Role of protein kinase C in cytokine secretion by lung epithelial cells during infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

• Published in: Pathogens and disease 2015-10, Vol.73 (7), p.ftv045
• Main Authors: Alcantara, Cristiane, Maza, Paloma Korehisa, Barros, Bianca Carla Silva Campitelli, Suzuki, Erika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell Line; Cytokines; Epithelial cells; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Fungi; Humans; Infections; Inhibitors; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Interleukin-6 - secretion; Interleukin-8 - secretion; Kinases; Lung - microbiology; Lung - pathology; Lungs; Models, Theoretical; Paracoccidioides - immunology; Paracoccidioides brasiliensis; Paracoccidioidomycosis - pathology; Peptide inhibitors; Phosphorylation; Protein kinase C; Protein Kinase C - metabolism; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; siRNA
• ISSN: 2049-632X; 2049-632X
• DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv045

In this study, we investigated the role of protein kinases C (PKCs) in interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion by human lung epithelial A549 cells during infection with the fungal pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Rottlerin and the broad spectrum PKC inhibitor Go 6983 reduced cytokine levels in A549 cell–P. brasiliensis cultures. Next, by western blot, we verified that infection with this fungus led to phosphorylation of PKC δ (Thr505). By using a peptide inhibitor for PKC δ or PKC δ short interfering RNA technique, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in A549–P. brasiliensis cultures were also reduced. Together, these results indicate that P. brasiliensis promotes IL-6 and IL-8 secretion by A549 cells in a PKC δ-dependent manner. This article is the first report that demonstrates the role of protein kinases C in cytokine secretion by epithelial cells, when infected with the fungal human pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.