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Review
. 2015;10(6):967-75.
doi: 10.2217/fmb.15.25.

Histoplasma capsulatum, lung infection and immunity

Michael C Horwath  1   2 , Roger A Fecher  1   2 , George S Deepe Jr  1   3
Affiliations
Review

Histoplasma capsulatum, lung infection and immunity

Michael C Horwath et al. Future Microbiol. 2015.

Abstract

Histoplasma capsulatum, an environmental fungus, is the most common endemic pulmonary mycosis in the USA. Disease is most frequently observed in immunocompromised patients living in endemic areas. We present the mechanisms of fungal recognition, innate immune response and adaptive immune response that lead to protection or exacerbation of disease. Current understanding of these mechanisms is the result of a continuing dialogue between clinical observations and murine studies. Mice are a powerful model to study the immune response to H. capsulatum alone or in the presence of immunomodulatory drugs. Vigilance for histoplasmosis should be exercised with novel immunosuppressive agents that target the important immune pathways identified here.

Keywords: Histoplasma capsulatum; T-cell-mediated immunity; chemokines; cytokines; dendritic cells; fungal disease; macrophages.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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