Studies on the interaction of surfactant protein SP-D with Inflenza A virus, Aspergillus fumigatus and dendritic cells

Abstract

Surfactant proteins, SP-A and SP-D, are collagen-containing calcium-dependent (C-type) lectins, called, collectins. Their primary structure has four regions: a cysteine-linked N- terminal region involved in multimerization, a collagen region composed of Gly-X-Y repeats, coiled-coil neck region, and the C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD) or C-type lectin domain. SP-A looks like a bouquet, while SP-D is a cruciform- like structure, with four arms of equal length. SP-A and SP-D have been shown to act as innate immune molecules at pulmonary as well as extra-pulmonary sites by binding to pathogens, allergens and apoptotic/necrotic cells via their CRD region. SP-A and SP-D can induce pathogen neutralization and enhanced phagocytosis. In addition, SP-A and SP-D can interact via CRDs with allergens and dampen allergic reaction in vitro and in vivo. This thesis examines in vitro interaction of a recombinant fragment of human SP-D containing neck and CRD regions (rhSP-D) with IAV and Aspergillus fumigatus, in addition to characterizing a dichotomy of the effects of SP-A and SP-D on dendritic cells in an attempt to explain how SP-A and SP-D modulate DC functions differentially. Experiments involving interaction of rhSP-D with IAV pandemic strain show that it can be a restrictive factor against the virus, in addition to modulating immune response by a macrophage cell line. The rhSP-D can have anti-A. fumigatus effect directly and indirectly in the context of pathogen as well as allergen. A comparison has been made between two recombinant fragments of SP-D that have been expressed with and without 8 Gly-X-Y repeats for their fungistatic properties. The effects of SP-A and SP-D on cultured DC maturation, and effector cytokine and proliferative response of co-cultured cells have also been examined in vitro.