1. The TGF-β pathway is activated in the skin after C
The TGF-β pathway is activated in the skin after C. albicans infection and is required to contain the infection.
The TGF-β pathway is activated in the skin after C. albicans infection and is required to contain the infection. (A) Western analysis of SMAD2/3 phosphorylation at the indicated time points after infection of WT and NFATc2-deficient mice. Data were quantified and normalized on β-actin. Data are representative of three independent experiments. nt, untreated mice. (B) Representative images of p-SMAD2,3 immunohistochemical staining in skin sections 24 hours after C. albicans infection. p-SMAD2,3–positive cells are brown. The experiment was repeated twice with similar results; see also fig. S8. (C) Abscess formation in WT and NFATc2-deficient mice in the presence or not of the TGF-β inhibitor SB TGF-β inhibitor was administered ip (50 μg per mouse) for 3 days starting 1 day before C. albicans infection; the day of the infection was also coadministered locally with the hyphae. Note that the abscess is more diffused when the TGF-β pathway is inhibited. Two independent experiments with eight animals per group were performed. (D) Visualization of C. albicans (purple staining, brown arrows) by PAS staining in WT and NFATc2-deficient mouse skin lesions 24 to 48 hours after C. albicans infections in the presence of TGF-β inhibitor. PicroSirius Red staining of selected areas is also shown to evidence collagen depositions (arrows). Note that the collagen capsule is disorganized if the animals are treated with the TGF-β inhibitor and C. albicans can exit the abscess (see fig. S6 for higher magnifications). Representative histological sections of three independent experiments are shown; see also fig. S10.
William Santus et al. Sci. Immunol. 2017;2:eaan2725
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