorylation of EphA2, promoting clustering and internalization of EphA2 receptors. Moreover, HEK293T cells expressing EphA2 revealed an association between EphA2 and C. neoformans that boosted internalization of C. neoformans. Collectively the results suggest that C. neoformans promotes EphA2 activity via CD44 and this in turn creates a permeable barrier that facilitates the migration of C. neoformans across the BBB.
Source: Cellular Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research